multi boot xp/xp theory and practice ?? ntldr error all over again

OK...here's what I wanted to do :

add a new hd w/"new" xp os and partitions to use as for my dig. audio recording apps and storage. Keeping old drive for "all the other stuff ". Wanted drives to boot independently, like having two puters.

Here's what I did:
1. installed new hd and partitioned it with Acronis True image. (one primary boot part. and three logical. Old drive still in there as primary.

2. tried but failed to get xp to install from cd to new drive in this configuration. Acronis oss 8 was confusing me as to how I was supposed to do a "clean" install of xp.

3. Gave up and "removed" old drive by unplugging and then plugging in the new hd solo ( under cable select jumper setting and in the primary drive position) and then installed xp on the new hd (at least it looks like it...I see many files not on the list in there tho...hmmm -- this install from a recovery cd from HP, because my pc had oem "sticker-only" xp installed w/no install cd )

4. Re-installed old drive in in primary position, new drive now "slave"

5. Rebooted to find the 'ntldr missing' error and only able to boot my primary ( "old" ) drive by using bootable cd for Acronis oss.
6. Things looked better after I installed DD. But only to the extent that I can see the layout of things better, but still no luck booting my new drive.

I see from these posts that I probably made a mistake by installing xp on the new drive with OSS active.

Seems to me I am not too far from overcoming my dilemma, which must also have to do with my confusing ntldr/mbr by moving the new drive to primary then back again. Maybe... ?

Help me get my new hit song recorded

jussmartenuftogetmeselfintrubl

 

Windows may be having a problem booting from the second drive. I think it ususally only wants to boot from the first bootable hard drive.

If you're using OSS, under the properties for it, try setting the hard drive order for that OS so that the drive it's on is listed first and see if the works that way.