Vista Multiboot issues, Part II

Dear All:

I just encountered a new wrinkle to my multiboot problem, so I started a new
thread, as the problem seemed to have changed.

I started with the following system, with Windows XP on the C: drive.

Drive 0: IDE, Partition 1, C:, Windows XP
Partition 2, F:, Storage
Drive 1: SATA, Partition 1, D:, Storage
Drive 2: SATA, Partition 1, E:, Storage

Following the guidelines, I booted from the Vista DVD and performed a clean
install of Vista in Drive 0, Partition 2. When I booted Vista, Drive 0
Partition 1 was the F: drive and Drive 0 Partition 2 was the C: drive. I
believe that is how it should work.

When I boot the system, Vista Boot Manager asks me which OS I want. If I
select the WXP system, it is supposed to make that drive the C: drive and
the Vista partition the F: drive. Instead, WXP does not boot as there is a
problem finding the ntldr file.

Now comes the strange part. I was troubleshooting a different hardware
problem and I disconnected both SATA drives (Drive 1 and 2).

When I booted the system, there was no Vista Boot Manager asking me which OS
to boot into. Instead, my WXP system started right up. I verified it
worked, and when I looked at the drives, the F: drive still contained the
Vista OS.

I then reconnected those drives and rebooted, and then Vista's Boot Manager
took control, and WXP does not start. Vista works fine..

So now I have two questions: 1) Why cannot I boot into WXP (which I just
demonstrated is still there)? and 2) Why did I lose Vista when the two
drives were disconnected?

Thank you.

:-) Cheers,

Jeff V. Pulver