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You have removed the Win 2003 HDD the system fails to recognize the XP Installation. Is that correct?

If it is that is because the Base Boot Files have been written to the Hardware Allocated Boot Drive which is obviously the same drive that 2003 is installed on. These are the files that are copied to the Root of the Hardware Allocated Boot Drive and give you the Menu to chose which OS to boot to when you start the system.

Without the Base Boot Files the system is incapable of starting.

The solution here is to do a Repair Install of Xp by following the directions here

http://support.microsoft.com/kb/978788

Use what is described here as Method 2 to do this. You will however need a M$ Banded Install Disc as Slipstreamed Install Discs which are commonly supplied as Recovery Disc's by most system makers do not have this option available.

Col