[SOLVED] Solid State Drives (SSDs) and boot priority settings

[d_dgjdhh]

Hi tech folks, lol. I was wondering if anyone can help me with the following issue I'm having with me turning on my computer.

Desktop PC
Windows XP, 64-Bit Professional Edition
Asus P5QL Pro, Intel Eaglelake P43
DualCore Intel Core 2 Duo E7200
BIOS Type: American Megatrends Inc., version 0902

Scenario.
I recently changed my hard drive into a solid state drive. It's a flash-stick like storage device, contains 128gb, and boy it's superfast. Hardly any need to wait for programs to load up, faster Internet speed...almost everything is accessed faster. Aside from the Sims 2 game's sloppy coding, it's better in performance and there's less lagging going on throughout the game. I also have an external hard drive attached via USB port, to transfer files from and to the device to free up space from unnecessary files (e.g. using the external hard drive as a filing cabinet, where I just place my documents and access them once in a while, or for archiving, blah, blah, blah).

Issue.
So far, on the few times I've restarted, or turned off my computer, and turn it back on, the computer decides to boot the external hard drive instead of the SSD, as though the SSD doesn't exist. Only when I unplug my external hard drive, and turn on my computer, the SSD is booted up, and the operating system goes online, and on to the desktop.

Question.
Is there a way to prevent the computer from booting up the external hard drive without the need to unplug the external hard drive each time I turn on the computer? For example, is there a way to lock up the computer's booting priority?

[ellacharmed]

The external drive plugged in via USB was your old boot-up drive? It still has the /Windows folder in it? You might be able to circumvent it (for now) if you rename the folder to "Windows.bak" or something.
And the SSD is connected internally?

Next check the BIOS settings for boot up sequence and drive priority. That's 2 different settings in different menus.
Make sure it is set to prioritize the SSD as the 1st choice (as the Primary), if not available then the USB and 3rd could be a DVD drive for instance. It needs to be saved for the changes to take effect.

Do you have another HDD to backup the old boot drive? Once you've transferred all your files over, you might want to reformat that HDD so it does not have an OS in it that may enable virus/malware/spyware and other nasties to attach itself to the Windows files and other hidden Operating System goodness. And just use it as olde plain data drive.

[d_dgjdhh]

Sorry guys, uh, it looks like the SSD is working now...I think it was fixed by restarting a couple of times without the external hard drive attached. Now the external hard drive is attached and the computer boots the SSD. Strange that the boot priority was changed to the external hard drive in the beginning.

No, my original Windows OS was on an internal hard drive from 4 years ago. It was copied successfully into the SSD via Kingston's CD from the SSD package. The external hard drive was just an extension for bringing my files around to different places.

Now the 4-year old hard drive is sitting in the desktop tower, unplugged, but still screwed onto the metal framework inside.

But thanks for the advice, ellacharm3d.