Thanks for the ideas so far.
Here's what I've achieved. Removed all optical drives and plugged each drive into different ide cables, jumper settings so that XP drive was master and old drive was slave. Boot up recognised it as
Primary master - XP drive
Primary slave - none
Secondary master - none
Secondary slave - old drive
It really tried to boot, but it hung before it got to any XP related screens. I'm now in a Ubuntu livecd, which hasn't recognised it either (initial attempt at livecd was with puppy)
fdisk -l doesn't recognise it
dmesg gives me a lot
[17179636.648000] hub 4-0:1.0: USB hub found
[17179636.648000] hub 4-0:1.0: 6 ports detected
[17179636.680000] usb 1-1: new full speed USB device using uhci_hcd and address 2
[17179637.396000] hdb: command error: status=0x51 { DriveReady SeekComplete Error }
[17179637.396000] hdb: command error: error=0x50 { LastFailedSense=0x05 }
[17179637.396000] ide: failed opcode was: unknown
[17179637.396000] end_request: I/O error, dev hdb, sector 1430336
[17179637.548000] hdb: command error: status=0x51 { DriveReady SeekComplete Error }
[17179637.548000] hdb: command error: error=0x50 { LastFailedSense=0x05 }
[17179637.548000] ide: failed opcode was: unknown
[17179637.548000] end_request: I/O error, dev hdb, sector 1430336
[17179637.624000] usb 4-1: new high speed USB device using ehci_hcd and address 2
[17179637.700000] hdb: command error: status=0x51 { DriveReady SeekComplete Error }
[17179637.700000] hdb: command error: error=0x50 { LastFailedSense=0x05 }
[17179637.700000] ide: failed opcode was: unknown
[17179637.700000] end_request: I/O error, dev hdb, sector 1430336
[17179637.768000] SCSI subsystem initialized
[17179637.772000] Initializing USB Mass Storage driver...
[17179637.860000] hdb: command error: status=0x51 { DriveReady SeekComplete Error }
[17179637.860000] hdb: command error: error=0x50 { LastFailedSense=0x05 }
[17179637.860000] ide: failed opcode was: unknown
[17179637.860000] end_request: I/O error, dev hdb, sector 1430336
[17179637.940000] scsi0 : SCSI emulation for USB Mass Storage devices
[17179637.940000] usb-storage: device found at 2
[17179637.940000] usb-storage: waiting for device to settle before scanning
[17179637.940000] usbcore: registered new driver usb-storage
[17179637.940000] USB Mass Storage support registered.
[17179638.004000] hdb: command error: status=0x51 { DriveReady SeekComplete Error }
[17179638.004000] hdb: command error: error=0x50 { LastFailedSense=0x05 }
[17179638.004000] ide: failed opcode was: unknown
[17179638.004000] end_request: I/O error, dev hdb, sector 1430336
[17179638.172000] hdb: command error: status=0x51 { DriveReady SeekComplete Error }
[17179638.172000] hdb: command error: error=0x50 { LastFailedSense=0x05 }
[17179638.172000] ide: failed opcode was: unknown
[17179638.172000] end_request: I/O error, dev hdb, sector 1430336
[17179638.296000] usb 2-2: new low speed USB device using uhci_hcd and address 2[17179638.472000] usbcore: registered new driver hiddev
[17179638.492000] input: PS/2+USB Mouse as /class/input/input1
[17179638.492000] input: USB HID v1.00 Mouse [PS/2+USB Mouse] on usb-0000:00:10.1-2
[17179638.492000] usbcore: registered new driver usbhid
[17179638.492000] drivers/usb/input/hid-core.c: v2.6:USB HID core driver
[17179638.496000] ISO 9660 Extensions: Microsoft Joliet Level 3
[17179638.520000] ISO 9660 Extensions: RRIP_1991A
[17179638.556000] loop: loaded (max 8 devices)
[17179638.576000] Registering unionfs 1.1.2
[17179638.628000] squashfs: version 3.0prerelease (2006/1/24) Phillip Lougher
[17179642.940000] Vendor: Mass Model: Storage Rev: 0.00
[17179642.940000] Type: Direct-Access ANSI SCSI revision: 02
[17179642.948000] Driver 'sd' needs updating - please use bus_type methods
[17179642.952000] SCSI device sda: 989184 512-byte hdwr sectors (506 MB)
[17179642.952000] usb-storage: device scan complete
[17179642.952000] sda: Write Protect is off
[17179642.952000] sda: Mode Sense: 00 00 00 00
[17179642.952000] sda: assuming drive cache: write through
[17179642.964000] sd 0:0:0:0: ioctl_internal_command return code = 8000002
[17179642.964000] : Current: sense key: No Sense
[17179642.964000] Additional sense: No additional sense information
[17179642.964000] SCSI device sda: 989184 512-byte hdwr sectors (506 MB)
[17179642.964000] sda: Write Protect is off
[17179642.964000] sda: Mode Sense: 00 00 00 00
[17179642.964000] sda: assuming drive cache: write through
[17179642.964000] sda: sda1
[17179642.968000] sd 0:0:0:0: Attached scsi removable disk sda
[17179642.980000] sd 0:0:0:0: ioctl_internal_command return code = 8000002
[17179642.980000] : Current: sense key: No Sense
[17179642.980000] Additional sense: No additional sense information
[17179654.668000] sd 0:0:0:0: ioctl_internal_command return code = 8000002
[17179654.668000] : Current: sense key: No Sense
[17179654.668000] Additional sense: No additional sense information
[17179670.488000] via-rhine.c:v1.10-LK1.2.0-2.6 June-10-2004 Written by Donald Becker
[17179670.492000] **** SET: Misaligned resource pointer: ed321aa2 Type 07 Len 0
[17179670.492000] ACPI: PCI Interrupt Link [ALKD] BIOS reported IRQ 0, using IRQ 23
[17179670.492000] ACPI: PCI Interrupt Link [ALKD] enabled at IRQ 23
[17179670.492000] ACPI: PCI Interrupt 0000:00:12.0[A] -> Link [ALKD] -> GSI 23 (level, low) -> IRQ 185
[17179670.496000] eth0: VIA Rhine II at 0x1ec00, 00:0a:e6:d0:82:d5, IRQ 185.
[17179670.496000] eth0: MII PHY found at address 1, status 0x786d advertising 01e1 Link 45e1.
[17179691.824000] end_request: I/O error, dev hdd, sector 3172992
[17179691.824000] printk: 67 messages suppressed.
[17179691.824000] Buffer I/O error on device hdd, logical block 396624
[17179691.824000] end_request: I/O error, dev hdd, sector 3172992
[17179691.824000] Buffer I/O error on device hdd, logical block 396624
[17179691.824000] end_request: I/O error, dev hdd, sector 3173176
[17179691.824000] Buffer I/O error on device hdd, logical block 396647
[17179691.824000] end_request: I/O error, dev hdd, sector 3173176
[17179691.824000] Buffer I/O error on device hdd, logical block 396647
[17179691.824000] end_request: I/O error, dev hdd, sector 3173176
[17179691.824000] Buffer I/O error on device hdd, logical block 396647
[17179691.824000] end_request: I/O error, dev hdd, sector 3173176
[17179691.824000] Buffer I/O error on device hdd, logical block 396647
[17179691.824000] end_request: I/O error, dev hdd, sector 3173176
[17179691.824000] Buffer I/O error on device hdd, logical block 396647
[17179691.824000] end_request: I/O error, dev hdd, sector 3173176
[17179691.824000] Buffer I/O error on device hdd, logical block 396647
[17179691.824000] end_request: I/O error, dev hdd, sector 3173120
[17179691.824000] Buffer I/O error on device hdd, logical block 396640
[17179691.824000] end_request: I/O error, dev hdd, sector 3173120
[17179691.824000] Buffer I/O error on device hdd, logical block 396640
[17179691.824000] end_request: I/O error, dev hdd, sector 3173168
[17179691.824000] end_request: I/O error, dev hdd, sector 3173168
[17179691.824000] end_request: I/O error, dev hdd, sector 0
[17179691.824000] end_request: I/O error, dev hdd, sector 0
[17179691.824000] end_request: I/O error, dev hdd, sector 0
[17179691.824000] end_request: I/O error, dev hdd, sector 0
[17179691.824000] end_request: I/O error, dev hdd, sector 8
[17179691.824000] end_request: I/O error, dev hdd, sector 16
[17179691.824000] end_request: I/O error, dev hdd, sector 24
[17179691.824000] end_request: I/O error, dev hdd, sector 32
[17179691.824000] end_request: I/O error, dev hdd, sector 40
[17179691.824000] end_request: I/O error, dev hdd, sector 48
[17179691.824000] end_request: I/O error, dev hdd, sector 56
[17179691.824000] end_request: I/O error, dev hdd, sector 64
[17179691.824000] end_request: I/O error, dev hdd, sector 0
[17179691.824000] end_request: I/O error, dev hdd, sector 0
[17179691.824000] end_request: I/O error, dev hdd, sector 0
[17179691.824000] end_request: I/O error, dev hdd, sector 0
[17179691.824000] end_request: I/O error, dev hdd, sector 72
[17179691.824000] end_request: I/O error, dev hdd, sector 80
[17179691.824000] end_request: I/O error, dev hdd, sector 88
[17179691.824000] end_request: I/O error, dev hdd, sector 96
[17179691.824000] end_request: I/O error, dev hdd, sector 104
[17179691.824000] end_request: I/O error, dev hdd, sector 112
[17179691.824000] end_request: I/O error, dev hdd, sector 120
[17179691.824000] end_request: I/O error, dev hdd, sector 128
[17179691.824000] end_request: I/O error, dev hdd, sector 136
[17179691.824000] end_request: I/O error, dev hdd, sector 144
[17179691.824000] end_request: I/O error, dev hdd, sector 152
[17179691.824000] end_request: I/O error, dev hdd, sector 160
[17179691.824000] end_request: I/O error, dev hdd, sector 168
[17179691.824000] end_request: I/O error, dev hdd, sector 176
[17179691.824000] end_request: I/O error, dev hdd, sector 184
[17179691.824000] end_request: I/O error, dev hdd, sector 192
[17179691.824000] end_request: I/O error, dev hdd, sector 200
[17179691.824000] end_request: I/O error, dev hdd, sector 208
[17179691.824000] end_request: I/O error, dev hdd, sector 216
[17179691.824000] end_request: I/O error, dev hdd, sector 224
[17179691.824000] end_request: I/O error, dev hdd, sector 232
[17179691.824000] end_request: I/O error, dev hdd, sector 240
[17179691.824000] end_request: I/O error, dev hdd, sector 248
[17179691.824000] end_request: I/O error, dev hdd, sector 256
[17179691.824000] end_request: I/O error, dev hdd, sector 0
[17179691.824000] end_request: I/O error, dev hdd, sector 0
[17179691.824000] end_request: I/O error, dev hdd, sector 0
[17179691.824000] end_request: I/O error, dev hdd, sector 0
[17179691.824000] end_request: I/O error, dev hdd, sector 0
[17179691.824000] end_request: I/O error, dev hdd, sector 0
[17179691.824000] end_request: I/O error, dev hdd, sector 0
[17179691.824000] end_request: I/O error, dev hdd, sector 0
[17179691.824000] end_request: I/O error, dev hdd, sector 0
[17179691.824000] end_request: I/O error, dev hdd, sector 0
[17179691.824000] end_request: I/O error, dev hdd, sector 0
[17179691.824000] end_request: I/O error, dev hdd, sector 0
[17179691.824000] end_request: I/O error, dev hdd, sector 0
[17179691.824000] end_request: I/O error, dev hdd, sector 0
[17179691.824000] end_request: I/O error, dev hdd, sector 0
[17179691.824000] end_request: I/O error, dev hdd, sector 0
[17179691.824000] end_request: I/O error, dev hdd, sector 0
[17179692.384000] ts: Compaq touchscreen protocol output
[17179692.528000] sd 0:0:0:0: Attached scsi generic sg0 type 0
[17179692.852000] sd 0:0:0:0: ioctl_internal_command return code = 8000002
[17179692.852000] : Current: sense key: No Sense
[17179692.852000] Additional sense: No additional sense information
[17179693.560000] eth0: link up, 100Mbps, full-duplex, lpa 0x45E1
[17179694.640000] NET: Registered protocol family 17
[17179694.888000] pci_hotplug: PCI Hot Plug PCI Core version: 0.5
[17179695.148000] shpchp: Standard Hot Plug PCI Controller Driver version: 0.4
[17179695.376000] irda_init()
[17179695.376000] NET: Registered protocol family 23
[17179696.032000] Linux agpgart interface v0.101 (c) Dave Jones
[17179696.720000] agpgart: Detected VIA PM266/KM266 chipset
[17179696.824000] agpgart: AGP aperture is 128M @ 0xd0000000
[17179696.932000] input: PC Speaker as /class/input/input2
[17179696.940000] **** SET: Misaligned resource pointer: e8eed5c2 Type 07 Len 0
[17179696.940000] ACPI: PCI Interrupt Link [ALKC] BIOS reported IRQ 0, using IRQ 22
[17179696.940000] ACPI: PCI Interrupt Link [ALKC] enabled at IRQ 22
[17179696.940000] ACPI: PCI Interrupt 0000:00:11.5[C] -> Link [ALKC] -> GSI 22 (level, low) -> IRQ 193
[17179696.940000] PCI: Setting latency timer of device 0000:00:11.5 to 64
[17179697.044000] Real Time Clock Driver v1.12
[17179697.104000] Floppy drive(s): fd0 is 1.44M
[17179697.144000] FDC 0 is a post-1991 82077
[17179697.212000] parport: PnPBIOS parport detected.
[17179697.212000] parport0: PC-style at 0x378 (0x778), irq 7, dma 3 [PCSPP,TRISTATE,COMPAT,ECP,DMA]
[17179699.164000] md: md driver 0.90.3 MAX_MD_DEVS=256, MD_SB_DISKS=27
[17179699.164000] md: bitmap version 4.39
[17179699.372000] end_request: I/O error, dev hdd, sector 3172992
[17179699.372000] printk: 59 messages suppressed.
[17179699.372000] Buffer I/O error on device hdd, logical block 396624
[17179699.372000] end_request: I/O error, dev hdd, sector 3172992
[17179699.396000] sd 0:0:0:0: ioctl_internal_command return code = 8000002
[17179699.396000] : Current: sense key: No Sense
[17179699.396000] Additional sense: No additional sense information
[17179699.408000] sd 0:0:0:0: ioctl_internal_command return code = 8000002
[17179699.408000] : Current: sense key: No Sense
[17179699.408000] Additional sense: No additional sense information
[
*I've cut this down, exceeded 20,000 character post limit.
/code]
I'm not sure if any of that is relevant, I'm a total novice really.
External USB enclosure it may have to be.