Question W7 crash, weird XP appearance

[Mardler]

PC has been running fine for years but just died.

W7 is on an SSD dedicated. New load in 2012 as RAID array but RAID array removed a few years ago as alternative backup regime used.

PC now goes from BIOS splash screen to W7 splash but then back to BIOS and Startup Repair which says cannot repair automatically. W7 tries to boot then PC shuts down.

SSD is seen by BIOS.

First boot option is Windows Boot Manager. It fails as above.

Second is the SSD. Forcing boot from this boots Windows BUT it's XP not W7. XP has never been on the SSD! The XP is named correctly as my last OS. Edit: the XP must be on an HDD, the BIOS having been unable to boot from the SSD immediately went to the next drive.
There were important documents on the W7 desktop which I fear have been lost so will be talking to a data recovery expert later.

All thoughts on how W7 disappeared and XP replaced it when it had been removed from HDD welcomed also how W7 might be resurrected.

 

[Fix_that_Glitch]

Did you unplug all external hd and set ssd as first boot option? Make sure you are using uefi to boot, xp is legacy.

 

[Mardler]

Did you unplug all external hd and set ssd as first boot option? Make sure you are using uefi to boot, xp is legacy.

Not yet, next on my list.

 

[Mardler]

That was done. BIOS said no boot device.

SSD can be read so most copied to external drive except protected files.

W7 CD-Rom repair failed.

Only option is new SSD and install W10. Will probably lose all Outlook stuff as no guarantee that Office 10 will install and pst file can be imported.