chkdsk /r was the solution
Thank you for your reply YanaYana. The following is a log, if nothing else.
After creating a VM as instructed, I still got "Trying to boot from Secondary Master IDE"
Next step - repair Windows. Step 2 says the installation CD must match the service pack, so I waited to get a copy of SP3 instead of trying the slipstream stuff. Step 11 says "wait until the end and click R to repair the existing installation." No R or repair was available...no explanation on the site. On the other websites for advice...
http://michaelstevenstech.com/repair_install_warning.htm
First run:
"Possible Fix by reconfiguring boot.ini using Recovery Console.
1.Boot with XP CD or 6 floppy boot disk set.
2. Press R to load the Recovery Console.
3. Type bootcfg.
4. This should fix any boot.ini errors causing setup not to see the XP OS
install.
5. Try the repair install."
Of course, bootcfg gives a number of options I know nothing of so I have to find another website's help. bootcfg /rebuild failed, so windows suggested chkdsk. CHKDSK found one or more errors on the volume. Another website tells me to use chkdsk /r. After hours passed, "found and fixed one or more errors on the volume." According to
http://www.ehow.com/how_5135453_repair-windows-cd.html , it's time to reboot to see if Windows works.
Windows boot worked! Glad I didn't reinstall Windows and loose my files and I'm glad on the Mac I have limited OS issues (not none, just limited compared to Windows).
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Turns out applications where not running on this "fix" of Windows. Boot from CD...again at step 11 there is no R listed and just partitions listed and not Windows.