[warwick_mike]

Currently running a pretty standard XP home machine.

Was working fine until a random virus error occured and asked me to restart my machine.
On boot up machine shows the memory checks etc then goes black.
If i boot up into safe mode the screen goes black with "safe mode" in all 4 corners.

So thought this was a good oportunity to format the HDD and start a fresh (nothing on there thats important)

Using the XP home cd i tried booting up into the XP setup
got the error "setup is unable to locate a hard disk drive on your machine" and quits.

got into BIOS and my disk is shown there

Tried a couple more times and got the same error.

Also tried another copy of XP home and a copy of XP Pro again with the same error.

Any ideas?

Cheers

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Do you have any programs that alter the master boot record or partition table?

Programs like norton goback, ghost (or similar programs from other vendors)?

[gerryf]

Do you have any programs that alter the master boot record or partition table?

Programs like norton goback, ghost (or similar programs from other vendors)?

[warwick_mike]

Not installed by myself.

[gerryf]

When not by you, does that mean someone else could have?

Name brand model of computer?

If it is a Compaq/HP, it may have a hidden partition, and adding a program that messes with the partition table causes numerous problems.

What is your goal here?