[wemibelec90]

Whenever I try to install Windows XP, I cannot get past the first screen. It says that I have no hard drive, even though my BIOS says I do. I need to know how to get past this screen.

This is a reinstall. I had Vista RC1 on my hard drive and wanted to get rid of it. So, I formatted my hard drive and now this is happening. Any help would be greatly appreciated.

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Hi, this one interests me
remember I am working blind so bare with me
also if you haven't mentioned it yet:
- what model of computer =
- what os, XPpro or home =
- how old is it =

to topic then
hoping that the harddrive didn't die in the process,
- do you have another harddrive to swap it with
- did you try full format or quick

[fleamailman]

Hi, this one interests me
remember I am working blind so bare with me
also if you haven't mentioned it yet:
- what model of computer =
- what os, XPpro or home =
- how old is it =

to topic then
hoping that the harddrive didn't die in the process,
- do you have another harddrive to swap it with
- did you try full format or quick

[wemibelec90]

This computer was hand-built by me. I bought all the pieces myself and put them together. The OS I am trying to install is Windows XP Home SP2. This computer is not even a year old.

I do not have another hard drive to swap it with. I used FDISK to format so I did not have a choice with full or quick.

Hope this helps you help me!

[fleamailman]

can you slave it on another computer, or put it into a harddrive caddie to format it, I am suspecting the harddrive here, what do you think

[wemibelec90]

Unfortunately, the other computer I have looks like it has no SATA ports and my hard drive is a SATA drive. Any other ideas?

[peter99]

SATA controller driver

Your Motherboard or SATA controller card requires a driver to work properly. If you did not get a Floppy Disk with the SATA driver included with your Motherboard you will have to make one. The SATA drivers can be located on the installation CD that came with your Motherboard or preferably, download the latest SATA controller drivers from the manufacturers site. Once you have located the drivers copy them to a formatted floppy disk. Make sure they are in the root directory i.e. not contained within any folders

Installing the SATA controller driver

Once you have set the PC to boot from the CD make sure the XP CD is in the CD drive and start the installation as per usual. Within the first minute or so of the installation Windows will prompt you to press F6 to install RAID or SCSI drivers, do this. Windows will continue to install then ask you to locate the driver. now with the floppy disk created earlier in drive A: select the driver and hit Enter.

With the SATA drivers installed you can now continue the Windows installation as usual

BIOS settings revisited

Once Windows has finished installing you will need to make sure the PC is set to boot from the SATA drive. To do this make the first boot device SATA if the option is available. If not you have two options: HD0 - If there are no IDE HDs present, or SCSI if you do plan on running an IDE HD as a secondary device

Edited by peter99, 22 October 2006 - 02:43 PM.