[you_silly_mortals]

I'm running a custom build, and I'm trying to do a fresh install of XP Pro SP2 (Student Edition) on a SATA hard drive. After the format of the drive, the short installation of files, and the automatic restart; I get the message: "Unable to locate operating system" and then nothing happens. So basically I've got absolutely no OS to work with.

I have tried this with two different drives and I still get the same error. Both of these drives have had windows installed on them before. I have another small drive on the way, but I have little hope that it'll solve my problem.

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Is it set to boot from the CD ROM first then the hard drive

[Retired Tech]

Is it set to boot from the CD ROM first then the hard drive

[you_silly_mortals]

Yes it is. I've even tried formatting then going into the bios right after the start and making the HD the first boot device. But that didn't work either.

[peterm]

Did you use F6 on the install to load the SATA drives

[you_silly_mortals]

No I havent. And I'm not sure how I would either. You mean RAID drivers right? I don't use RAID, and in all of my previous installs I havent done that either.