Intalling XP/Harddrive Problem

epidemik

epidemik

Active Member
Im trying to install Windows XP Pro. It runs all the checks and then says "Press Enter To Install Windows XP" I press enter and it tells me that it cant detect any harddrives.

When I start up the BIOS (i think thats what it is) says that it recognizes the hard drive.

Until last night, I ran ubuntu linux without a problem on the same harddrive hooked up exactly the same way. Last night i reformated that Harddrive to NTFS. The installer did the gave me the same error again.

I moved the Hard Drive so it was using different IDE slots but even then it still didnt work. Im not very good with building computers so I may have the drive hooked up wrong.

Any ideas about what I could be doing wrong? How should hook up the harddrive to the computer. Its an old computer but i know it meets Windows requirements.

Thanks for the help.
Jake
 
My guess is you are running SATA drives and did not hit F6 to load third party drivers for your SATA controllers.

However, you do state you are running IDE. My only other guess is that since you had linux on that HD, there is something about it (like in the boot sector) that the windows Xp installer can't recognize.

You can go to www.bootdisk.com and download a dos boot disk and run fdisk /mbr and wipe out your master boot record, or download a third party utility that not only partitions your HD, it also kills the boot sector.
 
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Okay I'm new to windows and not too good with building so that confused me a little but I think I understand. How can I tell if I'm running SATA?

Im at school right now so I'll try that when i get home.

Thanks for speedy reply

EDIT: Just remember I dont have a floppy drive. lol. I may be able to get one but if I could avoid it it'd be nice. If i did use bootdisk.com which should I use?
 
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well if you google image search ide connections and SATA connections there is a very obvious physical difference in how they look.

If your computer is newer, it most likely has SATA, since that is now pretty much the new standard.
 
tlarkin said:
well if you google image search ide connections and SATA connections there is a very obvious physical difference in how they look.

If your computer is newer, it most likely has SATA, since that is now pretty much the new standard.
Click to expand...

Okay I checked and Im sure that its IDE. Does that mean doing the F6 thing wont work? What should I do?

Theres a chance i have it hooked up wrong but that'd be weird cause the BIOS recognizes it and Ubuntu ran just fine with it setup how it is now. How should it be setup.

Which IDE slot should the Hard Drive be plugged into and which one should the CD Drive be plugged into?

Thnaks
Jake
 
Would this be happening because i dont have drivers intalled? If so where can I get the drivers, I got this computer in a garage sale so I dont have any disks.
 
I tried installing SATA Drivers by pressing F6 but it still said it couldnt find the Hard Drive :mad:

Also I dont have a running copy of windows to get the DOS floppy to work. I'll try reinstalling windows then using wine then putting it on a floppy but i dont know how sucessful that will be and I wont have time until this weekend to do that.

Does ANYONE have any ideas?
 
I had the same problems with my FIREBALL (It was IDE & almost 100% sure yours is) (FIREBALLS are made by QUANTUM :D ).

1st What u need to do is make sure that it is plugged into IDE1 on your motherboard.

SEE PIC 1:
my.php


2nd You need to make sure that your jumper is set to MASTER. To show how to do this ive got sum more pictures (look at em!)

SEE PIC 2:
idecontroller2hd1.jpg


SEE PIC 3:
my.php


This is a pic of PIC 2 zoomed in, showing u the pins and jumper

SEE PIC 4:
jumpercloseupsu5.jpg


Arrange the jumper on the pins in the way it is shown on the diagram on your harddrive (PIC 3)

N.b: Its best to check/relocate your CD/DVD ROM is plugged into IDE2 on another cable and also set to MASTER (the jumper on CD/DVD ROM is much easier to set than hard drive - just take a look at your own one yourself and see)

Once this is done and everything is reconnected (power cables, IDE, e.t.c), you can turn your PC on.

On startup you will need to go into the bios settings and make sure that it has picked up your drives correctly - So that it shows FIREBALL as MASTER on IDE1 and CD/DVD as MASTER on IDE2.

You may well need to set your CD/DVD to SLAVE to get it all to work.

(IF YOU ONLY HAVE 1 IDE CABLE ON WHICH BOTH THE HARDRIVE & CD/DVD ARE ON THEN YOU WILL DEF NEED THE JUMPER ON YOUR CD/DVD SET TO SLAVE)

If you do have trouble, double check to make sure the jumper is set correct on your harddrive (it used to confuse me loads, and took a few attempts to get it right)


This is the best advice i can offer with regards to your question.

If i can help you more, dont hesitate to ask (I can go in to more / simpler detail, whatever is needed)
 
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Yes, thats what it is. Will that work with XP?

Do I need drivers? If so where can I get them and how do I install them?
 
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Okay, can you help me do that then?

I pretty much need step by step how to get through this install. Ive never done windows before.
 
yeah you don't need drivers for IDE drives. Just boot off the cd and follow the instructions on the screen, it is very straight forward.
 
Thanks so much guys

Alchemist youre a life saver. Amazing job for your first 4 posts :D . I hope this means we will see alot more of you around here. Very nice tutorial.

I cant try it now (have to go to school) but when i get home ill tell you how it goes. (cross your fingers)
 
epidemik said:
Thanks so much guys

Alchemist youre a life saver. Amazing job for your first 4 posts :D . I hope this means we will see alot more of you around here. Very nice tutorial.

I cant try it now (have to go to school) but when i get home ill tell you how it goes. (cross your fingers)
Click to expand...


Thanx man! Glad to help. Just remember though that setting up your first pc will take a bit of trial & error. Its the best way to learn how to do it. And seeing as your setup didnt cost ya an arm and leg, you should be able to with out too much worry.
 
IT WORKED

It wasnt quite how you explained but i figured it out. I just tried every possible combonation of hooking it to the mother board. Eventually I found the correct one.

Thanks so much.
 
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