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View Full Version : XP Pro install - round in circles!

Nutcase
13-06-2009, 11:25
Aaargh!!!! ;D

Ok, trying to do an install of XP Pro OEM. Problem is, setup keeps telling me that there is no hard drive available.

Only thing I can think of is that the drive that is there (boots fine...) has 2k server on it, and as XP is OEM it ignores it?

Wondering how I can format it!
Dymetrie
13-06-2009, 11:32
Is it a SATA drive?

If so then you'll need a boot disk for it or XP won't see that it's there.
Nutcase
13-06-2009, 11:35
Sorry no. IDE. Tried it on onboard controller and an ATA133 adapter card (although when you press f6 to load additional drivers it wants a floppy drive to do it. What's one of those???

The BIOS all sees the drive fine in either case???
Glaucus
13-06-2009, 11:36
Is it a SATA drive?

If so then you'll need a boot disk for it or XP won't see that it's there.

More than likely this. either use a driver disk or slipsteam the sata drivers on. using nlite or what ever it's called.

you don't now what a floppy drive is
? :o

Is the jumper set to primary drive and on the primary connection on the ide cable and if you have any 2nd drives are they set to slave and on the slave ide cable connection.
Nutcase
13-06-2009, 11:58
Course I know what a floppy is ;D Just not had to use one in years (Including installing XP Pro...)
Dunketh
13-06-2009, 17:09
Check your BIOS settings also, you should be able to change from IDE/RAID/AHCI - If you put it on IDE it should work.
Nutcase
13-06-2009, 17:59
Folks, the drive is seen by the bios, works fine etc.

It's not a RAID board, it's just a basic motherboard. I can't see why it doesn't work :(
Mark
13-06-2009, 18:53
Break out a recent Linux LiveCD and see if that spots it.

Also, if the controller is in any way exotic (e.g. onboard JMicron controllers on even semi-recent motherboards) then XP doesn't stand a chance. You'll need to slipstream the appropriate driver into the XP install.
Nutcase
13-06-2009, 22:30
Nothing exotic about it at all. Just an Intel 850EMV board. Quite old now, have installed XP using it loads of times...

Will try some kind of boot disc, but I really don't understand what windows' problem is. Killerdisc'ed it earlier to get rid of 2k and it still doesn't see it.

Bloody annoying :(
Nutcase
13-06-2009, 22:40
Thought I'd try it once more while trying to find a standalone linux thingy. Works now. WTF?????

I hate computers sometimes...

Thanks for the help peeps :)