Cannot format sata drive under xp setup

[Guest]

I am trying to install a fresh copy of XP Profesional on a new WD 160GB sata
drive. When i get to the part of setup when the disk and the size of
partition is selected is when i have problems. My pc in the bios recognizes
the size of the disk ok but windows setup does not see the entire volume. It
only sees about 135GB, then when the format proceedure should finalize and
proceed setup says it cannot complete the format and to check the disk, ect.
I can take the very same disk and format it within xp and then rerun setup
and no problems, the disk is recognized properly and no other issues. One
other thing i cannot format any disk under setup including pata drives also.
Hardware is as follows:
Asus P4C 800-E Deluxe mobo 3.2ghz p4, 1gb ram utilizing the on board
controllers.
I am trying this with a pre- SP1 install disk, though i have a SP2 cd on
hand.
One other thing is i cannot finalize any disc format under windows xp pro
setup, even pata drives in the 30GB or 40GB range.
I have found that the setup only recognizes the sata drive when i have the
controller set up as a standard drive arraingment and not as a raid
configuration.
I have obtained the newest non beta bios update from the asus website but
that made no difference. I can make this work with the work around i stated
earlier but i would apreciate any help with this as this is more work than i
think it should and if i am missing anything obvious please say so.
regards

 

[Guest]

First did you pick the SATA Controller in the Bios for the SATA drive. If
yes ok
You say you can format and install XP on the disk, which HD's the PATA or
the SATA
you don't say. Let's say all three you can format and install XP on another
computer.

Now lets start the new computer with just a HD , Keyboard & mouse. And make
sure you have the SATA drive disk if you need one for XP. If this fails go
to the ASUS forum and make a post to see what they have to say about it.

 

[Guest]

What i have just done with the pc in question is boot off an existing 40GB
pata drive, open the disk management console, partition and format the sata
drive as i saw fit with windows recognizing the whole volume. After that i
have started a normal installation of XP. The issue i have is not being able
to have windows setup recognize the 160GB disk as 160GB disk and not a 130.
Also not being able finalize a format during setup is frustrating. What i
trying to figure out is if i have a problem with my hardware and where plus
the issue lies. Or if there is a problem with starting the install with a
original issue of XP pro pre SP1. I have a SP2 update cd on hand.