Can't Install XP Pro

[Guest]

I'm trying to install XP Pro on a pre-built machine that came with Media
Center Edition. However, when I boot from the XP CD and get to the part when
you create and delete disk partitions, setup does not find any disks. I get
four messages saying "Unknown Disk (There is no disk inserted in this
drive).". I booted from a DOS CD and used fdisk to delete the partitions I
found. Now the computer won't boot into the original operating system and XP
Pro setup still does not find any disks. I am totally stuck. Does anyone have
a clue why XP Pro setup does not detect any disks (the SATA disks are
detected in the BIOS)?

THanks for your help.

 

[Guess Who]

If you deleted the partitions you found, doesn't that give you a clue as to
why you can't boot into your previous operating system?

Are you using a RAID array? Is the XP Pro CD with SP2 included?

You may need the SATA drivers for your motherboard chipset when installing
windows. If you can, download the SATA drivers to use with a floppy disk,
which you can insert during windows setup when the bottom of the screen
reads "Press F6 to install third party drivers".

Also, if the hard drives are not in an array, maybe you can change the hard
disc interface type in your BIOS. If the discs are setup as AHCI, try
changing the setting to ATA. You shouldn't need any special drivers then to
install XP. You may take a small performance hit using ATA, but it should
have only a negligible effect.


| I'm trying to install XP Pro on a pre-built machine that came with Media
| Center Edition. However, when I boot from the XP CD and get to the part
when
| you create and delete disk partitions, setup does not find any disks. I
get
| four messages saying "Unknown Disk (There is no disk inserted in this
| drive).". I booted from a DOS CD and used fdisk to delete the partitions I
| found. Now the computer won't boot into the original operating system and
XP
| Pro setup still does not find any disks. I am totally stuck. Does anyone
have
| a clue why XP Pro setup does not detect any disks (the SATA disks are
| detected in the BIOS)?
|
| THanks for your help.
|
| --
| Howard Patterson

 

[beb]

Windows probably does not have the Sata controller driver it needs to see
the drive. You will have to load the Sata controller drivers at some point
in the installation. There should be a point early on in the installation
when there is a screen message prompting you to press F6 key to install OEM
mass storage controller drivers. Your motherboard should come with drivers
on a floppy or on a CD to be written to a floppy to be inserted when
prompted. Check the OEM site if you don't have it.

 

[BigJim]

you have to repartition the drive then format

 

[lurkswithin]

Howardwrote
I'm trying to install XP Pro on a pre-built machine that came wit
Media

Center Edition. However, when I boot from the XP CD and get to th part when
you create and delete disk partitions, setup does not find an disks. I get
four messages saying "Unknown Disk (There is no disk inserte in this
drive).". I booted from a DOS CD and used fdisk to delete th partitions I
found. Now the computer won't boot into the original operatin system and XP
Pro setup still does not find any disks. I am totally stuck. Doe anyone have
a clue why XP Pro setup does not detect any disks (the SATA disk are
detected in the BIOS)?

THanks for your help

You need to go back in to the fdisk program that you used (98SE boo
disc?) and make the disc (drive) active. You wiped the drive bu
failed to make it active and as such cannot be seen. Once the disc i
made active then exit out and use the cd installation disc to see th
disc and partition and format the partition that you wish to instal
on

o

The best thing to actually use now is a (disc) manufacturer'
repair/diagnostic disc that can be downloaded from their own website
It will see the disc and can make it active and partition it for yo
and format it into NTFS or Fat 32 whichever you prefer

 

[Guest]

Howard,

Go with the solutions offered by Guess Who and beb. If you can't see the
drives to partition them, then XP is not talking to the hardware properly.
You need drivers!!!