XP setup cannot find Hard drive but...?

[Guest]

Im trying to install XP Pro on a Western Digital 80GB drvive custom built
system.

After waiting like 10 mins for XP set up to detect my configuation with
nothing more then a black screen it finally starts copying all the setup
files. I get the HD light and it appears to be coping the files.

Also POST test seems to take longer then normal to detect the devices on the
channels but it does finally detect them properly?

I get the to the screen where it says to install a new copy of Windows
press ENTER
When I press ENTER it immeadtly says setup did not find any hard disk drives
installed...... blah blah blah Press F3 to exit.

It just copied the setup files how in the world does the drive not be found
(can see HD light and hear the drive)?

I extremely frustrated. I pulled out all the extra stuff out of the system
to see if that would help. Down to bare minimum (the HD, 1 stick RAM, CD Rom
and video card)
Ive cleared the CMOS twice. I dont have a floopy on this drive nor a copy of
FDISK to do it manually. Is it a a partition problem since essentally there
is no partition yet. Windows XP should create partition for you but I cant
even get that far. Appentaly even if i create my own bootable CD all I can
see is the boot files and not any utilities i copy to the disk.

The HD is on Pri Master is seen by BIOS
CD on Sec Master is seen by BIOS

Someone please help

System:
AMD 2200XP -512 SDRam
80GB WD HD

 

[Richard Urban]

Windows XP setup (when booting from the CD) copies the initial files to RAM,
not the hard drive. After you partition and format the drive the remainder
of the install places files on the hard drive.

Apparently setup is not finding a hard drive it can use. Check your cables.

--

Regards:

Richard Urban

aka Crusty (-: Old B@stard

If you knew half as much as you think you know,
You'd realize you didn't know what you thought you knew!

 

[Guest]

once i chaned the jupper to Cable Select instead of manually setting to
Master everything was lightninng fast



hmm go fig

Thanks

Windows XP setup (when booting from the CD) copies the initial files to RAM,
not the hard drive. After you partition and format the drive the remainder
of the install places files on the hard drive.

Apparently setup is not finding a hard drive it can use. Check your cables.

--

Regards:

Richard Urban

aka Crusty (-: Old B@stard

If you knew half as much as you think you know,
You'd realize you didn't know what you thought you knew!

 

[Bill James]

Sounds like a logic problem with the hard drive, but at least you have it resolved. Just wondering about one think. Most motherboards have 2 IDE connections, and unless you have a second hard drive it's usually best to connect the CDRom drive to one, the hard drive to the other. Much faster for copying from CD that way.

--

Bill James
Microsoft MVP - Shell/User

Windows VBScript Utilities » www.billsway.com/vbspage/
Windows Tweaks & Tips » www.billsway.com/notes_public/

once i chaned the jupper to Cable Select instead of manually setting to
Master everything was lightninng fast



hmm go fig

Thanks

 

[Guest]

I agree and that is the way its configured as I said in my orginal email.
The HD is on IDE Primary Master and CD is on IDE Secondary Master. (nothing
in system is using the SLAVE connections as of yet)

If I connected them to same channel, it would be defeating the purpose of an
ATA133 HD b/c it would have to slow to match the CDRom at 33 LOL

I just never seen a drive that works faster using CS setiing instead of
manually specifying to use as MASTER drive.

 

[Bill James]

OK, just checking. The thread was rather long and twisted, and at some point is sounded like they were on the same channel.

--

Bill James
Microsoft MVP - Shell/User

Windows VBScript Utilities » www.billsway.com/vbspage/
Windows Tweaks & Tips » www.billsway.com/notes_public/