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**TriggerFinger** · 08-03-2008, 08:44 AM

What BIOS level is currently installed?

About XP/Vista BIOS... AFAIK they are one and the same as the BIOS is hardware related. I thinking if WinPhlash.exe has a Vista or an XP version but I really doubt. Assuming this is only for Vista (and considering all the headache in forcing an update through DOS), I would try installing Vista and run the BIOS update for Vista.

But this is not what I am concerned about. Having read the thread again, the original problem is that BIOS does not see the correct hard drive or something like that, am I correct? Aside from updating the BIOS, what other things have you attempted or tried to do to resolve this issue? I am asking because, it seems that we have not addressed the initial problem.

I am assuming that before while still in Linux and even the OS before this, you have a good running system. This alone tells you that you have good working BIOS. It is only until recently when you tried to install back XP that it said there were no HDD found. You checked in BIOS and there it tells you it has 2 100GB hard drives. You ran CHKDSK and it gave you a report. This part confuses me because XP install says you do not have an HDD installed but CHKDSK gives a report that you have one. Hmmm, did you run CHKDSK using the same XP install CD that you used earlier to install Windows? Also, what XP install CD are you using?

If it is OK with you, forget about updating the BIOS first. Here's what I need you to do...

Physically remove the hard drive and use it on another PC (via a USB connected enclosure). There you will see if immediately if you have 2 100GB drives or 1 x 200GB(?) with 2 partitions. You will also know if you have SATA or PATA drive.
Format the drive as you please.
Reset CMOS and set BIOS to default.
Put the hard drive back in and try installation of XP again.

EDIT:
I came across some information that AR21S is using SATA (no wonder). Follow the steps in the page below to install XP..

http://support.vaio.sony.co.uk/downl...=RAID_AR21.htm

Also download ORIGINAL drivers and Utilities from here (near bottom of page):
http://support.vaio.sony.co.uk/downl...=VGN-AR&m=2418

08-03-2008, 08:44 AM	#41 (permalink)
TriggerFinger Moderator Hardware Team Join Date: Jan 2008 Location: USA Posts: 11,844 OS: Vista SP1, XP SP3, PCLinuxOS2007	Re: Hardrives Don't exsist What BIOS level is currently installed? About XP/Vista BIOS... AFAIK they are one and the same as the BIOS is hardware related. I thinking if WinPhlash.exe has a Vista or an XP version but I really doubt. Assuming this is only for Vista (and considering all the headache in forcing an update through DOS), I would try installing Vista and run the BIOS update for Vista. But this is not what I am concerned about. Having read the thread again, the original problem is that BIOS does not see the correct hard drive or something like that, am I correct? Aside from updating the BIOS, what other things have you attempted or tried to do to resolve this issue? I am asking because, it seems that we have not addressed the initial problem. I am assuming that before while still in Linux and even the OS before this, you have a good running system. This alone tells you that you have good working BIOS. It is only until recently when you tried to install back XP that it said there were no HDD found. You checked in BIOS and there it tells you it has 2 100GB hard drives. You ran CHKDSK and it gave you a report. This part confuses me because XP install says you do not have an HDD installed but CHKDSK gives a report that you have one. Hmmm, did you run CHKDSK using the same XP install CD that you used earlier to install Windows? Also, what XP install CD are you using? If it is OK with you, forget about updating the BIOS first. Here's what I need you to do... Physically remove the hard drive and use it on another PC (via a USB connected enclosure). There you will see if immediately if you have 2 100GB drives or 1 x 200GB(?) with 2 partitions. You will also know if you have SATA or PATA drive. Format the drive as you please. Reset CMOS and set BIOS to default. Put the hard drive back in and try installation of XP again. EDIT: I came across some information that AR21S is using SATA (no wonder). Follow the steps in the page below to install XP.. http://support.vaio.sony.co.uk/downl...=RAID_AR21.htm Also download ORIGINAL drivers and Utilities from here (near bottom of page): http://support.vaio.sony.co.uk/downl...=VGN-AR&m=2418 __________________ DBAN - Memtest86+ - BartPE - Linux LiveCD - ImgBurn - HDD Diags - Disk Copy HOW TO BURN AN ISO FILE Last edited by TriggerFinger; 08-03-2008 at 09:02 AM.