[SOLVED] Problems installing XP on a SATA drive

White_Pointer · 07-22-2008, 06:36 PM

This one is really bamboozling me.

I'm attempting to install Windows XP SP1 on a new, 320GB Seagate SATA hard drive.

SATA is enabled in the BIOS, and I boot the computer using the XP installation CD. Since it's only a single drive and I'm not setting up a RAID, I figured I didn't need to bother pressing F6 to install a third party driver and just continued setup as normal.

So setup got to the point where I need to select the drive to install Windows on. Setup detected the drive fine, and I created a new partition with the maximum capacity. I then formatted the drive with the NTFS file system.

The format reached 100%, then setup came back at me and said there was an error with the drive and it could no longer read it. Even after rebooting and running XP setup again, it can not read the drive. I can't even delete the partition I created (if I attempt to do so, I get a blue screen of death).

I'm thinking possibly to install the 3rd party drivers that came with my motherboard at the beginning of setup even though I'm not setting up a RAID and seeing if that does anything, and if it still doesn't work the drive itself could be faulty (though I've never, ever had any problems with Seagates). However I believe there's also a possibility that SP1 setup doesn't recognise drives over 300GB so once it was formatted setup no longer detected it correctly (problem is, I don't have an SP2 disc to test that theory with).

Does anyone have any suggestions on this one?

White_Pointer · 07-23-2008, 08:16 PM

Okay, so I tried installing the RAID drivers - no luck. Also tried installing with an SP2 CD - no luck there either.

I did some more research and it appears to be exactly the same problem as this one:

setup cannot access disk

That is, during windows setup, after you press F8 to accept the license agreement and it shows the available volumes to install Windows to, it said "Setup cannot access this disk."

Looks like it was due to a faulty hard disk. The BIOS detected the drive just fine but when I actually went to use it, it wigged out - seems as though the the partition table was screwed. It also seemed to be misreading the total capacity as being 2199 Gigabytes (2 Terabytes...whoa).

I took the drive back to the store to get an exchange - they also tested it and saw the problems. So I have a replacement drive, but have not had the chance to test it yet. Will update when I do.

Deleted090308 · 07-24-2008, 08:01 AM

Hi

Is the new drive better?
If you need more help - please post the brand/model of the computer (or motherboard).

White_Pointer · 07-24-2008, 04:24 PM

Yes, the problem was the hard disk. I replaced that and it's now working. I have another issue now but that's for another thread :)

Deleted090308 · 07-24-2008, 09:54 PM

Good news.

07-22-2008, 06:36 PM	#1 (permalink)
White_Pointer Registered User Join Date: May 2007 Posts: 36 OS: Windows XP Pro	[SOLVED] Problems installing XP on a SATA drive This one is really bamboozling me. I'm attempting to install Windows XP SP1 on a new, 320GB Seagate SATA hard drive. SATA is enabled in the BIOS, and I boot the computer using the XP installation CD. Since it's only a single drive and I'm not setting up a RAID, I figured I didn't need to bother pressing F6 to install a third party driver and just continued setup as normal. So setup got to the point where I need to select the drive to install Windows on. Setup detected the drive fine, and I created a new partition with the maximum capacity. I then formatted the drive with the NTFS file system. The format reached 100%, then setup came back at me and said there was an error with the drive and it could no longer read it. Even after rebooting and running XP setup again, it can not read the drive. I can't even delete the partition I created (if I attempt to do so, I get a blue screen of death). I'm thinking possibly to install the 3rd party drivers that came with my motherboard at the beginning of setup even though I'm not setting up a RAID and seeing if that does anything, and if it still doesn't work the drive itself could be faulty (though I've never, ever had any problems with Seagates). However I believe there's also a possibility that SP1 setup doesn't recognise drives over 300GB so once it was formatted setup no longer detected it correctly (problem is, I don't have an SP2 disc to test that theory with). Does anyone have any suggestions on this one?

07-23-2008, 08:16 PM	#2 (permalink)
White_Pointer Registered User Join Date: May 2007 Posts: 36 OS: Windows XP Pro	Re: Problems installing XP on a SATA drive Okay, so I tried installing the RAID drivers - no luck. Also tried installing with an SP2 CD - no luck there either. I did some more research and it appears to be exactly the same problem as this one: setup cannot access disk That is, during windows setup, after you press F8 to accept the license agreement and it shows the available volumes to install Windows to, it said "Setup cannot access this disk." Looks like it was due to a faulty hard disk. The BIOS detected the drive just fine but when I actually went to use it, it wigged out - seems as though the the partition table was screwed. It also seemed to be misreading the total capacity as being 2199 Gigabytes (2 Terabytes...whoa). I took the drive back to the store to get an exchange - they also tested it and saw the problems. So I have a replacement drive, but have not had the chance to test it yet. Will update when I do. Last edited by White_Pointer : 07-23-2008 at 08:18 PM.

07-24-2008, 08:01 AM	#3 (permalink)
Deleted090308 Registered User Join Date: Jan 2007 Posts: 22,292 OS: Xp	Re: Problems installing XP on a SATA drive Hi Is the new drive better? If you need more help - please post the brand/model of the computer (or motherboard).

07-24-2008, 04:24 PM	#4 (permalink)
White_Pointer Registered User Join Date: May 2007 Posts: 36 OS: Windows XP Pro	Re: Problems installing XP on a SATA drive Yes, the problem was the hard disk. I replaced that and it's now working. I have another issue now but that's for another thread :)

07-24-2008, 09:54 PM	#5 (permalink)
Deleted090308 Registered User Join Date: Jan 2007 Posts: 22,292 OS: Xp	Re: Problems installing XP on a SATA drive Good news.