Techie Question

GrayDuckGrayDuck Join Date: 2003-05-08 Member: 16134Members, Constellation
in Off-Topic
<div class="IPBDescription">Windows Install</div> My new computer came in (YAY!) and I want to wipe it out and put a clean installation of windows on it. I’ve tried 3 Windows XP disks (including the one that came with the system) and it tells me that there is no hard drive found to install windows on. However – it boots up just fine into windows, and runs normally.

Ummm… the only other stuff I can mention that might clue you into my situation is 1) system details: Dell Dimension 8400, P4 3.2GHz, 160 Serial ATA HDD – NO FLOPPY DISK – although if I need one to get this figured out I can hunt one down…. 2) Desktop support used to be my job – I’ve probably done >100 clean installs of operating systems – and this one has me stumped!

Any help anyone out there has is greatly appreciated!
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Comments

  • XythXyth Avatar Join Date: 2003-11-04 Member: 22312Members
    edited July 2004
    Your problem is that you have a serial ATA drive. You'll notice that at the begining of the windows install bluescreen down at the bottom it will say somthing like "press f6 if you need to install 3rd party Scsi or raid drivers". And that's what you need to do. You'll need a floppy drive and a floppy disk with the raid drivers for your motherboard on it. Then you press F6 when the above message pops up and it'll lead you through some more stuff and eventually it will load the drivers off of the floppy and that's it.
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  • GrayDuckGrayDuck Join Date: 2003-05-08 Member: 16134Members, Constellation
    I think you were on the right track, Xyth, but it didn't work...


    I made a floppy disk using the Dell utilities CD that came with the system, it was specifically for the sata drive.
    I pressed F6, then I got to a screen to load drivers, I did - and I heard the floppy drive working so I'm pretty sure it worked.
    Got to the windows install screen, and then it failed saying no disk was found to install windows onto again. <!--emo&:angry:--><img src='http://www.unknownworlds.com/forums/html//emoticons/mad.gif' border='0' style='vertical-align:middle' alt='mad.gif' /><!--endemo-->

    I think I may end up calling Dell's tech support on this one - YUCK!! Someone PLEASE save me from the agony of being patronized by someone who knows less than me!!
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  • TychoCelchuuuTychoCelchuuu Anememone Join Date: 2002-03-23 Member: 345Members
    Unfortunately, I'm not much of an expert on SATA drives, but that is definitely your problem. Tech support should be able to get you up and running in a jiffy after the 27 hour wait time.
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