Trying to reinstall Windows XP, getting a hard drive error

Question

Ok, I am wanting to reinstall Windows XP on my 8400 because I have gotten some stuff on my computer I can't get rid of that causes my system to freeze fairly often.  I have it booting to CD first and when it goes through the setup and gets to the screen to hit enter to Install Windows XP I get the following error: Setup did not find any hard disk drives installed on your computer... Setup cannot continue, to quit setuppress F3   So how do I fix it so I can reinstall Windows?  Is my HDD dying or is something in BIOS set wrong or what?  Any help is greatly appreciated.  I did a search but only found a post about someone having blue screen issues which I am not haing.  The only problems I have been having is the system freezing.  Thanks!

ejn63 · Answer

You're better off using the Dell/Symantec quick restore (CTRL-F11 at power on).

If you must do a manual reload, you'll need:

The XP CD,
The floppy diskette with the SATA drivers on it (you can download the floppy builder from support.dell.com).
An INTERNAL (NOT USB) floppy diskette drive.

Power on with the XP CD in the drive, press F6 when indicated, insert the floppy and load the driver. The system will then see the drive, and you can continue the install.

If you do not have a floppy drive, you can make a slipstreamed CD with the XP install mode SATA drivers on it:

http://www.maximumpc.com/2005/01/how_to_slipstre.html

ejn63 · Answer

Yes.

Leadfoot212 · Answer

Ok, got it saved onto a floppy disk and hit F6, when it asks if I want to install anything to hit S, I do so and it says that the file txtsetup.oem could not be found.  I hit F6 when it asks if you have any SCSI or RAID drivers (something like that) to install, it continues to do it's thing on the bottom then goes to the screen where I get the file not found message.  So that's as far as I get and have to manually reboot as it freezes up on the install screen.

Leadfoot212 · Answer

Is this what I need to put on the floppy disk? Intel Application Accelerator RAID Edition, v.4.5.0.6515, A01Release Date:  02/23/2005Description:  First Initial Release.

ejn63 · Answer

Did you run that program above from your hard drive, with a blank floppy in the diskette drive? You must do that - you cannot simply copy the archive to the floppy. '

loucior12 · Answer

what kind of harddrive do you have?

ejn63 · Answer

It should be a simple matter of loading the driver. The other thing to verify is that your XP install CD has service pack 2 on it - it if's older (SP1 or earlier) it won't work.

Leadfoot212 · Answer

No but I just ran it and it did it's thing on the disk.  I have whatever was factory installed, I believe it's a Seagate 80GB 7200 SATA

Leadfoot212 · Answer

Do I need to install both items on the disk?  I got the same Hard Drive error I have been getting after doing the first one on the lust which was the RAID.

Leadfoot212 · Answer

Thanks for all the help, finally got it going!  :smileyhappy:

Leadfoot212 · Answer

I have made a slipstream image CD of the XP disc with SP2 on it

Leadfoot212 · Answer

Alright, it strted off great then about halfway into the installation I have a blue screen error I have no clue what to do with... A problem has been detected and windows has been shut down to prevent damage to your computer. If this is the first time...restart...If the screen appears again, follow these steps: I'm sure it has to do with the hard drive drivers I had to install from the floppy but I really have no clue what to do.  The steps mean nothing to me.  I am a noob as you can see.  Any help is appreciated!  Thanks! ps, I am on my husbands puter which is why I am on here.  ;)

ejn63 · Answer

If you have not done so, power on, press F12 and load and run the Dell diagnostics on the hard drive and the RAM - do extended tests on both.

Leadfoot212 · Answer

Ok I ran the diagnostics on the Hard Drive and it said it passed...I don't see anything about being able to check the RAM though.  After the HDD diagnostic I rebooted and still got the blue screen error.  Also, does that floppy disk need to be in or out of the drive?  Or does it make a difference?

Leadfoot212 · Answer

Don't know if this will make a difference...I replaced the CD Burner with a DVD Burner a couple months ago.  So I only have the DVD Burner and the original DVD ROM.  I have unplugged the DVD Burner but get the same error even after doing another format and install.  It got all the way through the reinstall, rebooted and while booting up the blue error came up.  I'm stuck. Message Edited by Leadfoot212 on 03-06-2006 11:07 PM

Storage, Drives & Media

Trying to reinstall Windows XP, getting a hard drive error

Was this post helpful?