SATA Drive

If you're installing from scratch, you need either to purchase an internal floppy drive, or build a slipstreamed XP install CD with the RAID driver on it.

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

If the 8400 has Windows XP w/sp2, doesn't it already have built in SATA drivers? I recently reinstalled Windows on a new drive and didn't have to load any SATA drivers when it prompts you to hit F6, and it located my Hard Drive fine.

the motherboard must have it built-in then, because in my device manager it shows under controllers a Intel 82801FR SATA ACHI Controller, and in my Bios it isn't set to ATA mode.

XP SP2 doesn't have native support, no.

If it worked without the floppy, your SATA controller was set to ATA comptibility mode.

Did you reinstall over the existing install, or format and install?

nope, this was a replacement HD that Dell sent when the old one failed. I didn't pay close attention to the guy when he started the process, but I do know he didn't insert any floppies or press F6. Maybe the drive had the drivers on it somehow, who knows?

all updates done incl. win xp sp2 - but no it does not appear to have SATA drivers.  Thanks anyways

thank you very much.  though under warranty, i'm not sure dell would oblige with a new XP Cd with SATA drivers on it

format & install. thanks