Windows xp won't install, thinks HD's aren't there.

  • Thread starter Thread starter kohlrabi_croce
  • Start date Start date
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kohlrabi_croce

HAve been having a very hard time trying to install windows xp,
but I think it's a hardware problem.

I probably fried the first C: drive by plugging it into the power
supply while
the computer was on. After this I could not format it, and wast old
the disk was bad. Ok then I bought a new one.

When I installed that, windows would not take. I managed it
once by deleting the raid array in the bios for that part, then
installed it, then it ran. Then I added in the driver for the raid
controller. After I managed to get the raid array set up again and
formatted in windows, I rebooted and got a BSOD.

Then I tried to re-format again, and got a message saying
the HD was unbootable, Then when I kept trying, it simply
said there was no HD. This was after completely disconnecting
the raid array in every way.

So then I thought, well maybe the first drive didn;t get fried after
all. I'll try it and see. I got the same message: no HD connected
to the computer.

So it recognizes neither IDE drive for the C: drive. I wonder if
maybe the mobo got damaged or something. Could it be the
bios?
 
kohlrabi_croce said:
HAve been having a very hard time trying to install windows xp,
but I think it's a hardware problem.

I probably fried the first C: drive by plugging it into the power
supply while
the computer was on. After this I could not format it, and wast old
the disk was bad. Ok then I bought a new one.

When I installed that, windows would not take. I managed it
once by deleting the raid array in the bios for that part, then
installed it, then it ran. Then I added in the driver for the raid
controller. After I managed to get the raid array set up again and
formatted in windows, I rebooted and got a BSOD.

Then I tried to re-format again, and got a message saying
the HD was unbootable, Then when I kept trying, it simply
said there was no HD. This was after completely disconnecting
the raid array in every way.

So then I thought, well maybe the first drive didn;t get fried after
all. I'll try it and see. I got the same message: no HD connected
to the computer.

So it recognizes neither IDE drive for the C: drive. I wonder if
maybe the mobo got damaged or something. Could it be the
bios?
Click to expand...


But try clearing BIOS and starting from factory defaults. Might work.
But then you might have smoked your IDE when you plugged in that drive
while powered-on.
 
My best guess is that the Motherboard disc circuitry has been damaged by
that fault..
It can't be repaired if so.
Have you tried plugging the HD into all the different sockets on the board ?
Mouse
@@@
 
kohlrabi_croce said:
HAve been having a very hard time trying to install windows xp,
but I think it's a hardware problem.

I probably fried the first C: drive by plugging it into the power
supply while
the computer was on. After this I could not format it, and wast old
the disk was bad. Ok then I bought a new one.
Click to expand...

<snip>

Nope...you must have some other problem
as plugging the drive into the powersupply would not have ruined it
 
My best guess is that the Motherboard disc circuitry has been damaged by
that fault..
It can't be repaired if so.
Have you tried plugging the HD into all the different sockets on the board ?
Mouse
@@@
Click to expand...


Good idea....so ok I took the new HD, hooked it up to another
computer, and formatted it no problem. I even copieda file to
it. So the drive is fine.

On the computer wiht the problem, I installed a card with
2 IDE sockets on them. First I plugged in the old HD.
No go. No HD recognized by the system.

Then I put in the new HD and plugged it into the
card. Same thing.

So it's not the HD. I guess it is the mobo.

Triple darn it.
 
I haven't seen the whole thread, so excuse me if I'm off base here...
Good idea....so ok I took the new HD, hooked it up to another
computer, and formatted it no problem. I even copieda file to
it. So the drive is fine.
Click to expand...
On the computer wiht the problem, I installed a card with
2 IDE sockets on them. First I plugged in the old HD.
No go. No HD recognized by the system.
Click to expand...

Do you have a CD drive to try on the mainboards IDE ports? If you hook one
up, can you boot (an XP install disc) from it?
Then I put in the new HD and plugged it into the
card. Same thing.
Click to expand...

You do realize that when you connec the hard drive to an addon card that the
BIOS will NEVER see the hard drive and (usually) you need to install drivers
before the system will use the drive.

My suggestions...

- Check the CMOS settings and make sure that all four IDE ports are set to
AUTOMATIC DETECTION and also that you have not disabled any of the IDE
controllers.

- Check your users manual to make sure you don't also have a third party IDE
controller. My ASUS mainboard also has a Promise controller on it, which
gives me an extra IDE port. The BIOS won't see drives here and I need to
install a driver to make use of any drives connected there.

- Go to the hard drive manufacturers website and download their
diagnostic/erasing software. It should boot from a diskette or CD. Connect
ONLY the problem hard drive to the problem mainboard - no CD's or other IDE
devices connected - and boot from the manufacturers diskette. Is the drive
detected then? Can you "Zero Out" (erase) the drive?
 
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