Still having problems with new XP install

[mssurrey]

I'm trying to load XP Pro 32 bit onto a new build (2x SATA HD's, MSI P6N sli platinum mobo, 1xDVD rom, 1 x DVD Burner, e6700) but soon after I get a message saying that no HD could be found and whether I want to continue or load some manufacturer's disc drivers. Eithr way after a while, I get a messaage saying that setup could not continue as no mass storage devices could not be found and t0 press F3 to exit !!!???

[minsonngo]

Try leaving on the essentials.

Essentials = motherboard, ONE stick of memory, video card, processor, processor heatsink & fan, power supply, one optical, and the HDD you want the OS on.


Are the HDDs detected in the BIOS setup?

Have you tried different SATA cables?

What are your system specs? Brand and model please.

[mssurrey]

MSI p6n sli platinum mobo, e6700, 2 x 320gb SATA HD's, 1 x ide DVD rom, 1 x SATA DVD burner, 1 x floppy, 1 x 320 mb 8800 GTS evga graphics card, 2 x 2gb mushkin ram and corsair 620w power supply.

No SATA drives recognised in the BIOS. I've set the BIOS to defaults. Even when I've tried missing the riad setup (ie not pressing F6 when prompted), I still get a message saying that 'XP cannot detect any hard drives and so XP setup will not continue. Press F3 to exit'

If it doesn't detect the hard drives, I can't setup windows? Does Xp noty automatically detect SATA drives without the need for drivers???

[minsonngo]

If the BIOS does not even detect the HDDs. Then there is a problem.

Do you have the HDDs connected to the motherboard via the SATA cables? Do you have the SATA power supply connectors hooked up to the SATA HDDs? Make sure everything is connected securely.

Do you have the 24 pin and the 4 pin power supply connectors hooked up to the motherboard? Do you have the 6 pin PCI-E power supply connector hooked up to the video card?


Do you want to setup the HDDs in RAID configuration or just regular configuration?

[mssurrey]

Everything seems connected. I have a sata dvd and that shows up in the BIOS. It's only the H/drives that dont show up. All fans on, MB light on, graphics connectors connected, 24 pin connected.

The power supply to the Hd's is a 3 way connector which connects the 2 x Hd's and the 1 x dvd burner. So if the dvd powers up, i assume that the Hd's do as well (my case an antec 900 does not have a HD light so I can't tell if they power up).

I was under the impression that the bios does not nesessarily detect sata drives and that XP drivers have to be loaded first (does Xp not have generic drivers for sata drives).

I am looking to setup as RAID but i've also tried a non-raid setup only to come to the same message that HD are not detected and that setup will not continue...

[whubbard]

I would update the BIOS. Hopefully a new revision will find the drives.

[minsonngo]

List your system specs (brand and model of every major component)


Like I said before. Try only the essentials outside of the case on a nonconductive surface.

Essentials = motherboard, ONE stick of memory, video card, processor, processor heatsink & fan, power supply, one optical, and the HDD you want the OS on.

[mssurrey]

Thanks Minsonngo. I did a physical check of all components and their connections only to find that when I connected one drive only (instead of two) , it would show up in the BIOS!

Working my way through, I traced the problem to a faulty power connetor cable!

Replaced with a spare and now both drives show up in the BIOS.

Once again, thanks for all your help.

[minsonngo]

No problem mssurrey.

Have fun with your new build.