can't load win xp onto sata hdd

[deadman.inc]

i can't load win xp onto the new wd sata hdd, i have loaded it on to the ide hdd tho. i loaded it onto the ide hdd thru dos, and attempted it to load it onto the sata hdd the same way, but no luck.

i booted up to win xp thru the ide hdd, and checked if it picked up my sata hdd. it did. i formated it, and even laoded gamas onto the hdd, and played them. it does go into setup, when i try loading win xp onto the sata hdd, but it never asks for the drivers. . . . it gave me an optoin to enter and continue, and F3 to exit, but not F6. here is wht i did:

98 boot disk in floppy, win xp pro cd in primary master (D
i have a win xp boot disk as well
first boot device set as floppy, second as cd rom, and third as C:
boot to dos using 98 boot disk
put in the xp boot disk
run smartdrv
changed to my cdrom directory (primary master, D
typed in 'cd \i386' enter and then typed in 'winnt' >>>>> got this error 'bad command or file name'
again: typed in 'cd \i386' enter and then typed in 'winnt' >>>>> WORKS

THESE ARE THE XP PRO SETUP WINDOWS
first window:
Windows XP Setup

setup needs to know where the windows xp files are located. enter the path where hte windows xp files are to be found.

D:

ENTER=Continue F3=Exit


'ENTER'


second window:
windows xp setup


reading INf file Dosnet.inf


third window:
Windows XP professional Setup

windows xp requires a hard drive volume with at least 369 migabytes of free disk space. . . . . .
setup was unable to locate such a drive with teh required amount of free space.
setup cannot continue. press enter to ext

ENTER=Exit

'Enter'

it never mentioned the F6 option at the bottom of the screen. . . wht do i do?

-thanks

[kevinf]

ur not supposed to press f6 at the "welcome to windows" part, u were suppose to press it right when it is seting up the devices and has all these names on the bottom

[deadman.inc]

those are the only three windows the are displayed during the setup process, and neither one of em have the f6 option in them there is another window, it says it can't find the swap file, it cannot continue with windows setup. . it also dosn't have te f6 option

[spyder003]

Try disconnecting the IDE drive so that only the SATA drive is connected. When you do a fresh install of XP it should prompt you to "Press F6 to load 3rd party drivers". Hit F6 and install the SATA drivers from a floppy.

[deadman.inc]

yea, have done it, in fact, it's disconnected rite now. i only have my sata hdd connected rite now, have also tried after clearing cmos. . . none of my friends have a copy of win xp. . . they have those restore cds that came with there comps, so i can't try any other copy of win xp, and also can't buy another copy, well i can, but don't want to waste money, you can't return em. so wht do you guys suggest? any other brite ideas?

[Confused]

Is this a retail or OEM copy of XP? If either it should prompt you to hit F6 to install 3rd party drivers. They need to be on a floppy with floppy in drive when you hit F6. You won't get a screen for the prompt, it will come up in the task bar at bottom of screen and will be at begining of install.
Chas

PS
Disconnect the IDE drive while loading to the SATA.

[Mesaeus]

Okay deadman.inc, I'm back. Firstly, have you tried pressing F6 repeatedly and continously as soon as you see the blue screen of the setup ? I don't know for sure (never tried it) if it also works when you manually start setup like you describe (this is something which almost nobody uses and is most certainly not officially supported by MS), but you should start pressing F6 as soon as you see a blue text screen, no matter if there's a mention of F6 or not. It really should be able to boot from the Windows XP cd. Can you download memtest86+ and check if your memory is ok ? Even if you were succesful when installing on the IDE, I just want to be able to scrap things of the list of possible reasons why your XP cd does not work. Also, you can try making a copy of the setup cd if you have Nero or another copying program present. I do not think the boot failure is because of bad media, but it doesn't hurt to try. Obviously make this copy in another pc to make sure it's not your cdrom drive that's the problem.

Try disconnecting everything but the basics (video, mb, cpu, memory, sata and psu), remove any expansion card except video. Maybe setup is crashing while trying to load a driver.

[deadman.inc]

i have tried that, pressing F6, but not continously, i havn't done it when it's loading those files tho, i think i should do it when it does that. i have also connected the bare minimums and tried, like a long time ago, didn't work

i don't think it'll help makin a copy either, because the cd itself is like OEM but it was dirt cheap from some unknown website, like 30 bucks, it's most probably pirated, bought it like a long time ago, saw it, told me dad, and bought it, when i read wht it said on the website, somthing about can't register and stuff, obviously it was pirated. but im not going to post it on here, because i already did, and got warned by a mod not to post things like that on here, but it's pirated 100% ! im going to buy the windows xp cd tho if this dosn't work out, i am in college and should get a college student discount at comp USA or best buy or somplace , hopefully, rite? that answer your question confused?

[Lord Quake]

Your Problem is the SATA drivers.
First, go and get updated SATA drivers for your mainboard, in my case i had to go the the Silicon Image website as Asustek hadnt got the new ones.
Put them onto a floppy / CD, Boot from the XP CDROM, the fact its a copy wont matter, it will still have all the files on there, Press F2 to force additional drivers and feed it your new SATA drivers.
The rest of the installation will continue as normal.
I would also disconnect any unnecessary devices for the installation. Just keep Video, Floppy, CD and your SATA drive conected.
(I had same problems as the drivers supplied by my mainboard manufacturer and also the ones on their website didn't work with XP).

If your SATA controller chips code is an Sil xxxx then go to the Silicon Image website, they wll have the newest ones.

Let me know if it works.

[deadman.inc]

where do i find my sata controller chips? im no where near my comp rite, and will hardly have time to work on it, becaue im going to chicago day after tomorrow, and tomorrow i have classes, meaing i'll be at my friend's house tomorrow, the whole day. i have to pack tonite for chicago. so i'll barely have one hour to work on it dosn't that womp!!! but i'll post back if i have any luck tonite

[Confused]

Your mobo CD will have the drivers. They have to be on a floppy as that is the only option presented by XP to load 3rd party drivers.

Again you will not get a screen prompt. It will come up in the task bar.
Chas