PC playing up

[Titaniumplanck]

Hi,

My PC has a major problem in that windows xp will not even boot up using only system.ini and win.ini.

A re-install of windows is in order which would normally be a simple proceedure.

Small problem, the darn thing wont recognise either hard drive in windows xp setup

Both hard drives are connected using sata.

Both hard drives are recognised in bios, command prompt and in safe mode of windows.

The error in windows setup is that it cannot detect a hard drive, stating the hard drive may not be connected, powered etc... the hard drives are powered and connected, because as previously stated bios detects them.

I understand that because they are connected by sata to the mobo it is likely ill need drivers to install windows with. On completing my personal construction of the computer, i got someone else to install windows because im terrible at understanding computers and having patience with them. They used a floppy disk to install drivers on my computer so that windows could install.

I cannot remeber what drivers they used, how they used the floppy disk to get windows xp to install.

I have drivers on a cd which came with my mobo, however the computer refuses to use them, it states that i "dont have hpa harddrives" or something when i try to boot with that cd... dont know whats happening there at all.

My computer, in as much detail as i can provide is...

Motherboard: Gigabyte - GA-K8NS Pro (nvidia nforce3 250) socket 754
Processor: Athlon 64 3400+

I think thats all thats needed but just in case:-

Western Digital Raptor 75gb harddrive (the one with corrupt xp on it)
Western Digital Caviar 200gb harddrive (used as storage)
Geforce 6800GT 256mb, connected using AGP
Creative soundblaster 24bit,
2 x 512mb ddr400

The problem was brought on by windows update malfunctioning in some way, no hardware modifications or adjustments have taken place.

Any help would be very welcome.

Thanks