Alienware XP Install issue

[Build One]

So a friend of mine fried her HD's in her Alienware laptop. I've built a few computers so I'm thinking: "how hard could it be to install new HD's and XP?" So I tell her I'll work on it because she really didn't want to pay Alienware $250 JUST to look at her machine (fixing it or not was another cost beyond that.)

So, I get her hard drives in...but XP will not install. I get to the point where it wants you to choose a drive to install into and XP isn't seeing the new drives.

I know I'm skimming the top of this issue but I'm not certain what all you guys might need to know about the system.

The drives are seen during the BIOS boot. The Western Digital Life guard program sees them and preps them....but not XP! Jeeze. So I go back into BIOS turn on the RAID...configure the RAID...but this laptop DOESN'T have an A: drive so I can't install different RAID drivers for the install...SOOOOOooo I disable the RAID in the BIOS....undo the RAID assignment....use the WD Lifeguard tool...prep them as separate drives....do the Ol' XP install mambo and XP STILL won't see them to install!! I've cycled through these steps about 10 times now trying to get XP to see them and crank up the install. I always end up with the setupdd file error and the pretty blue screen because it finds no drives for me to choose the install for.

What the heck am I missing or doing wrong?....clues or directions to look?

Pardon for any crazy spelling 'techniques'....

[mairving]

Probably need to find a XP driver for those drives or drive controllers. Look on Alienware's site or email them for instructions. You will need a floppy drive, an external USB one will do fine. When XP loads the setup, you have a few short seconds when it tells you to press F6 to load drivers. Once you do it will search for them on the floppy, install them and then you can install Windows.

[Build One]

You know, most of the solve issues for this particular error (setupdd) is a 'bad memory stick' but mairving has the exact right answer. After about 3 more hours of headache I did locate someone with a USB A:...I was thinking in my head "this is acrap shoot with the RAID drivers (since I didn't have them setting up as RAID)"..seemed like a logical thought...but...I did eventually find the drivers for this particular Alienware laptop (which took an excessive amount of searching because without having an Alienware account they deem you unworthy to know their specs....

I did the whole USB A: drive F6 and lo'and behold....it installed XP.

Thanks mairving..