Unable to install Windows XP - Hard Disks Not Found

Question

i want to ask a question about windows installation package. first, i use a DVD windows installer with automatic detect my driver. when i use it. it's do normally. but in my new windows installation package. when the windows finished scan the disc. i found this n make me confused. "set up did not find any hard disk drives installed in your computer. Make sure any hardd disk drives are powered on and properly connected to your computer and that any disk related hardware configuration is correct. This may involve running a manufacturer supplied diagnostic or setup program. Set up can't continue. To quit setup press F3."

What am I missing?

Answer 1

You will probably have to load your disk controller/sata drivers since Windows XP is not shipped with any AHCI-compliant hard disk driver.

Have a look at this KB for a How-To: http://support.microsoft.com/kb/314859

If you do not own a floppy drive you can integrate your driver into the setup disk. This involves burning a slightly modified installation disk. A guide can be found here:

http://news.softpedia.com/news/Install-Windows-XP-On-SATA-Without-a-Floppy-F6-47807.shtml

Or have a look at this SU: http://superuser.com/questions/107066/can-xp-load-pre-installation-drivers-from-anywhere-other-than-a-floppy

Answer 2

Your harddrive is using a sata connection. This was not supported in XP. You will need to slipstream your installation disk so that the sata drivers are available at the installation time.

You can accomplish this via nLite.

Answer 3

This means the installer could not find a hard drive. Make sure you have a hard drive connected to your computer.

Answer 4

sorry for had to guess version you meant, I'm still not sure about this due to lack of info.

if you are installing windows xp onto a computer with acpi-enabled or raid-ed harddrive, maybe you need some third-party driver.

on win7 it may be better. i was not asked for acpi controller driver during installing win7.