Windows Setup cant find Hard Drive.?

Question

So I bought a new SATA hard drive. Installed it in my computer and everything, then i went to reboot computer to try to install Windows XP but it says Setup can't find Hard Drive to install it on. Does anyone who whats wrong?

Answer 1

You probably need to download the SATA drivers for your motherboard. Check your motherboard's documentation about how it handles SATA. It's likely that you will need to make a floppy disk with the SATA drivers, which Windows will ask for during the setup process.

Answer 2

I know this problem, but i cant remember exactly how to fix it, but i will try

while windows setup is loading, on the bottom of the screen, there will be an option for 'installing 3rd party drivers' and i believe it says F8

If you click F8 (or whatever key it is), then it will ask you to insert the SATA CD

and then, you should be good to go

good luck

Answer 3

Check first in BIOS if your SATA drive was detected. Press F1 or Del to enter BIOS. If the SATA drive does not appear in Standard CMOS Features, go to Integrated Peripherals. Look for something there that enables/disables the SATA controller.

Same thing happened to me on a Foxconn motherboard.

Answer 4

When booting off the XP CD press F6 to load SCSI drivers, have the controller driver on a Floppy disk ready to load and it will give you prompts on how to install. If you do not have any device drivers for your hard drive try changing the disk to IDE from AHCI in the BIOS. Caution this may erase any data on the drive so only change it if you plan on reloading your OS after you have backed up your stuff.