Windows cannot find any hard drives attached to your computer

[Shrimpersfan]

Or something along those lines.

 

I currently have Vista HP installed and am trying to install xp as a dual boot. I boot from disc and setup loads files and when it gets to the screen where it should give me the partition menu it gives the above error message. A HDD is definately connected. Maybe some problems within BIOS?

 

Any help greatly appreciated.

 

David

[contink]

Is the hard drive connected via a raid controller or something similar that requires the good old F6 - load 3rd party driver approach to get it to see the hard drive?

[Shrimpersfan]

To be honest i'm not sure, i have only had the laptop a few weeks, i was thinking same thing though. Havent had time to try yet

[PEO]

How to dual boot Vista and XP (with Vista installed first) -- the step-by-step guide

[SYNACK]

It will be because your hard drive is on a SATA controller. Windows XP installer disks don't suport this kind of driver by default so you will have to download the SATA driver onto a disk (probably get a disk drive) and use the F6 method.

 

Your other, easier option is to go into the BIOS of the laptop and set it to emulate an IDE drive just for the installation, install the SATA drivers in XP then set the BIOS back to native SATA.

 

You can also integrate the textmode drivers into a XP CD but but is a pain.

[PEO]

crap yeh i remember that happening on my abit board, and had to use floppy, goes to show how long i haven't installed xp on stata drive

[Shrimpersfan]

Will a USB pen work? Also, where will i be able to find out what SATA driver i need?

[SYNACK]

Unfortunately XP setup only pays attention to a floppy disk drive. You should be able to grab the driver off the HP site for your PC.

[Shrimpersfan]

So could i just install the driver (through vista) and then go and run xp setup but by then using the f6 key?

[PEO]

do you not have a usb floppy drive?

 

FREECOM EXTERNAL FLOPPY DRIVE 3.5 USB2 WIN&MAC - Misco.co.uk

[Shrimpersfan]

I do not but thinking about it now, I can get hold of one. When will they need to be installed? While setting up xp?

[SYNACK]

I do not but thinking about it now, I can get hold of one. When will they need to be installed? While setting up xp?

 

Just while running the initial setup off the cd.

[Shrimpersfan]

Cool, will the driver definately be on that HP website or will i need to know the make/Model of HDD and manually find that one?

[PEO]

you will need to know the make and model of the motherbaord. as SATA controller is built in the board you only need the sata driver.

 

go to the manufacturers website and then do a search through support

[Shrimpersfan]

Right will do, isn't trying to find motherboard make and model a bit of a pain? I'll give it a go tonight and let you know.

 

Cheers all.

 

David

[PEO]

nope should find the model some where near the southbridge, and the name could be any where on the board , usually near the model