Windows XP Install on mSATA Drive in IDE Enclosure

[Guest Guest]

Hi,

 

I've bought an IDE to mSATA adapter to put into an old Dell Latitude D505 Laptop. I've formatted the disk etc & Windows XP Professional installs "fine". However, whenever the computer fully shuts down (and then boots up), it complains it cannot find a boot partition.

 

When the install finishes, I've checked to see the capacity of the disk etc & it shows that 3-odd gigabytes have been used. I can launch programs etc; but whenever I shut the machine down & try and boot again it doesn't load full stop. Funnily enough, if I select "Restart" and the machine doesn't fully shut itself off, Windows XP boots fine & I get the usual splash screen etc on boot up.

 

I've read about marking disks as "active" etc before. I've tried to boot into Hiren's Boot CD & launch Mini XP etc. However, every tool I'm using is saying the disk is unformatted and doesn't class it as a disk with a Windows install on.

 

I know theoretically I could "Ghost" a Windows install to the disk; however I don't have another machine that I'm able to install XP on (I'm all Mac here!). Just looking to see if anyone on here has any idea as to what the cause of the problem could be? I've tried with 2x mSATA drives before and I still get the same issues.

 

Any suggestions are welcome!

[Michael]

I'd have a look at the BIOS and see what the boot priorities are (as a starting point).

 

This makes sense given you can boot from a disc and install XP (in 2021, I hope you have a good reason)!

[Guest Guest]

I'd have a look at the BIOS and see what the boot priorities are (as a starting point).

 

This makes sense given you can boot from a disc and install XP (in 2021, I hope you have a good reason)!

 

Ha! I even went on eBay to find a sealed Dell Windows XP install disk as I didn't trust downloading an ISO online. I just want it for nostalgic purposes really. It shipped with XP and was the machine I grew up with when I was younger. I did contemplate Windows 7 too; but with it also being out of support I still view XP as the "better OS" between the two. I probably speak for many on here too! It's not going to be online etc so zero risk IMO.

 

I've checked this and the HDD is the priority. In the BIOS it also reads the correct model for the drive; so it's not as if the BIOS isn't detecting anything. Even pressing F12 & selecting the HDD brings up the same message. It's weird as I've tried installing Windows 7 as well and the same thing happens. Any other suggestions you can think of?

 

- - - Updated - - -

 

I'd have a look at the BIOS and see what the boot priorities are (as a starting point).

 

This makes sense given you can boot from a disc and install XP (in 2021, I hope you have a good reason)!

 

Ha! I even went on eBay to find a sealed Dell Windows XP install disk as I didn't trust downloading an ISO online. I just want it for nostalgic purposes really. It shipped with XP and was the machine I grew up with when I was younger. I did contemplate Windows 7 too; but with it also being out of support I still view XP as the "better OS" between the two. I probably speak for many on here too! It's not going to be online etc so zero risk IMO.

 

I've checked this and the HDD is the priority. In the BIOS it also reads the correct model for the drive; so it's not as if the BIOS isn't detecting anything. Even pressing F12 & selecting the HDD brings up the same message. It's weird as I've tried installing Windows 7 as well and the same thing happens. Any other suggestions you can think of?

[Michael]

Try resetting the BIOS back to factory default, as something seems amiss.

 

The only other possibility is a hidden partition before your XP installation. Make sure all existing partitions are deleted during install - there should only be two on XP if performing a standard install. UEFI didn't exist back then, so wouldn't apply.

[bald_pig]

If you launch the windows installer again, is it picking up the partitions and/or the windows install?

[Guest Guest]

If you launch the windows installer again, is it picking up the partitions and/or the windows install?

 

Nope, just "unallocated space" (or words similar to). Even running recovery on the XP disk reports nothing/no installs. It's really weird...

[Guest Guest]

Morning everyone. Just wanted to "bump" this incase anyone had any further suggestions perhaps?