Problem with installing XP

[higenbs1]

Hi

I've searched the forums and cannot find a solution to this problem in another post

When I installed Windows XP on my newly built PC, it asked me to format the HDD, which I did as one partition, it then appeared to be installing XP, and I got all the Microsoft propaganda text, and product key registration, and at the end of it it rebooted and now it keeps asking to Boot from the CD, as if it won't recognise the HDD.

What's strange is that it lists both IDE devices when you first turn it on. I've connected the HDD to IDE 0 as Master, and CD-ROM to IDE 1 as Master, as I've two IDE controllers on the motherboard.

I've tried playing with the Boot order, i.e. setting to HDD first, then CD-ROM, the Floppy - I've even tried all three levels as HDD, but it still asks for CD-ROM. When I put CD Rom in, it then starts installing Windows again, even though it lists the previous install (i.e. it asks me if I want to repair). I did this incase the previous install didn't work, and it still wants to boot from CD.......Grrrrrrrr!!!!

I read somewhere about when you format the partition, it may have been formatted as inactive, and about using FDisk to sort this, but surely with only one partition it should default to active. Could it be the IDE cable - although it does recognise the HDD and is certainly writing to it whilst installing XP

Any ideas would be great as I'm stumped

Thanks

[Rick]

Have you check the drive to make sure it is in fact set to active ?

If you allow it to boot from the cd
Then use the advanced options to make and set the partitions yourself.
You can then check the partition and make sure it is marked as active

[higenbs1]

I can't actually boot to Windows from the CD, it just asks me to repair the current install, or else it restarts the machine. I can't get into any system to allow me to check the HDD partition. Is there any way I can do this?

[jlreich]

I had a similar problem with a recent build. I installed XP no problem, but when it went to reboot to finish the install, the HDD was not recognized in the bios. It kept booting from the CD, going into the initial install screen.


Like you, I had set the jumper to master out of habit(one HDD), even though it came set on cable select. Well, I put it back on cable select, and what do you know, it worked. I was reading somewhere the other day that the 80pin cables like to have the jumper on cable select now days.

Worth a try. Hope that helps.

[Sylvander]

It used to be [Win9x] that during the installation of Windows:

If Setup.exe encountered an item of hardware that it was unable to set up for use [because it didn't have a driver included on the CD] then:

The user was expected to switch off the PC, then switch on again and;

Setup would detect that windows had already been installed and ask the user if he wanted to use "Safe Recovery". When setup continued with safe recovery it would read a file that indicated that the last installation had stalled at a particular item of harware and that item would be skipped. Every time such an item of hardware was encountered the procedure would need to be repeated.
Eventually all problem items of hardware would be skipped and setup would be complete. If Windows was capable of booting without those items they could then be set up for use from within Windows.

Do you have a vital item of hardware connected for which WinXP does not include a driver and is therefore unable to set it up for use?
I'm wondering if setup "knows" it cannot continue unless this job is completed, but every time it tries to get a driver from the WinXP CD it fails, so it goes into a loop.

One solution is to redo the install with the bare minimum of hardware connected [only essential items], then if successful connect the missing items one at a time and either repair the installation or let Windows detect each item and install the drivers.

You may discover an item for which the WinXP CD has no driver.
If so what if it's a REALLY VITAL item?
Do you have any drivers on other disks?

[higenbs1]

Have got fairly basic components installed, Radeon graphics card 9250, and a basic Creative soundcard and that's it. Think I might try moving the jumper to cable select, or removing it altogether - thanks for your help guys

[Paul Komski]

with only one partition it should default to active Not necessarily so but in your case it must be active since it is obviously attempting to boot to the HDD because that is what is prompting you to put in the CD.

This recent thread by Scarlett at http://www.pcguide.com/vb/showthread.php?t=34471 may or may not be of any relevance.