duaneld
06-04-2006, 08:06 PM
I am having problems trying to re-install Windows XP on my brother's Sony Viao laptop computer. The original XP was no longer working properly and he does not have the OEM restoration disks. It has an XP label which does display the original product key.
I have been trying to re-install XP using disks that I have of Home Edition and Professional that are no longer loaded on any computers (were on former computers that have been parted out). I can boot the computer from CD's of either XP Home Edition, XP Pro or ME. I have managed to delete & repartition the hard drive using FDISK (have done this several times trying different disks). I have been able to format the hard disk using both NTFS and FAT32 using the ME disk booted into DOS or the XP disk during setup operation. So I know the hard drive is good and accessable.
The problem is that for each of the methods I have tried to load XP (HE or Pro) setup reports a message that "setup did not find any hard disk drives installed in your computer. Make sure any hard 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-supported diagnostic or setup program."
On the first attempt using an XP Pro disk, setup recognized that the original version of XP existed on the hard drive, but could not repair it. After re-partition, setup recognized the partion and asked what format was desired. After formatting the disk NTFS and restarting, setup asked to "press ENTER to install Windows XP." After checking the system, the above message was displayed. How could setup see the hard drive one moment and then not?
On a different attempt, I managed to get through a Windows ME installation to the point of restarting the computer and then tried to install XP Home Edition. Setup for XP recognized that there was another operating system on the hard disk and that the WINDOWS folder already existed. I selected the option to have XP replace the existing system folders. It proceeded through loading files into RAM and then when it asked to press ENTER to install Windows XP, the same message about no hard disk found appeared.
I have built quite a few desktop computers and loaded Windows on them. This my first attempt at reviving a laptop. This is the first time I have run across this kind of problem. Is it the laptop or am I doing something wrong?
I have been trying to re-install XP using disks that I have of Home Edition and Professional that are no longer loaded on any computers (were on former computers that have been parted out). I can boot the computer from CD's of either XP Home Edition, XP Pro or ME. I have managed to delete & repartition the hard drive using FDISK (have done this several times trying different disks). I have been able to format the hard disk using both NTFS and FAT32 using the ME disk booted into DOS or the XP disk during setup operation. So I know the hard drive is good and accessable.
The problem is that for each of the methods I have tried to load XP (HE or Pro) setup reports a message that "setup did not find any hard disk drives installed in your computer. Make sure any hard 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-supported diagnostic or setup program."
On the first attempt using an XP Pro disk, setup recognized that the original version of XP existed on the hard drive, but could not repair it. After re-partition, setup recognized the partion and asked what format was desired. After formatting the disk NTFS and restarting, setup asked to "press ENTER to install Windows XP." After checking the system, the above message was displayed. How could setup see the hard drive one moment and then not?
On a different attempt, I managed to get through a Windows ME installation to the point of restarting the computer and then tried to install XP Home Edition. Setup for XP recognized that there was another operating system on the hard disk and that the WINDOWS folder already existed. I selected the option to have XP replace the existing system folders. It proceeded through loading files into RAM and then when it asked to press ENTER to install Windows XP, the same message about no hard disk found appeared.
I have built quite a few desktop computers and loaded Windows on them. This my first attempt at reviving a laptop. This is the first time I have run across this kind of problem. Is it the laptop or am I doing something wrong?