XP re-installation problem due to SATA?

[alexcraw]

This problem is a mixture of various factors which could enable it to be placed into many forums on here. The main thing I'm trying to do is re-install XP Home over the existing installation. Here's a breakdown of the events so far:

1. A virus crippled the PC and had to be cleaned out.

2. PC runs apparently as normal, but will not accept any AOL software or Drivers (normal AOL install stops at 71% every time and installing the BT Voyager 105 drivers crashes the PC forcing it to reboot)

3. After consulting AOL high level Tech support ( :D ) I was told to re-install the OS.

4. Setup does not see any HDD connected to the PC and cannot continue (HDD is SATA 145Gb).

5. I made up the SATA driver diskette and tried to install with that inserted, but it still won't recognise any HDD.


This problem is infuriating as it clearly sees the HDD in normal operational mode, but not during the re-installation of the OS. I also tried to install from the disk through My Computer, but it tells me that the current installation is newer and connot continue.

Any help would be very much appreciated.

Thank You :)

Alex

[mjc]

It may not be the fact that the drive is SATA...it may be the size of it.

Is the install disk an SP1 or 2 disk? If it is the original (no service packs) the drive may be to big to be seen by Setup...I think 127GB is the old limit...

You can try either slipstreaming the SP and making a new install disk, or partitioning the drive, making a smaller partition to install Windows to and then leaving the rest for storage...s

[alexcraw]

Sorry to hog more space on here, but I just solved the problem.

I changed the SATA operation in the BIOS to ATA. Doh!

It's a Dell from hell!

Thanks for your input anyway, MJC.

Rest assured, I'll be back. ;)