XP Pro install... no HDD found.

mountainman · Post by **mountainman** » Tue Sep 08, 2009 12:52 pm

Someone's PC is super crapped and I'm sick of trying to fix it. I'm planning to just reload XP Pro but when I put the XP Pro disc in, it goes into setup and then says it doesn't see any HDD.

I found some places online that say it has to do with having no SATA driver install, but I (1) don't have a floppy drive and (b) can't find the driver on Dell's web site with the service tag. WTF.

Thoughts? It's a Dell 8400. Thanks.

Post by **YeOldeStonecat** » Tue Sep 08, 2009 1:01 pm

First attempt would be to go into the systems BIOS and see if you can find the settings for the SATA controller, and flip off AHCI mode..putting it into a legacy/pata/IDE mode. Original XP install should now see it as a standard IDE controller and proceed. Once done, and once you've service packed the install and installed all appropriate motherboard/chipset controller drivers..you can go flip it back to the default mode it was on for a performance boost.

mountainman · Post by **mountainman** » Tue Sep 08, 2009 1:33 pm

Dangit... I wish I was as smart as you.

It worked.

Thanks!

Faust · Post by **Faust** » Tue Sep 08, 2009 3:35 pm

YeOldeStonecat wrote:First attempt would be to go into the systems BIOS and see if you can find the settings for the SATA controller, and flip off AHCI mode..putting it into a legacy/pata/IDE mode. Original XP install should now see it as a standard IDE controller and proceed. Once done, and once you've service packed the install and installed all appropriate motherboard/chipset controller drivers..you can go flip it back to the default mode it was on for a performance boost.

. had the same problem with a build a few months ago. vista and newer has built-in AHCI support, but XP and older needs to either manually F6/load drivers for AHCI, or switch the sata control over to IDE emulation. not always perfect. depends on the mfgr/driver.

personally, ive never been successful enabling AHCI after the fact, though. usually wound up F6ing when booting to the XP CD to install the AHCI/RAID .inf(s) for the controller when i reinstalled.

Sava700 · Post by **Sava700** » Tue Sep 08, 2009 8:59 pm

YeOldeStonecat wrote:First attempt would be to go into the systems BIOS and see if you can find the settings for the SATA controller, and flip off AHCI mode..putting it into a legacy/pata/IDE mode. Original XP install should now see it as a standard IDE controller and proceed. Once done, and once you've service packed the install and installed all appropriate motherboard/chipset controller drivers..you can go flip it back to the default mode it was on for a performance boost.

Always run into having to do this switch.

CableDude · Post by **CableDude** » Tue Sep 08, 2009 10:21 pm

YeOldeStonecat wrote:First attempt would be to go into the systems BIOS and see if you can find the settings for the SATA controller, and flip off AHCI mode..putting it into a legacy/pata/IDE mode. Original XP install should now see it as a standard IDE controller and proceed. Once done, and once you've service packed the install and installed all appropriate motherboard/chipset controller drivers..you can go flip it back to the default mode it was on for a performance boost.

mountainman wrote:Dangit... I wish I was as smart as you.

It worked.

Thanks!

YOSC, ftw.

mountainman · Post by **mountainman** » Wed Sep 09, 2009 12:15 am

I never tried switching it back. I'm scared.

TonyT · Post by **TonyT** » Wed Sep 09, 2009 7:55 am

mountainman wrote:I never tried switching it back. I'm scared.

Worst that would happen is "no disk found" bios message, in which case you switch it again.

Faust · Post by **Faust** » Wed Sep 09, 2009 11:41 am

TonyT wrote:Worst that would happen is "no disk found" bios message, in which case you switch it again.

yeppers. its a sata controller driver (or lack thereof) problem, so it doesnt go far enough into the boot sequence to mess with anything. switching back and forth is not really a gamble.

gertvanjoe · Post by **gertvanjoe** » Fri Sep 11, 2009 6:01 pm

I just shoved in a 40 gig ATA133 and installed it on there . Ok I know it did not solve the problem but it installed . Btw , it was way past my bed time , and I did not bother