From: Robert on 05/11/2004
Hi! I’m trying to install Windows XP on a new hard drive. I boot from the XP disc, partition and format the drive, and then choose to install XP on the C partition. The disc copies some installation files to the hard drive, and then says it needs to restart before it continues with setup. Here’s where the problem arises: the computer reboots normally, but just after the POST screen it says – “Searching for boot record from IDE-0...Not Found.” It then looks for a boot record on the floppy, then goes to boot from the CD-ROM, where it finds the Windows XP disc and begins the setup all over again. So what am I doing wrong here? The installation process seems to go just fine until the reboot, but when it goes to continue the XP installation (I assume from the hard drive), it can’t find anything to boot from. I assume the hard drive I’m using is ok. It’s a brand new 200 Gigabyte WD Caviar SE. The computer has no trouble detecting it, and the Windows setup seems to be able to write to it. I haven’t actually tested the drive though, seeing as it’s right out of the box. Other than that, I know my computer is in perfect working order. I’m using it right now (with a different hard drive installed). So what’s the deal? I’d certainly appreciate any help you folks can offer. If it helps, here’s my system configuration: CPU – AMD Duron 1000 Mhz
RAM – 192 MB SDRAM (Yes, I’ll be upgrading that soon.)
Motherboard – ECS K7S5A
Hard Drive – As stated above.
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--- Replies to this Problem ---
From: Robert on 05/18/2004
I’ve tried three different IDE cables at this point and gotten the same results, so we can rule that out as root of the problem. Also, I returned the drive to the store and got a new one just like it and I’m still having the same issues, so I think it’s safe to say the hard drive isn’t faulty. Perhaps it is the drive controller that’s causing trouble. The thing is, I use this computer every day with two Western Digital drives installed (a 20 Gb and 30 Gb), and I haven’t had any problems in two years. But when I unplug them and plug in the 200 Gb, it just doesn’t work right. Maybe the drive controller can’t communicate with the drive correctly. Hmm... Well, let’s look at the differences between the older drives and the new one. The new drive is an ATA 100 with an 8 Mb buffer, and the other two have 2 Mb buffers and run at 33 and 66. And of course the new drive is about ten times larger than the older ones, but the BIOS detects the drive size correctly, so that’s probably not the problem. Do you think that the drive speed or buffer size may be confusing the drive controller? Or could it be something else I’m not thinking of?
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From: Rich on 05/14/2004
I'm assuming you tried to partition and format using the Western Digital utilities as well as the other methods. If that's the case, unfotunately I would have to guess a bad IDE cable or drive controller.
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From: Robert on 05/14/2004
Ok, none of the versions of Fdisk I’ve tried have been able to detect the drive, and Windows 98 can’t see it either, even when it’s been partitioned. So, in summary: the BIOS detects and reports the drive size correctly, the Windows XP setup disk sees the drive and can format and partition it, and the Western Digital Data Lifeguard tools that came with the drive can do the same. Unfortunately, even if I partition the drive in FAT32 I can’t detect it in Windows 98 or with any version of Fdisk. Additionally, I seem to be able to write to the drive during the Windows XP setup, but I’ve never been able to read from it. I’m confused!
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From: Robert on 05/13/2004
Uh oh... Well, I made a boot disk (from Windows 98) and ran Fdisk, and got this message: “Error reading fixed disk.” That just can’t be good. Here’s what the MS-DOS Messages Reference has to say: “MS-DOS could not read your hard disk. Make sure the drive is installed correctly. If you still get this message, consult your system's manuals or call your vendor.” I checked the IDE and power connections, and those are fine, and I’ve got the jumper setting on single, so I don’t think there’s anything wrong with the physical installation. I hope the drive isn’t defective. I think the next step I’m going to take is to install the new drive in my Windows 98 computer as a slave and see if it actually works at all.
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From: Rich on 05/13/2004
Since this has all the earmarks of a partition problem, yes, I would use Fdisk to insure that the partitions are exactly the way you expect.
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From: Robert on 05/12/2004
To be perfectly honest, I didn’t even think of that! I’m using the WinXP setup disc to partition the drive, and it doesn’t say anything about setting the partition as active. Am I just missing something in the WinXP setup program, or will I have to use Fdisk to get this done?
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From: Rich on 05/12/2004
You'll have to excuse me if this seems too simple, but I've overlooked some pretty elementary things in my day. Did you make sure you set your partition as active?
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