Can't install XP after upgrading HD on old PC

[astrophysics]

Can't install XP after upgrading HD on old PC

I have an old PC with a 6GB HD 4200RPM ATA/33. It's a Pentium 2 Compaq.

I upgraded the HD to a 80GB western digital 7200RPM ATA/100.
And whenever I install XP the setup loads, formats the disks, copies setup files over, restarts and now the screen goes blank when it boots the HD.
Samething happens if I install XP onto the HD from another computer and try to load it on my old PC.

However I can install almost any version of Linux just fine on the 80GB and old PC.

I can install XP just fine if I use the 6GB HD.

 

[DaveSimmons]

The BIOS might not support drives over 32 GB, so the boot process fails.

If you don't mind losing half the space you can set jumper pins on the drive to force it to act like a 32 GB drive.

Or update the BIOS, or get a Promise or other PCI IDE card

 

[astrophysics]

But like I said, I can install linux without a problem on it. Why would that work?

 

[Rock Hydra]

Weird. I would try to Low-Level format it (no file system), and try to re-install windows on it.

Try using The Ultimate Boot CD, which has a large number of useful utilities. If you use the Seagate utility, I think they call it Zero Fill or something like that. But anyway...I would try that.

 

[DaveSimmons]

Because Linux doesn't use the BIOS code for disk I/O? It doesn't have the 132 GB limit that XP pre-SP1 has either.

 

[astrophysics]

Hmm what is that? in XP SP2 it's changed? I can always merge the XP CD with SP2 and create a new install disc. Would that work?

 

[DaveSimmons]

Originally posted by: astrophysics
Hmm what is that? in XP SP2 it's changed? I can always merge the XP CD with SP2 and create a new install disc. Would that work?

No, that's the fix for the 132 GB drive limit, for 160+ GB drives. It also requires a BIOS that supports the drive.

I'm guessing you're running into the much older, but similar, addressing issue with drives over 32 GB. Not a problem for XP itself as long as your BIOS supports the larger drive.

You could always try it (jumpering the drive for 32 GB), but note that removing the jumper later would require reformatting.

 

[bfonnes]

Originally posted by: Rock Hydra
Weird. I would try to Low-Level format it (no file system), and try to re-install windows on it.

Try using The Ultimate Boot CD, which has a large number of useful utilities. If you use the Seagate utility, I think they call it Zero Fill or something like that. But anyway...I would try that.

There's no reason to low-level format new drives EVER. You're misusing the term... In fact it's not necessary or even possible to low-level format a drive anymore. Only the manufacturer can do it at the factory. Whatever utility you might be using to "write zeroes to the drive," "Zero Fill," in which you're referring to is not low-level formatting.

BFonnes