Compaq C300 computer problem

[Dari]

My friend gave me a computer last week to look at and I'm just now checking it out. It's a laptop. When I pressed the power button it would blink an amber color but never post. After taking out the CMOS battery it now POSTs but won't boot into Windows XP (even though the XP screen pops up). When I go to reinstall the operating system it claims that there is no hard drive. However, in the PhoenixBIOS setup utility I can do a diagnostics test (Primary Hard Disk Self Test) and the hard drive passes. Anyone have any idea what's going on?

 

[nitrous9200]

If this thing has an Intel chipset - you need this driver:
http://h20000.www2.hp.com/bizsuppor...swLang=13&mode=2&taskId=135&swItem=ob-39535-1

What's probably happening is that your hard drive is on a SATA/AHCI controller that can't be detected by XP setup & you need to either get a USB floppy to put the driver files on or slipstream it into your XP installation disc.

 

[Dari]

If this thing has an Intel chipset - you need this driver:
http://h20000.www2.hp.com/bizsuppor...swLang=13&mode=2&taskId=135&swItem=ob-39535-1

What's probably happening is that your hard drive is on a SATA/AHCI controller that can't be detected by XP setup & you need to either get a USB floppy to put the driver files on or slipstream it into your XP installation disc.

Any reason why this is the case? I've installed XP on this computer before when it was giving problems.

 

[Dari]

The problem is resolved. Your post reminded me that I disabled the SATA feature last time in the BIOS. Now it boots up fine. Thanks.