Hard Drive Hell

[Generator]

I installed a new hard drive into my computer and got about one hour of use of it. Basically just installed Windows XP. A few restart later and I get a message saying cant find /system32/something/system. I haven't seen this message since.

Now I don't know the exact steps for putting a SATA HD into a computer but this is what I did.

Hooked up sata cable and power. Turned on the computer and booted Windows XP. Installed it and got the 1 hour of normal operation out of it.

Now this is what plays out.

The hard drive does not boot XP no matter what. It hangs at either "Verifying DMI pool data" or "detecting array".

I have tried to reinstall windows only for it to say it does not see the Hard drive at the delete, partition, install options. The bios does see the hard drive at IDE Channel Master 3 if that makes any difference.

Is it necessary to load raid drivers for a single HD to be seen? I do not want RAID, but is it necessary none the less?

The new hard drive may very well be broken as well as i just learned it comes from a Singapore refurbish shop.

But I would like to know if there is more to installing a SATA hard drive that what i just did.

I wish I could be more specific. But I think this link best describes my possible problem. My SATA would be onboard I guess considering I have a Shuttle Barebones system

http://www.seagate.com/ww/v/in...nVCM100000dd04090aRCRD

 

[Tweakin]

There is no difference in loading the OS on a SATA or PATA drive. I'm thinking you must have a bios setting off which is confusing the system. Verify that all the RAID options are turned off, make sure you are booting at a safe speed (if you are OC'ing) and try again.

 

[Mondoman]

Just go to the drive manufacturer's web site and download their free diagnostic software (which should run as a bootable CD or floppy, so no OS install needed to run it).

 

[degibson]

Sometimes there's an option in the BIOS to remap SATA drives to IDE channels -- try fiddling with that option. I find it solves a lot of issues, magically, nonsensically.