How to install a boot SATA HDD as the C: ?

[RKS]

I want to do a new install of XP Pro SP2 on a new SATA HDD. I don't have a SATA optical drive to load the OS. Will the install lable the IDE optical drive as C: and lable the HDD as D:??

If so is there any way to force the boot drive to b, SATA HDD, to be C:?

thanks.

 

[CreativeTom]

Originally posted by: RKS
I want to do a new install of XP Pro SP2 on a new SATA HDD. I don't have a SATA optical drive to load the OS. Will the install lable the IDE optical drive as C: and lable the HDD as D:??

If so is there any way to force the boot drive to b, SATA HDD, to be C:?

thanks.

This will work fine, it should default the SATA drive to C: without causing any problems.

 

[BadThad]

Most likely you'll have to have the driver for the SATA controller on a floppy. When the XP install asks if you have an "additional mass storage device", select yes, I think it's like F2 to "specify"....you'll see it on the screen. Just make sure you don't have any IDE hard drives connected, only the SATA drive or the install tends to default to the IDE drive. The install will label the SATA drive as "C:", no problems.

Who said we no longer need floppy drives? LOL

 

[BTA]

I laugh every time my buddy who refuses to buy floppy drives anymore has to update his bios or install drivers during a windows install.

Anyway yeah, easiest way is to only have the sata drive you're installing plugged in during installation. Load up the sata controller drivers (or raid if thats what you got) from a floppy (F6 during windows install), and you'll be all set.

Plug in any other hard drives you have afterwards.

 

[BadThad]

Originally posted by: BTA
I laugh every time my buddy who refuses to buy floppy drives anymore has to update his bios or install drivers during a windows install.

Anyway yeah, easiest way is to only have the sata drive you're installing plugged in during installation. Load up the sata controller drivers (or raid if thats what you got) from a floppy (F6 during windows install), and you'll be all set.

Plug in any other hard drives you have afterwards.

It's a joke about the floppy huh? Some idiot started a big, long post here about how floppy drives are not needed on a PC. I'd like to see him load those storage drivers during an XP install without one....lmao. I can't believe MS didn't give you the "browse" option for that, pretty dumb, but without a floppy you're a dead duck.

 

[helpmeout]

You don't say what MOBO you have. Depending on the chip, some MOBOS don't require the drivers at F6, and installing them can cause problems.

 

[RKS]

thanks for the input. i have a intel 915 that didn't require sata drivers and the hdd was defaulted to C: and the optical drive is D:

thanks all.

 

[helpmeout]

Yeah, it's easy with Asus and Intel-- XP has the drivers in a lot of cases.