How to install SATA HDD after setting up WinXP?

[NervousNovice]

I know how to install a SATA harddisk when I newly install WinXP; put the floppy disk in and press F6 (I guess)... But now I want to install a SATA harddisk on my friend's computer, who is running WinXP. I don't think SATA HDD is plug-n-play (is it?) and I afraid WinXP cannot detect it when I just plug it in (can it?)

So what should I do with it? I get a driver for the HDD, I plug the hardware HDD in, will it be detected when I start up his computer? If not, what steps should be taken?

Thanks.

 

[wseyller]

Install it then when you boot, go to device manager to see if it shows up. If it does then your good. To format or partition the drive, go to Control Panel, then Administrative Tools, then Computer Management, then click on Disk Management. You should see the physical drive list and should have options to partition or formatting.

 

[Unsolved Paradox]

Whoa, would I be correct in interpretating your original XP install onto a S-ATA HD as requiring drivers (on a floppy)?

I'm having problems installing XP onto a Maxtor S-ATA, which came with no drivers of any kind...if so, please let me know!

 

[MrChad]

Just install the drivers for his SATA controller (provided by the motherboard manufacturer). When you install the drive, Windows should pick it up in Disk Management and allow you to format it.

 

[NervousNovice]

I'm having problems installing XP onto a Maxtor S-ATA, which came with no drivers of any kind...if so, please let me know!

You need to make a floppy disk with the SATA driver. What I did was to find my motherboard CD and somewhere inside it has a MakeDisk program to make such floppy disk. Then do the F6 thingy with your floppy disk.

Note: If your motherboard is not really new (e.g. my A7V600 with the KT600 chipset) comes with a CD but its MakeDisk program creates a VIA SATA driver floppy disk that does not pass the Windows Logo test. In that case, your pc will probaby freeze after a while. If that's the case, you should be able to go to your motherboard website (or the website of the chipset e.g. VIA) to get the latest SATA driver. That's what I did and that newer SATA driver passed the Windows Logo test and has no problem till now.

 

[Unsolved Paradox]

MrChad hooked me up with that info on another thread, thanks to you both. Trying it now...