Installing OS problems.

[bchivers]

When I try to install an OS like XP PRO I get to the point where it asks if I want to install or repair and whatever I choose I get the same response,XP can not find any drives even though I have two drives with OSs on them. I have also tried to boot into Norton System works or recovery disk,same thing. At one point I had some value ram and put that in and had no problems with the install.
I have been trying to install SuSE10 I get to the screen that asks if I want to boot the HD or install the OS. As soon as I touch the mouse or keyboard everything freezes. Not sure if it is related to the same problem. I have downloaded and burnt the disto twice thinking I may have had a bad DL or burn and then bought a retail version of it on DVD. It didn't make any difference.

 

[nomagic]

I am no expert, but I think we should start by isolating the problem.

1. Does your BIOS detect the hard drives?

2. Will your computer boot from liveCD if you disconnect the HD?

3. Are the cables tightly connected to the components? Re-attach the data cable and power cable if possible. Also, try re-sit the ram. (I dont know if resitting the ram will help, but it is worth the try.)

4. Did you try clearing CMOS?

5. Did you try connecting the hard drive to another SATA plug?

Edit: change PCIe to SATA.... I am embarassed

 

[bchivers]

Thanks for your help.

1) Yes.
2)Will sometimes boot but havn't tried it while HD is disconnected,but I will give it a try.
3)Yes
4)Yes
5)If you mean a different SATA plug,Yes.

Here is a newbie trying to learn.

This is a great place to do it.

 

[spherrod]

Don't you need SATA drivers when installing XP?

"boot system by Windows XP installation CD, when the message "Press F6 if you need to install a third party SCSI or RAID driver" shows up, press "F6". Then, press "S" to specify additional device when next screen pops up. Put the driver floppy disk you made in and press enter to continue. If the floppy disk is made successfully, the installation program will ask for selecting driver. Please then select "VIA Serial ATA RAID Controller(Windows XP)".) After SATA driver loaded and Windows XP can recognize the SATA HDD, you can continue to install Windows XP as usual"

 

[bchivers]

Originally posted by: spherrod
Don't you need SATA drivers when installing XP?

"boot system by Windows XP installation CD, when the message "Press F6 if you need to install a third party SCSI or RAID driver" shows up, press "F6". Then, press "S" to specify additional device when next screen pops up. Put the driver floppy disk you made in and press enter to continue. If the floppy disk is made successfully, the installation program will ask for selecting driver. Please then select "VIA Serial ATA RAID Controller(Windows XP)".) After SATA driver loaded and Windows XP can recognize the SATA HDD, you can continue to install Windows XP as usual"

No I didn't do this,I thought once I had installed the drivers I didn't need to again. Do I need to install the drivers even if I am doing a repair or and when I use NSW2006 because I have the same problem then as well?
This sounds like it may be the answer thanks.
Not sure if the SuSE disk asks for them,I will try again. I will post back latter after I try it again.

 

[bchivers]

Don't you need SATA drivers when installing XP?

I have drivers for my nVidia raid but I can't remember if I had SATA drivers. Do they come from the HDD manufactures or the motherboard?

 

[spherrod]

Originally posted by: bchivers

Don't you need SATA drivers when installing XP?

I have drivers for my nVidia raid but I can't remember if I had SATA drivers. Do they come from the HDD manufactures or the motherboard?

Motherboard if I remember rightly