Can't install an OS

Hi, I recently used partition magic to reformat my harddrive because it was being taken over by malware, but now, When i try to install windows XP pro on it, It won't let me continue. It comes up with an error message saying that the there is no detected harddrive, and won't go futher than loading the setup discs. I then tried to install linux and convert it to XP from there, but it still didn't work. At this point, I don't even know if getting a new harddrive would work. Help please! Thanks…

Greetings Panther15601

Sorry to hear about your trouble with getting a OS to load.

I have a idea what you are up against.

There are some questions and depending on the answers will guide you in what you might do.

Is this a custom built box?

If yes, then do you still have the motherboard manual and software that came with it.
If no, what is the make, model, brand of the computer?

If this is a custom built box are you using sata type drives for hard drives?

If yes, what is probly occuring is that WINDOWS the OS does not recognize them or "see them" as a device while doing a fresh install. Loads up some files to ram and when it turns to put it in on a hard drive there is nothing it recognizes.

This is a case of missing device drivers.


When you are loading from the WINDOWS Install cd you will see a oportunity to press f6 scrolling at the bottom of the install screens, you will need to press f6 to load additional device drivers. It isnt on for long and if you miss it you have to start the install over again.

After you press f6, you do not get any indication of it doing anything until after it gets done loading some files to Ram. Then it will ask you to provide them. Generally from a floppy disk. Once in ,the install wizzard will take over and will walk you through and then will present you in the place where you can partition, format and do the other things a normal install does.

So how do you get these drivers?

You can either get them from the motherboard cd, under utilites or raid, or go to the manufacturer of the boards website and download them.

Sometimes mb manufactures have already provided a floppy in the motherboard box just for this purpose.

There are some other considerations in drive configurations if you are doing some advance setups, such as RAID which will involve some BIOS configuration in enabling firmware but for straight forward getting a OS on a SATA drive you have to get the device drivers so the OS install will work.

Regards

Kaz.

It's not a custom built box, I have a HP pavilion dv1000…i don't know if that would make a difference. It's weird that I can't install XP from a disc, but my friend was able to install linux from a live disc too. I'm not sure if there's that much of a difference…not the most computer savvy person there is around… Would you know how i could get XP installed again? Thanks for the help!!

Hello once again panther15601, Oh yes it makes a difference. A live disk does not write to the harddrive. Everything the live disk needs is either on the optical disk or what it loads to ram. Never "uses" the harddrive unless you point files to it for storage. It is also most likely the Live disk brings with it all of the device drivers it needs to function. Windows OS many times does not. Now, that we know its a Hp oem laptop , there is another series of question that would need clearing up. What media are you using to load up the OS? Are you using a set of disks that came with the Laptop? Are you using a set of disks that you made through the Disk creation through the HP Recovery wizzard? Are you using a set of Xp disks that are RETAIL off the shelf disks that are gold with microsoft holograms all over them? Most HP laptops came with what was called a Restore partition pre-loaded at the factory. You would have had to tap f11 at the HP splash screen and would have been sent through a wizard to restore the computer to Factory. But since you used a third party partition software and wiped off the drive, I am betting you took out the restore partition as well. If this is the case you have no choice but to aquire the Factory Recovery cd's from HP. Or go visit a HP authorized repair center and trust they have the disks in their library. These disks are special and have all of the drivers the machine needs as well as the operating system. They are machine specific to the Model. Cost wise you are looking 25-30 bucks if I remember correctly. If you are using just a plain jane off the shelf Xp disk, you are back to finding all of the device drivers the OS needs as well as the chipset drivers and such. It can work but its a pain. Let me know what you have for restore media. Regards Kaz.