Windows XP installation problem

[RMF]

Hi Guys,

I've been trying to reinstall Windows on a friends machine which currently won't boot past the screen asking if you want to start windows normally or in safe mode. It gets caught in a loop and reboots. Anyway, I wanted to try a repair install but when I get to that point of the installation Windows reports that there are no drives connected and I have to quit the install.

The motherboard is an Abit AX8 with 2 WD sata drives connected which are seen by the bios. Just as a test I popped my Vista DVD in and it saw both drives no problem. Now, the strange thing is that this PC has had XP installed on it before from CD. What could be causing this to happen? Please help :confused:

[Thrax]

The BIOS has the SATA ports in "Enhanced" or "AHCI" mode. Adjust the BIOS to run the hard drives as "IDE Emulated," "Legacy," or "Combined" mode and WinXP will detect the drives correctly. Once windows is installed, install the AHCI drivers and flip the drive controller back to AHCI mode.

[RMF]

Unfortunately there are no such options in the bios. There actually aren't any settings which seem to relate to the sata at all.

[RMF]

Nevermind, I think I've solved it. The MB comes with a floppy containing the drivers needed during setup. Unfortunately, I didnt get this with the PC so I didnt know.

Thanks anyway

[Thrax]

Yeah, the drivers enable the Windows XP install disc to see the drives in their native AHCI/enhanced mode, instead of doing the BIOS setting swapping. :) Are you interested in integrating those drivers into your XP install CD so you no longer need the floppy?