XP Installation not detecting harddrive to format...

[banditcom]

My friend got a new computer yesterday from cyberpowersystems. He didn't order it with an OS because he already had an XP Professional cd.

Anyways, I went over there to help him out last night. First, here is some info about his computer.

CPU: (754-pin) AMD™ ATHLON™64 2800+ CPU
MOTHERBOARD: (754-pin Socket) Abit KV8 PRO VIA K8T800 Chipset AGP8X w/LAN,USB2,&Audio
HDD: Seagate 80GB 7200RPM Serial ATA 150 8MB Cache
OS: NONE - FORMAT HARD DRIVE ONLY

When we first started his computer, we didn't let it boot from the cd. Windows XP Professional was ALREADY installed on his harddrive. But since he ordered no OS, he had no key. Thus, we restarted and booted from the cd, accepted the agreement, and then we were at the partition screen. There were of course, options for installing, repairing, and deleting a partition. But all that showed up were (I'm putting *something* because I forgot what it actually was):
Unknown *something*
*<Unknown Device>
Unknown *something*
*<Unknown Device>
Unknown *something*
*<Unknown Device>
Unknown *something*
*<Unknown Device>

Then, whenever we tried to do something, that dark blue critical error screen showed up.

No matter what I tried to do, the harddrive would not show up. Anyone have any ideas? I've tried looking on Microsoft's site for answers, but no dice. Customer support at cyberpowersystems is closed on the weekends as well.

EDIT: Oh.. and under BIOS. IDE1 Master showed up as nothing while the IDE2 Master and Slave showed up as the CD and DVD rom drives.

[lightdarkness]

You need a special 64 bit edition of windows.

[banditcom]

No. It doesn't require Windows 64 bit. It would only run better if he went from 32 to 64.

[dinnerroll]

I don't know how to help with this problem but I do have a question. I was thinking about buying a computer from cyberpowersystems. Are they good?

[zildjian133]

Ouch..... I should be able to help you but I can't sorry.

[cutesaru18]

sorry bout the double post

[cutesaru18]

I think I know what the problem is. When you go to boot from the CD, it brings up a blue screen for Windows set up. At the bottom of the screen, the first thing it says is to press F6 is you need to set up a RAID system (or something to that extent). You have to do that before you go to reinstall windows. When you do, it will brin up a couple of options. I don't remember exactly what it says, but I remember that I had to go with the first one. Then, it will go to another screen and have three more options. I don't remember off of the top of my head what they were. Go with the one that has Windows XP on it. The other two options have to do with Nt and 2000, so they'll do you no good. Once you are done with all of that, it will bring you to the options list that ytou had seen before, and THEN you can actually reinstall Windows XP and do what you had done before.

Just so you know, I had to reinstall it on Mon because I had downloaded System Pack 2, and it wasn't compatable with my computer for some odd reason.

Hope that helps. If it's still giving you fits, PM me, and I'll see what I can do to help.

[Moogy]

You need to download some cracks for your Gibson.

Get them at www.hacked-gibson.org

[tnyhwk900]

Hey Moogy, it may seem impossible to you but he actually BOUGHT Windows XP.

Yes, you heard me. It isn't warez. So he doesn't need a crack. =P

[Moogy]

I take it you've never seen Hackers.

[banditcom]

Thanks cute. I had also posted this on IGN and a guy said to do F6 to install the sata. I went over there and did that. It took a few tries to get the right one but it worked! I installed most of his stuff for him as well.

And no, neither him nor I bought Windows XP. Our campus lets anyone get some programs like Office and OS from them for free.