Re: Format Hard Drive

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The date and time was Thursday, April 16, 2009 1:21:01 PM, and on a whim, skylux pounded out on the keyboard:

GOT IT. The problem was the BIOS setting for the SATA operation. There are 4 settings offered.

1) RAID AUTODETECT/AHCI
Raid if signed on drives otherwise AHCI - FACTORY SETTING.

2) RAID AUTODETECT/ATA
Raid if signed on drives otherwise ATA

3) RAID ON.
Sata is configured for Raid on every boot.

4) COMBINATION.
Sata/Pata combination mode.

By default the setting iwas 1. The reason for the non-detection of the hdd.

I changed it 2. Where if the drive is not Raid signed, then ATA emulation defaults. This did the trick.

I have loaded Win XP and used PC's PK (many thanks for that idea).

Just two questions:

1) Is it better to load all the software before installing SP3 or after? As Win XP is now up and running.

2) Will the FAT32 partition cause any problems as its still there?

Thanks for all your help.

SM : )

PS. Dell's manual is useless. Better everything is on the internet.




I usually update the OS with everything needed prior to installing apps. That way you won't wind up locking in anything. Kind of like those who installed IE7 and then SP3. The only way to remove IE7 was to uninstall SP3. If the OS is completely updated first, you won't have any issues.

Just watch out for Windows Updates, as it tries to sneak in IE7, and it might be before SP3.

Now that you are up and running, is there anything on the FAT32 partition? If not, remove it and expand the partition to use the whole drive using Easeus Partition Manager like I suggested earlier.

And you're welcome.

Terry R.
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