Reinstall Windows XP problem!

[Gillse]

Alright. I'm a pure Linux user (The kind that programs by using magnets on the harddrive :P )

Anyway, so I'm trying to help my mom out but is having kind of a hard time since I ain't that used with windows.

Here's the problem. When booting up Windows it takes quite a long time loading the OS. Plus when you go into "My Computer" it takes even longer to find the harddrives. So my mom decided to reinstall Windows XP Pro on her pc.

But then when she put the CD into the CD-Drive and started the installation. She had to face quite a bizzare thing. It can't find the harddrives. And when you try to proceed it gives this error: (Translating Swedish to English)

An error occured and Windows have shutdown to prevent problems with your computer.

Following file can be the cause for the problem: setupdd.sys

PAGE_FAULT_IN_NOPAGED_AREA

If this is the first time, reboot. If the message is shown again you should...

Control that all new hard- and software are correctly installed.

If this is a new installation, you can contact hard- or softwaremanufactures if you need special files for Windows.

If the problem remains you can try to deactivate or remove new hardware or software. Deactivate alternativs for the bios for example caching or shadowing. [NOTE: Didn't have anything like that in the BIOS]

Technical Information

*** STOP: 0x00000050 (0xE5132708, 0x00000000, 0xF77BA9A8, 0x00000002)

*** Setupdd.sys - Address F77BA9A8 base at F7793000, Datestamp 41107c8f

So I thought it was kind of wierd that the installation CD can't find the harddrives but there's no problem in booting up the system and start Windows.

My mom though checked what the error means and according to Microsoft that error is supposed to mean that there's an error in the computers RAM. I put in my Ubuntu Live-CD which includes a program called MemTest1.7 which testes the RAM. I did the test twice and the test passed both with no warnings or problems at all. So I booted up a virtual Ubuntu OS on my moms computer to confirm that the harddrives were working. And they were. But there were no windows in them. According to Linux they were completley empty. Ubuntu is also made to detect any Windows installation and ask if you want to install Ubuntu on the same Partition. But that never happend.

So from what I know from previous experiences, my mom is currently running on a Windows system but I don't know where it is. My common sense tells me that it should be in her harddrive but windows can't find them. Linux can though, but it says it's empty.

I got two solutions, but I hope you have a better one.

1. Install Linux and then hope that the harddrives are visable for the Windows CD.(Though my mom doesn't like that one)
   
2. Ask the ghost living in moms computer to nicley surrender the harddrives and get a free cookie.
   

Here's a small list of specifications:

CPU

AMD Athlon 64bit 4000+ 1.81GHz

RAM

2x DDR400 RAM 512MB

HDD

2x SATA Harddrives with RAID1(Uncertain)

Thanks on before hand!

[Alan2273]

Is the drive showing in the BIOS?.

[Gillse]

Is the drive showing in the BIOS?.

Hmm well depends. At first it says something like:

Primary Master SATA: NONE

Primary Slave SATA: NONE

etc. etc.

But then RAID starts and it shows them.

[Boris]

If you're running a RAID array then it will probably require you to press F6 to install the SATA drivers before you can re-install XP ?

[Gillse]

If you're running a RAID array then it will probably require you to press F6 to install the SATA drivers before you can re-install XP ?

Previously mom installed without doing that.

And secondly, when mom tries to do just that it asks for a floppy disc with drives on.

Which we don't have because there is no floppy on the computer.

[rong]

I think the raid drivers may be on the motherboard CD/DVD

[ɹəuəllıʍ ʇɐb]

I never understand why people constantly reinstall Windows XP; there is rarely ever a need to reinstall XP (unlike Windows 9x, which required regulr reinstallation).

Usually, cleanup of hard drives, startup entries, defrag, etc., will most likely bring the original speed back to the XP system. I had my XP system since 2002; the computer is constantly running 24x7, and I certainly never saw the need to reinstall Windows.

[Admin]

If you're running a RAID array then it will probably require you to press F6 to install the SATA drivers before you can re-install XP ?

Previously mom installed without doing that.

And secondly, when mom tries to do just that it asks for a floppy disc with drives on.

Which we don't have because there is no floppy on the computer.

Your problem is you are getting your drivers mixed up. Windows XP Pro requires the SATA drivers from the motherboard's SATA controllers. They are not on the original XP Pro CD. You say, 'but, I have SATA drives, though and I've used XP with them!' Yes, but the thing is, the SATA drives are being used in what is known as IDE emulation mode. Therefore, people with SATA drives can be used in XP if the BIOS is set up for that. But, as soon as you try to use actual SATA mode which is called AHCI mode, then XP probably won't boot up. You can also use SATA RAID but again, you need the SATA RAID drivers from the motherboard manufacturer's website (some users say they're also on the CD). In the BIOS, you can select to use SATA RAID but you need the drivers installed in XP.

The way of installing the drivers is either the F6 Floppy drive way (which you were told by the other poster... he was alluding to it, anyway) in which they are copied to a floppy disk or slipstreaming XP Pro CD with the SATA drivers. I just went through the process of doing the latter. I now have to try an actual XP install with the new CD to see if I did it right.

I hope I was able to alleviate the confusion a bit.

Btw, I am learning Linux. ;-)

[pa1916]

Quick check in the Bios boot section that the HD is not disabled.

[y2khardtop]

streamlining the SATA drivers into your XP disc is the easiest way to fix it......had to do it to "upgrade" my Vista laptop to XP.