XP won't load

qtip · 08-31-2004, 10:36 PM

So, as the subject title would suggest I'm having trouble getting XP to load.

Here's some background:

After having trouble partitioning a new WD Raptor from scratch, I gave up and fresh installed windows on a 40gb IBM deskstar. Using this as my C drive I connected the Raptor and partitioned and formatted it with partition magic (with 1 primary partition and in NTFS format.) This appears to have worked.

I now have 2 drives; my IBM as C: and the Western Digital as F:

For some reason I can't get XP to boot from CD, so I fresh installed a new copy of XP through windows, and simply selected to install it to F: Everything installed without a problem.

However, when it went to do the final restart and load...nothing happened, and it still refuses to load. There is definitely an operating system on F: When I start my computer I am given the option of which install of XP I want to load, just as if it were a dual boot. The original on drive C still loads fine, and I can see that all the windows files are there on F: but if I try to start it, all I get is black screen. It wont even show the windows logo. This also happens if I disconnect the IBM and try to boot the Raptor solo. Just black screen.

Could this be a bios issue? Perhaps I screwed up the partition or format? But I still have full access to the disk so I just dont understand! I've tried re-installing it time and time again with different combinations (FAT32, NTFS) all with the same result.

Here are the specs:
Pentium 2.8
Abit IC7-Max 3 mobo
2gig, kingston ram
40gb, IBM deskstar (C) -on IDE
74gb, WD Raptor (F) -on SATA

any help would be fantastic.

firemachine69 · 08-31-2004, 10:39 PM

You just can't install Windows to another drive through Windows itself...

qtip · 09-01-2004, 04:50 PM

Install, yes.

Actually have it work...it would appear not.

firemachine69 · 09-01-2004, 07:21 PM

... wha?:

My point exactly... WTH...

C_deck · 09-01-2004, 10:25 PM

i think i know the problem. on some mobo's you can only boot from ide 0 or 1. my dfi mobo is the same and i think i remember the same problem when a friend purchased one of those ic7 mobo's.

in the bios, you have to set sata 1 (the controller the rapter is on) to emulate either ide 0 or 1 (or 1 & 2 on some mobo's). then in the bootup options, select ide ## (the number you selected).

qtip · 09-05-2004, 11:51 PM

I'm just poking fun firemachine. Settle down on that coffee mate.

Hey, I finally got it to work!

To install I was using a floppy boot utility -that just didn't cut it. That’s mostly all it was.

But there were also Bios issues, I think similar to what you were getting at C-Deck. I had to change the settings under INTERGRATED PERIPHERALS. The ONCHIP SERIAL ATA option was set to AUTO, and it didn’t seem to be detecting my SATA drive...hence the trouble booting with all drives connected. So I had to change from auto to EXPERT MODE so that it would run both my IDE drives and the SATA together...I assume (I really just guessed at all that.)

So, even though it is working I just want to check that I didn't purely fluke it. Does it sound like I've used the correct settings for my hardware (for anyone familiar with abit bios functions?) My boot disk is running on the SATA connector and I have two backup drives running on the plain old IDE. I suppose it would be nice for my computer to have automatically detected this, but is EXPERT MODE the right one to be using?

jenious · 09-06-2004, 12:28 AM

Good stuff, glad things worked out. Moving to problems solved.

iLikeSpeed · 09-12-2004, 02:16 AM

Well, I have no idea why it wouldn't boot from the cd...that's odd. I have seen certain models of toshiba cd roms not read cd's on certain motherboards; maybe that is the case here, dunno.

Anyway I was going to suggest that you make boot floppies and then install your sata driver into xp from a floppy disk (you would have to make one). Good info on your solution however. I have found that microsoft windows going all the way back to nt4 and win98, always give IDE the first available drive letters...even if your booting onto a scsi hdd.

Softix · 12-20-2007, 05:46 PM

Some time ago I also got this problem and I had to call a technician to fix the things.
Thanks for posting this, I will surely know what to do when this happens again.

08-31-2004, 10:36 PM	#1
qtip softcore Join Date: Mar 2004 Posts: 8	XP won't load So, as the subject title would suggest I'm having trouble getting XP to load. Here's some background: After having trouble partitioning a new WD Raptor from scratch, I gave up and fresh installed windows on a 40gb IBM deskstar. Using this as my C drive I connected the Raptor and partitioned and formatted it with partition magic (with 1 primary partition and in NTFS format.) This appears to have worked. I now have 2 drives; my IBM as C: and the Western Digital as F: For some reason I can't get XP to boot from CD, so I fresh installed a new copy of XP through windows, and simply selected to install it to F: Everything installed without a problem. However, when it went to do the final restart and load...nothing happened, and it still refuses to load. There is definitely an operating system on F: When I start my computer I am given the option of which install of XP I want to load, just as if it were a dual boot. The original on drive C still loads fine, and I can see that all the windows files are there on F: but if I try to start it, all I get is black screen. It wont even show the windows logo. This also happens if I disconnect the IBM and try to boot the Raptor solo. Just black screen. Could this be a bios issue? Perhaps I screwed up the partition or format? But I still have full access to the disk so I just dont understand! I've tried re-installing it time and time again with different combinations (FAT32, NTFS) all with the same result. Here are the specs: Pentium 2.8 Abit IC7-Max 3 mobo 2gig, kingston ram 40gb, IBM deskstar (C) -on IDE 74gb, WD Raptor (F) -on SATA any help would be fantastic.

08-31-2004, 10:39 PM	#2
firemachine69 hCw~junkie Join Date: Jul 2002 Location: Ontario, Canada Posts: 13,839	You just can't install Windows to another drive through Windows itself... __________________

09-01-2004, 07:21 PM	#4
firemachine69 hCw~junkie Join Date: Jul 2002 Location: Ontario, Canada Posts: 13,839	... wha?: My point exactly... WTH... __________________

12-20-2007, 05:46 PM	#9
Softix softcore Join Date: Dec 2007 Posts: 5	Re: XP won't load Some time ago I also got this problem and I had to call a technician to fix the things. Thanks for posting this, I will surely know what to do when this happens again. __________________ Movie poster Motivational poster Wanted poster

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09-01-2004, 04:50 PM	#3
qtip softcore Join Date: Mar 2004 Posts: 8	Install, yes. Actually have it work...it would appear not.

09-01-2004, 10:25 PM	#5
C_deck Look, my mum's a milf Join Date: Mar 2003 Posts: 10,615	i think i know the problem. on some mobo's you can only boot from ide 0 or 1. my dfi mobo is the same and i think i remember the same problem when a friend purchased one of those ic7 mobo's. in the bios, you have to set sata 1 (the controller the rapter is on) to emulate either ide 0 or 1 (or 1 & 2 on some mobo's). then in the bootup options, select ide ## (the number you selected).

09-05-2004, 11:51 PM	#6
qtip softcore Join Date: Mar 2004 Posts: 8	I'm just poking fun firemachine. Settle down on that coffee mate. Hey, I finally got it to work! To install I was using a floppy boot utility -that just didn't cut it. That’s mostly all it was. But there were also Bios issues, I think similar to what you were getting at C-Deck. I had to change the settings under INTERGRATED PERIPHERALS. The ONCHIP SERIAL ATA option was set to AUTO, and it didn’t seem to be detecting my SATA drive...hence the trouble booting with all drives connected. So I had to change from auto to EXPERT MODE so that it would run both my IDE drives and the SATA together...I assume (I really just guessed at all that.) So, even though it is working I just want to check that I didn't purely fluke it. Does it sound like I've used the correct settings for my hardware (for anyone familiar with abit bios functions?) My boot disk is running on the SATA connector and I have two backup drives running on the plain old IDE. I suppose it would be nice for my computer to have automatically detected this, but is EXPERT MODE the right one to be using?

09-06-2004, 12:28 AM	#7
jenious Paid Loafer Join Date: Mar 2000 Location: McAdam, New Brunwsick, Canada Posts: 9,244	Good stuff, glad things worked out. Moving to problems solved.

09-12-2004, 02:16 AM	#8
iLikeSpeed softcore 1st class Join Date: Sep 2004 Posts: 46	Well, I have no idea why it wouldn't boot from the cd...that's odd. I have seen certain models of toshiba cd roms not read cd's on certain motherboards; maybe that is the case here, dunno. Anyway I was going to suggest that you make boot floppies and then install your sata driver into xp from a floppy disk (you would have to make one). Good info on your solution however. I have found that microsoft windows going all the way back to nt4 and win98, always give IDE the first available drive letters...even if your booting onto a scsi hdd.