Help formatting/installing WinXP again.

[0mie]

I can't seem to find a definite solution. I hope someone can help me here. I would post on HoFo, but seems like the computer area isn't all that active. :(

The laptop in my hard drive will boot and get to the windows loading and start over and over again.

Is there a way to make a CD/DVD to format my hard drive and install WinXP Pro again. I don't care about the info on the hard drive, I just want to be able to format it and install Windows again.

When I use the WinXP Pro CD to re-install it, it says there is no Hard Drive installed :confused:, I just want to make my computer work again.

[howard]

What kind of laptop do you have?

Did the laptop come with a restore CD?

It sounds like you need drivers for your hard drive controller. That's why Windows can't find the hard drive.

[0mie]

What kind of laptop do you have?

Did the laptop come with a restore CD?

It sounds like you need drivers for your hard drive controller. That's why Windows can't find the hard drive.

It's an HP laptop, I forget the model number. I have no restore CD's :(

The hard drive run's fine and boots up, but it won't get past the Windows loading screen.

Can I install linux or anything else that will not require me to get a new hard drive or anything like that?

[Himself™]

It's not a sata hdd is it? If so try disabling native sata(ahci) support in the bios (or set to ide if your drive is ide), or loading xp with sata drivers if that doesn't work. It gives the option for the latter near the bottom at the start of the setup process.(You may need to find the sata drivers first to load them if requested to )

[Himself™]

Btw, are you sure the restore files aren't just on a 2nd partition on your hard drive? I know they do this on some pc/laptops.

[0mie]

Nothing is loading now :(

Ill see what I can do, ill go into the BIOS and see what I can gather and post back.

[amkls704]

Nothing is loading now :(

Ill see what I can do, ill go into the BIOS and see what I can gather and post back.

If it's a dell, I know dell posts copies of the restore cds to their website, so if you can get to another computer and burn them.

And least they used to do this. One of my friends computer had this issue and it was a Dell and we just had to burn the cds and do a restore.

[letsgoflyers81]

Unless they've changed recently, HP uses restore discs and not hidden partitions. Can you try using the XP CD again and write down the exact message it tells you about the hard drive? It's possible you need to enable or disable SATA support. That's not that uncommon these days.

[Himself™]

Did you get it going yet Omie?

[0mie]

Nope :(

I'm thinking getting an external enclosure hooking it up via USB and seeing if I can format it that way. If I can, ill try and re-install after after but first I need $10 for the enclosure, which may be a while before I can buy lol

[letsgoflyers81]

Can you get me the error like I asked in my last post? If it's what I think it is, there's just one setting to change in the BIOS and then you'll be able to install Windows no problem.

[0mie]

I just get the bluescreen of death when I try to reinstall windows. If I don't have the XP CD, then it says invalid disk or something like that. :(

[letsgoflyers81]

Oh, I must have misunderstood your post from before. How far do you get during the installation, like what point is it at when you get the BSOD?

[0mie]

Before it had installed and got to the Windows loading screen right before the log on, then it would restart. Now it won't even do that. :(

You didn't misread it. lol

[letsgoflyers81]

Haha, doh!

That definitely doesn't sound good. You might wanna try another hard drive to see if the one you have died.

[0mie]

Ill buy an enclosure and hook it up to my 2 windows laptop and try to format it and see if that helps.

I would do it on my Macbook, but I want it to be formatted right. :D

[letsgoflyers81]

Haha, good call.