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[MaverickX9]

Ok, I just got a new Dell Dimension 8400 a few months ago and I tried to reformat it for the first time tonight. Basically, here is what happened:

1. Put in XP Pro disc to format
2. Error: Setup did not find a hard disk drive
3. Changed RAID Auto/AHCI to RAID Auto/ATA - per Dell's recommendation
4. Everything loaded fine, and I formatted the drive to NFTS
5. Copies XP set up files to HD

Now, when it restarts, instead of going into the XP install mode, it just starts the original text mode back up and asks me to reformat the hard drive again. It never goes into the graphical mode that it is supposed to, to actually install XP.

What do I do????

I have a 160GB Serial ATA Hard Drive (7200RPM)...

 

[ShadowRed]

Ok, I just got a new Dell Dimension 8400 a few months ago and I tried to reformat it for the first time tonight. Basically, here is what happened:

1. Put in XP Pro disc to format
2. Error: Setup did not find a hard disk drive
3. Changed RAID Auto/AHCI to RAID Auto/ATA - per Dell's recommendation
4. Everything loaded fine, and I formatted the drive to NFTS
5. Copies XP set up files to HD

Now, when it restarts, instead of going into the XP install mode, it just starts the original text mode back up and asks me to reformat the hard drive again. It never goes into the graphical mode that it is supposed to, to actually install XP.

What do I do????

I have a 160GB Serial ATA Hard Drive (7200RPM)...

You take the XP cd disc out of the drive? Do you have it set to boot from the HD and not the CD drive?

 

[MaverickX9]

I've tried taking the disc out, but then the computer just keeps on resetting itself.

The same thing happens when I switch the boot sequence to the HD before CD.

 

[Drey1082]

You do know that reformatting a HD is to delete everything off of the HD right? I'm not sure what you were trying to do....

Edit: Maybe I should read more closely before posting...

 

[Shogmaster]

Ok, I just got a new Dell Dimension 8400 a few months ago and I tried to reformat it for the first time tonight. Basically, here is what happened:

1. Put in XP Pro disc to format
2. Error: Setup did not find a hard disk drive
3. Changed RAID Auto/AHCI to RAID Auto/ATA - per Dell's recommendation
4. Everything loaded fine, and I formatted the drive to NFTS
5. Copies XP set up files to HD

Now, when it restarts, instead of going into the XP install mode, it just starts the original text mode back up and asks me to reformat the hard drive again. It never goes into the graphical mode that it is supposed to, to actually install XP.

What do I do????

I have a 160GB Serial ATA Hard Drive (7200RPM)...

Try reversing step #3, now that the drive is formatted, and Win XP install has started.

 

[MaverickX9]

You do know that reformatting a HD is to delete everything off of the HD right? I'm not sure what you were trying to do....

Yeah, I know what it is. I wanted to reformat my hard drive because it came with XP Home and I wanted to put XP Pro on it.

 

[ShadowRed]

I've tried taking the disc out, but then the computer just keeps on resetting itself.

The same thing happens when I switch the boot sequence to the HD before CD.

Do you have more than one HD? Have you tried disconnecting all but one and trying to format that one solo? Did you have your drive partitioned? If so the XP files may be on one partition it's looking for the files on another. See if there is an option to break the partitions, then reformat.

 

[Drey1082]

Yeah, I know what it is. I wanted to reformat my hard drive because it came with XP Home and I wanted to put XP Pro on it.

Yeah, forgive me, I have problems with reading.

 

[MaverickX9]

Ok, somehow I got it to work. I'm not sure what I did...

Thanks for the help, fellas!

 

[Deleted member 4784]

I had a boyfriend who solved this problem for me once upon a time back in the days of Windows 98. Here's the solution! :lol

 

[MaverickX9]

Problem #2

I got everything working and installed all my junk, BUT...I have the following problem:

When the computer is starting up, the Windows XP Professional screen pops up. The one with the little green bar under it. This only stays on for a few seconds, but after this, the screen goes completely BLACK for at least a minute.

What would cause this and how would I fix it?

I did notice that, for whatever reason, that most of my drivers did not carry over after the reformat. If it is a driver that is causing this, which one would it be?

 

[ShadowRed]

Problem #2

I got everything working and installed all my junk, BUT...I have the following problem:

When the computer is starting up, the Windows XP Professional screen pops up. The one with the little green bar under it. This only stays on for a few seconds, but after this, the screen goes completely BLACK for at least a minute.

What would cause this and how would I fix it?

I did notice that, for whatever reason, that most of my drivers did not carry over after the reformat. If it is a driver that is causing this, which one would it be?

I had this problem as well. I had a Radeon All in wonder and when i would format I had to switch it out with another older card to get it to show and DL aand install the updated drivers for the AIW and then switch back to the AIW. Try switching out the cideo cards if you have one and see if it works.