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General discussion

Loading Software on new Hard drive

by dakennard Sep 12, 2005 5:20AM PDT

I just built my first computer. Every thing seems to have gone well but I have been unable to load any software on the hard drive. I have used the software that came with the hard to partition the hard drive but each time I try to load any software on it I get an error message. The error message is listed below as well as other information about my computer.

Hard Drive: Western Digital 40 Giga Bytes
Model: WD 400BB=
Western Digital 250 Giga Bytes
Model: WD 2500JB

Mother Board: MSI K8 NEO 2 Platinum

Operating System Trying to load: Windows XP PRO

ERROR MESSAGE RECEIVED WHEN TRYING TO LOAD: To intstall window XP on the partition you selected, setup must write some startup files to the following disk:

UNKNOWN DISK

However, this disk does not contain a Window XP- compatible partition.

To continue installing Window XP return to the partition selectio screen and create a Window-XP compatible partition on the disk above. If there is no free space on the disk, delete an existing partition and then create a new one.

Thank you for any help you can provide.

Douglas

Discussion is locked

4 Posts
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Re: partitioning
by Kees Bakker Sep 12, 2005 5:57AM PDT

In your post I read some clear instructions:

"This disk does not contain a Window XP- compatible partition. To continue installing Window XP return to the partition selection screen and create a Window-XP compatible partition on the disk above. If there is no free space on the disk, delete an existing partition and then create a new one."

What happened when you did so?

Kees

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Re: partitioning
by dakennard Sep 12, 2005 6:46AM PDT

When I follow the instruction provided nothing happens and I get the same message.

Douglas

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Re: installing WinXP
by Kees Bakker Sep 12, 2005 7:44AM PDT

I suppose that the partitioning software on the Windows XP CD will either succeed and make a partition, or fail with some error message you don't seem to mention. So tell more on what you do and what happens.

Reference to the step-by-step instruction pointed to by Grif in the post below could be useful.

Kees

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Douglass, Windows XP Installations Are Done Using...
by Grif Thomas Forum moderator Sep 12, 2005 6:17AM PDT

...the Windows XP CD. Place it in the CD-Rom drive that is set in the BIOS to boot first. At boot, you'll press any key to continue and then follow the steps suggested in the link below. (The CD will allow you to delete the current partition, create a new one, then format the partition.

http://www.windowsreinstall.com/winxphome/installxpcdnewhdd/index.htm

Hope this helps.

Grif

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