Thank you for being a valued part of the CNET community. As of December 1, 2020, the forums are in read-only format. In early 2021, CNET Forums will no longer be available. We are grateful for the participation and advice you have provided to one another over the years.

Thanks,

CNET Support

Question

Why does winXP install keep deleting boot files?

by Mar 31, 2012 8:44PM PDT

I have recently upgraded:

1) cpu (AMD 64 x2 4400+)
2) HDD (samsung 1TB SATA)

I am also still running my 2 old hard drives on IDE. There is my original XP boot files on one of the IDE drives, but the SATA is set as my primary boot device (after CD).

I have tried 4 times now to install win XP on the SATA drive. The first time seemed to go ok, I had normal winXP access, installed to serv pack 3 and newest drivers, but after a couple of days my internet dropped out, computer got sluggish, I managed to get net back on but most websites refused to load. After a while things got so bad I did a complete format of the win partition (only 150GB) and reinstalled winXP.

After installing a service pack or one of the drivers, a reboot will often bring about an error screen (in a DOS prompt) saying that I don't have ........ installed. I have tried repairing from the winxp cd (which resulted in windows without sound) installing with auto updates on/off, changing the order of drivers I install, but I get the same problem. It makes no sense! I am typing this help message from Linux which is running fine on another partition (except for sound - Linux has a problem with SB audigy), so I am not convinced it is a hardware problem. Totally confused.... Confused

Other specs:

MOBO: Nvidia 8AN SLI-premium
RAM: 2gig generic
GPU: ATI Radeon 5500
Sound: Creative SB audigy 2 Xfi extreme
HDD: 1TB SATA (boot), 160GB IDE, 80GB IDE

Nothing is overheating, I have been monitoring this

Discussion is locked

7 Posts
- Collapse + Expand Details
- Collapse -
Answer
First guess
by Forum moderator Mar 31, 2012 8:57PM PDT

SATA drives.

XP does not know what they are and doesn't recognise them, so unless your BIOS has been set to disable AHCI (or RAID which includes AHCI in its functions) and use native SATA IDE emulation mode, then you need to install SATA drivers using the F6 option during the install/setup process.

As to the the other problems, I'm again guessing drivers, but I have noted others here say that the order that drivers are installed after XP has been fully installed is important, eg, HP says for their machines to install Motherboard/chipset, then sound drivers, then video and LAN drivers.

Others here may have better advice but in the meantime here are a couple of links on XP and SATA;
http://archive.atomicmpc.com.au/forums.asp?s=2&c=8&t=18198
http://www.mydigitallife.info/windows-xp-setup-could-not-detect-and-find-any-sata-hard-disk-drive-on-ahci-mode/

Mark

- Collapse -
Ahh
by Mr_Sheep_Pants Apr 1, 2012 7:56AM PDT

Thanks I will try that, I am unfamiliar with SATA and this would make perfect sense. The main order I was doing drivers was:

- Chipset, GPU, Sound, everything else (inc service packs)

but then I was also trying:

- SP2, SP3, Chipset, GPU, Sound, everything else.

I will try the order you suggested after installing SATA drivers (which I guess I have to download...???)

- Collapse -
Can't edit post? ***
by Mr_Sheep_Pants Apr 1, 2012 8:08AM PDT

Sorry, just starting reading those links you posted. The first thing that pops into my head is that they make it sound as though SATA was not recognised in the setup. I managed to install easily (and partition) my SATA drive, but ran into problems a little later around driver install. Without checking, I am fairly sure that BIOS was set to SMART. But I will go in and have a look at it.

Also, I have 4x SATA ports on my MOBO, and 4x RAID. I used the SATA port, but is it better to use the raid? I only have the one drive.

I remember having a SATA 3.5" floppy (about 5 years ago...) will search for drivers as they are def not anywhere I can see.

- Collapse -
As I understand it
by MarkFlax Forum moderator Apr 1, 2012 8:48PM PDT

XP will still install without SATA drivers but will either not boot with a "no hdd found" or if it does load is unstable. So I would still look at re-installing XP and installing the drivers during the setup process.

Not RAID unless you are intending a raid setup.

BIOS disable ACHI, unless you have the SATA drivers for this motherboard. You haven't said if this is a self-build system or a purchased one, but for purchased the manufacturer's web site for this PC may have all the drivers you need, including SATA drivers.

May be Jimmy's idea is best, slipstreaming it.

Mark

- Collapse -
Answer
Off the top of my head
by Apr 1, 2012 12:42AM PDT

Off the top of my head, it sounds like you got hit by some nasty malware and that is what caused your Windows install to stop working. It generally takes less than a minute before an unpatched Windows system can be compromised after being connected to the Internet.

Also, just so you know, you're in violation of the Windows EULA. You're allowed a SINGLE copy of Windows installed on a SINGLE computer. So unless you have a separate license for each install, as far as Microsoft is concerned, only one of them isn't pirated.

- Collapse -
Malware :(
by Mr_Sheep_Pants Apr 1, 2012 8:01AM PDT

I was thinking Malware, but what can I do to prevent that? I was only installing drivers and service packs for the problem to start. I didn't even have time to install applications or any net surfing... Unless you count downloading service packs, but they are now stored on one of the IDE drives so I don't need to re-install. So the last time I tried installing, there wasn't a reason to connect to the net Shocked

The same copy of Windows is installed on the same computer, so it is still only one licence per computer. The boot files are still on an old HDD that is all. I will get around to re-organising that drive and finding all the files I wish to keep and then formatting it. Is this in violation? Microsoft has some pretty extreme rules (like that sticky on the OEM) so I am not sure.

- Collapse -
What I do
by Jimmy Greystone Apr 1, 2012 8:26AM PDT

What I do is start by creating my own slipstreamed install disc (google it), and then with any space remaining I load on things like AV installers, drivers, etc. So by the time I connect to the Internet, I have the system at SP3 already, and I have at least some AV protection, etc. You still will have a couple years worth of updates to install after that, but it's a good starting point.

Maybe some day Microsoft will come up with a solution to this issue for the rest of us. People with ActiveDirectory can just have the updates pushed from the domain controller, and can be kept isolated from the Internet at large until that time comes. However, there's nothing approaching that kind of an elegant solution for we regular folks. One upon a time there was a program that would grab all the necessary updates and then apply them in a slipstreamed fashion, but Microsoft shut it down.

Back to Windows Legacy OS forum

CNET Forums

Operating Systems
Software
Electronics & Gadgets
Hardware
Tablets & Mobile Devices
General Help
Brand Forums
Roadshow Autos
Off Topic

Other Forums

Forum Info