1 Topic by cul8er

  • cul8er
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Topic: New Problem; XP Can't Find Hard Disk

Rather then go through it all again, here's what I did, http://gparted-forum.surf4.info/viewtopic.php?id=13306  Now when I tried to install XP Pro, I get a message "XP Can Not Find Hard Disk".  So I logged back into Vista,(after I fixed the MBR) and into Disk Manager and formated the new partion to NTFS, I also changed drive letters; the cd/dvd is now "E", the HP-Recovery is now "F", the new partition is now "D" and of course I left Vista as "C".   I thought I was up to this since I did IT for some years, but that was some years ago.  Any help?

2 Reply by cmdr

  • cmdr
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Re: New Problem; XP Can't Find Hard Disk

Hello cul8er,

perhaps you need a driver for the mainboard chipset or the disk itself , even on installation process, to get access with your "old" XP Prof.  Did you update your installation disk with all available Service Packs (Keyword : Slipstreaming). The driver is meanwhile contained, if you are lucky. BTW, you need a bunch of further drivers to get it to work. Did you verify, if they are available at all ?

The so called "Hidden sectors" which contain Master Boot Record at sector 0 are usually sized to one track (= 63 sectors, 62 without function here) on a harddisk. In your case, you have 16065, which is a whole cylinder ( = 255 heads * 63 sectors). Perhaps XP gets upset with that value, too - even without using the adjacent partition (Vista).

Regards
cmdr

3 Reply by cul8er

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Re: New Problem; XP Can't Find Hard Disk

cmdr wrote:

The so called "Hidden sectors" which contain Master Boot Record at sector 0 are usually sized to one track (= 63 sectors, 62 without function here) on a harddisk. In your case, you have 16065, which is a whole cylinder ( = 255 heads * 63 sectors). Perhaps XP gets upset with that value, too - even without using the adjacent partition (Vista).

Having said that, do you think if I went back in with GParted and reset that, XP would install?  Maybe I should ask before trying.

4 Reply by cmdr (edited by cmdr 2009-03-25 22:44:08)

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Re: New Problem; XP Can't Find Hard Disk

Hello cul8er,

Having said that, do you think if I went back in with GParted and reset that, XP would install?

There is no easy "reset", because Vista would get inaccessible, too, if it stays, where it currently is located. I have two alternative suggestions instead:

1. You do, what we had done in these two threads (1,2), with your existing intended XP Pro partition (the 2nd primary), namely the NTFS Volume Boot record and keep your Vista system untouched (relatively safe procedure). I will give you the decisive details, if you choose this way.

2. You delete instead the new 2nd primary and grow 1st primary partition (Vista) 16002 sectors at its lower border to the left, keeping 63 sectors untouched (sector 0 - sector 62). This is somewhat risky, and you probably need a Vista Recovery CD (free download) to get it to work again. Test Vista, before continuing. Afterwards there shouldn't be any problems installing XP Pro by its normal process. Again you need the Vista Recovery CD, because XP Pro will overwrite the Master Boot Record code of Vista.

Regards
cmdr