XP won't reinstall

Hi. I purchased myself a nice new computer and I am giving the old one to the kids for the family computer now. I am trying to reinstall XP on it (it has neverbeen done) and I keep getting the error that it cannot install because a newer version is already there. I have deleted any patches, downloads and service packs I could find thinking this might be the issue. No luck. I had a brand new hard drive so I installed that figuring I may as well use it and when I start up the computer it keeps telling me no master drive is found. I do believe I have set it up correctly and everything is connected properly but still nothing. Am I missing something simple or do I have big problems lying ahead for me? Can anyone help? Bob

 

Hi Evan. Thanks for responding. I really want to learn how to do these things myself and I can find no better place to learn than here. I double checked all the connections and they appear to be properly plugged in good and firm. I'm not sure what you mean by the computer BIOS, but I have the setting on the drive set for master. Is there something else I should be doing?

 

To get into the BIOS (also called Setup), watch as the computer begins to boot up for a screen telling you to press a key (often the Del key, might be one of the F keys) to "Enter Setup" (or similar wording).

If you see that screen, press the key it indicates. If you press it too late, just turn the computer off, wait a second or two for everything to spin down, then turn it back on and try again.

Once in the BIOS, as Evan Omos said, check to make sure the hard drive is recognized.

While you're in there, find the boot device order and make sure the CD drive is in first place in that list.

Then place the XP CD in the CD drive.

Then use the "Exit Saving Changes" (or similar wording) option to exit the BIOS.

With the CD drive set as the first drive for the computer to look to upon bootup, it should boot to the CD where, by following the prompts on the screen, you can format the new drive, then install XP.

 

Hi guys. Once again, thanks for responding. I didn't know BIOS was sometimes called setup. Lol. Guess I really am a beginner. Anyways, I did check this when I originally installed the new hard drive. It is as so: primary drive 0 = hard drive, primary drive 1 = unknown device, secondary drive 0 = cd rom reader, secondary drive 1= cd rom reader. Is this correct? Thanks. Bob

 

Hi Bob,

Any chance you can post the model number of the new drive?

Looking at your previous post it would appear you kept the old drive in the system as well. Could you confirm/deny this and post details of the old drive if present?

The reason I ask is because I have a strong suspicion that your Master/Slave settings are incorrect. Some drives only have one jumper setting for Master but others have two (Master with Slave Present).

Post the information I requested and we can take it from there.

 

Once again, thanks for responding. I have fully uninstalled the first drive. I would like to eventually use it as a backup in my new computer but that will come at a later date. The only drive in this computer is a brand new Maxtor DiamondMax. Model number is 6L25ORO. Does that help? Bob

 

Ok Confirm that you only have 1 HD and 2 optical drives?

Your BIOS appears to detect a 4th unknown device.

Confirm the maxtor is set as a master and nothing else is connected to the cable.

In case you haven't done so already go back into the BIOS and autodetect IDE devices (you may have had legacy settings in there for your old drive).

 

Yes. Only one hard drive and two opticals. There is also a floppy drive installed, but that is listed elsewhere in the BIOS. The Maxtor is set as master and nothing else is connected that cable. I see where it is detecting some unknown device, but what could it be? All IDE devices are set to auto also. I see nothing else in there that it could be detecting. Lol. And this is supposed to be simple? After playing around and doublechecking all settings, etc. I restarted the computer and still the same thing. "Primary hard disk drive 1 not found "

 

You could try setting the jumpers to CS/CSEL (Cable Select), make sure you're using an 80 conductor cable and connect the Maxtor to the far end not the middle connector.

What motherboard do you have?

 

Hi. The cable is an 80 and it is connected to the end. Not the middle. As far as setting the jumpers, I'm not sure how to do that. And I know I sound dumb but where do I find out what kind of motherboard I have?

 

Didn't you get an installation sheet with the drive?

Either way look on the top of the drive you should find settings for Master, Slave, Cable Select.

Earlier you confirmed the drive was set as a Master. How did you do this without knowing jumper settings?

Leave the motherboard model for now, I'm back to my first thought ie jumper settings are incorrect.

 

The drive was purchased well over a year ago. Somewhere along the line I lost any paperwork that came with the drive. As far as knowing the settings, they are printed on top of the drive. The first setting says (DS) Master. The second has a blackened box that says CS Enabled. The third says cap limit. The fourth setting has only one peg and the last is empty. That is what I went by when setting it up. I have the jumper set on the first settingthat says Master.

 

Ok so change that to CS (cable select) as I suggested earlier

 

Done. Plugged in and restarted the computer. Same thing. Primary Hard Disk Drive 1 not Found

 

Ok, from here I'd say the maxtor has failed. Try reconnecting your old drive (removing the maxtor) and check in BIOS if that's recognised.