XP Pro SP2 install on new machine

Well, i just built a new machine with the following specs and I seem to be having some trouble with getting Windows XP Pro w/sp2 to install (please forgive the copy-paste):
ASUS "A7V880" VIA KT880 Chipset Motherboard for AMD Socket A CPU
AMD Athlon XP 3000+ "Barton "
SONY 1.44MB 3.5Inch Floppy Disk Drive, Model MPF920
SAMSUNG 120GB 7200RPM SATA Hard Drive, Model SP1213C
Lite-On 16X DVD Dual Drive, Model SOHW-1633S

When I initially tried to install XP, it would begin by pre-loading drivers and then give me the prompts for a new install, repair or exit. Choosing New (or repair) immediately brought up the following message:
Setup did not find any hard disk drives installed in your computer. Make sure any hard disk drives are powered on and properly connected to your computer, and that any disk-related hardware configuration is correct. This may involve running a manufacturer-supplied diagnostic or setup program. Setup cannot continue. To quit Setup, press F3.

Thinking that this may be a partitioning problem, I decided to install a copy of Suse Linux which did fine. It setup partitions for me and the install went perfectly. I then attempted to install XP again and encountered the same error. I also tried running the CD-ROM that came with the motherboard (just hoping for some revelation there) but it is not a bootable CD. I have tried the following steps:
1. Confirmed that the BIOS is recognizing the drive: Being a SATA drive, the only IDE item listed is the DVD/RW but I have a listing for the HD in my Boot order.
2. Swapped the DVD/RW through all 4 options of Primary/Secondary Master/Slave
3. Confirmed that the HD is plugged into the SATA 1 (also tried SATA 2) slot on the motherboard as well as power, of course. Also check the online manual to confirm that I'm not missing a jumper or anything.
4. Disabled the floppy drive in the BIOS (see next paragraph)

The next step I was going to try today was making an XP or 98SE boot disk and going through an FDISK/Format with that. I haven't tried that yet because I did not have a floppy cable, which I am picking up today.

I greatly appreciate any suggestions you might have.

 

Since the HD was an OEM device (newegg.com), I didn't get a floppy with it although i don't recall seeing any mention of it on Samsung's website. I'll check the mobo CD today and see what i can find.

 

Before heading off to college, I checked the mobo CD on my other comp. In FILELIST.TXT (quite convenient, I might add!) it lists the following drivers as being on the CD:
--Drivers
-Audio
-SoundMAX -Windows 98SE/ME/2000/XP/2003 SoundMAX Audio Driver version
5.12.01.3663 WHQL.
-Linux -Download path.(AD1888/AD1980 use the same driver for linux)
http://www.alsa-project.org/alsa-doc/index.php3?vendor=vendor-Analog_Devices

-Lan
-Marvell -Marvell LAN Driver V6.30 WHQL for Windows 98/ME/XP/NT/2000 & V6.27 for Windows 2003.

-USB2 -VIA USB 2.0 Host Controller Drivers V2.57 for Windows 98/98SE/ME/2000/2003.

-VIA
-4in1 -VIA 4 in 1 driver Package Service V4.51 for Windows NT4.0/98SE/ME/2000/XP/2003.

-VIARAID -VIA VT6420 (VT8237) SATA RAID Driver Package Version 2.20E
for Windows NT4.0/98SE/ME/2000/XP/2003.


Please note that I am NOT using the RAID functionality on this machine so it does not appear that I have any useful drivers there (for this problem, at least).

 

Thanks PeteC. Those last 2 links helped a lot, specifically where it pointed out that I need the drivers from <mobo CD>:\...\VIARAID\DRIVERDISK\SATA on a floppy, then use F6 during the Windows install to install those drivers. I'll pick up the floppy drive cable today and give it a shot.

As a side note, I guess it's a good thing that I didn't decide to follow the pattern of a lot of new computers and not even buy a floppy drive!

 

Status: Resolved!

YAY! Status is resolved. The problem was resolved by running the MAKEDISK.EXE tool in the VIARAID folder of the motherboard CD even though I'm not using RAID, just a SATA HD. When the Windows XP Pro install begins, near the bottom, it will prompt you to hit F6 to install a SCSI or RAID driver. Hit F6 and it will look at the floppy drive for the floppy that was made with the MAKEDISK.EXE tool. NOTE: From other information received, I also copied the PIDE folder (from somewhere in the VIARAID folder) to the floppy but I'm not sure this was needed.

I could've fixed this yesterday but, we finally determined that the cheapest, simplest component of the entire computer was faulty. Guess I need a new floppy drive!

Anyway, we plugged in an old HP floppy drive and left it dangling (bad us) just long enough to install Windows. Thanks for the help, everyone!