How to get XP to see HD?

[sensitivetbman]

When I use my XP disc to try and erase my hard drive and reinstall XP, it tells me that it can't find my hard drive. Yes, I do have a hard drive and I am using it now, whch has all my programs and personal files on it like music; I also know the CD-ROM drive is working correctly because I have it set to boot from CD first. I do have the files backed up on a flash drive so I can reinstall my files. So, how can I have my CD see my hard drive to erase it & reinstall the OS?

 

[scoobydenon]

Hit restart computer, while it's restarting hit F8 or F10 it should tell you. Then you will set it to boot from CD, Then just follow what pops up and your reinstalling. I recommend not doing quick format when that option comes up, do the full partition, enjoy...

 

[sensitivetbman]

Hit restart computer, while it's restarting hit F8 or F10 it should tell you. Then you will set it to boot from CD, Then just follow what pops up and your reinstalling. I recommend not doing quick format when that option comes up, do the full partition, enjoy...

It's already set to run from the CD, but when chosen to do full format, it states it cannot find the HD.

 

[ex_bubblehead]

Check BIOS. The drive may be in AHCI mode instead of Legacy/ATA/IDE. XP doesn't support AHCI out of the box.

 

[sensitivetbman]

Check BIOS. The drive may be in AHCI mode instead of Legacy/ATA/IDE. XP doesn't support AHCI out of the box.

Well, how would I be able to check this to find out? I've had the PC for a while now with it's XP disc it came with, so it's not "out of the box" new.

 

[ex_bubblehead]

"Out of the box" simply means "by default". The Windows XP installer does not support AHCI mode.

Press whatever key combination is required during boot on your PC to enter BIOS ("Del", "F2", "F10" are common) and ensure that the disk's mode is one of Legacy, IDE, or ATA. Can't be any more specific as each vendor's BIOS is different.

 

[sensitivetbman]

"Out of the box" simply means "by default". The Windows XP installer does not support AHCI mode.

Press whatever key combination is required during boot on your PC to enter BIOS ("Del", "F2", "F10" are common) and ensure that the disk's mode is one of Legacy, IDE, or ATA. Can't be any more specific as each vendor's BIOS is different.

Okay, I went into my BIOS, but the only thing I had seen close the that would be disabling/enabling SATA; and that has already been set to Enabled. Was there something else to try?