XP Can't Find My SATA Hard Drive

UltraJake

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My brother recently bought a bunch of parts to get a computer which could handle some FPS games. (Mainly a free one called Crossfire but he's willing to jump into some other ones) Knowing nothing about computers, I had to build it for him. While it was my first build I put it all together and it powered up the first time I tried. Unfortunately, I have a problem.

When I try to install XP it can't find an installed SATA Hard Drive. I realize this is fairly normal but none of the suggested fixes have worked. The motherboard being used is a 760GM-P33 MSI motherboard. I tried disabling Native SATA Support (Or at least the equivalent option) in the Bios but doing so just stops it from even being able to get to the XP installation screen. When I change the mode to IDE or AHCI it doesn't do any better.

Another supposed fix involves nLite. I know how to use the program because I created an XP Service Pack 3 Installation disk hoping it would fix the problem. While I'm sure this method would work, I can't seem to find the proper SATA drivers. When I looked at other drivers to try figuring it out I didn't see any .inf files that are needed for the process. The guide I am using for nLite is found here: http://bit.ly/cLDeKJ

I even tried using an old IDE Hard Drive but it still didn't find the Hard Drive. It's really frustrating. :(

Thanks in advance.
 
Solution
I'd leave it on IDE mode until you get your problem fixed. That way there is no driver issue to worry about.

If you plug in your SATA drive correctly and its still not seen, its a bad drive, bad cable, or possibly a bad controller. (mobo) Try a different cable, and try a different set of sata ports.

UltraJake

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I just plug the sata cable into the motherboard, right? It's plugged in correctly in this case. Could 2 drives really be dead in a row? :(

I had heard of some XP-related issues with sata drives and had hoped this was the reason.
 

4745454b

Titan
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If you plugged in the SATA cable that's that data cable. How does the drive get power? You need to plug in the power cable. If your PSU doesn't have a SATA power connection, either buy a newer PSU (best), or get a molex to SATA adapter(ok).
 

UltraJake

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So a floppy is the only answer, huh?

If I were to try Vista or Windows 7 rather than XP would this no longer be a problem? Xp was going to be temporary, until we got Windows 7.

Thanks. :)
 

UltraJake

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You hit your 5555th post. I thought I should point that out. :)

As for your question, my brother wants to try out his new rig but doesn't have the money for Windows 7 yet. The parts came a bit late and I finished the build ~ a week ago so he's at the stage where he's blaming me. In fact, I'm going to actually have to force him to get Windows 7 because he really doesn't want to spend the money as long as XP will let it boot up.

Got any big disadvantages of XP vs. Windows 7 I can relay to him?
 

4745454b

Titan
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No DX10/11 and no Eyefinity.

The thing is you don't need to do this. Set the SATA ports to IDE and you don't need drivers. And even if you were using Win7 you said the bios doesn't see the drives. So again, you either don't have them plugged in right, or the drives are dead.
 

UltraJake

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As stated in the op I've gone to the bios into "Integrated Peripherals" then "On-Chip ATA Devices" and changed the On-Chip SATA Controller to disabled as well as re-enabling it and changing the RAID mode to IDE.
 

4745454b

Titan
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I'd leave it on IDE mode until you get your problem fixed. That way there is no driver issue to worry about.

If you plug in your SATA drive correctly and its still not seen, its a bad drive, bad cable, or possibly a bad controller. (mobo) Try a different cable, and try a different set of sata ports.
 
Solution


Good thinking about IDE mode in BIOS. You do lose all the advanced features of hard drive control but it is the easiest way to get running and you can install a proper SATA driver after windows is installed

Im wondering if the OP has both sata and the power cables plugged in to the drives ?
 

UltraJake

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Alright, I finally got it to work. The case was designed strangely. Along with the provided led wires, usb plugs, headphone/microphone jacks, etc... it came with a sata cable. I had this plugged into the motherboard. While in the past I had tried using a separate cable I guess I didn't have the xp disk in or I must have not set the it to IDE mode. I'll assume it was meant for those who want to use 2 hard drives but I ended up having to buy another cable.

Thanks guys. :)

All I need to do now is get the internet up and running on it so I can "verify" my copy of windows and ditch Internet Explorer. The old computer had used a Netgear wireless usb adapter which isn't working any longer so I'm going to try getting the drivers and putting them on the computer using a usb.

EDIT: Internet is up. Thanks again!
 

kreator

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MSI 760GM -P33 GOT PROBLEM WITH SATA DRIVES. IVE INSTALLED 8 PC'S WITH SAME BOARD AND DRIVES ONLY 5 RUNS CORRECTLY. IVE CHANGE HD THEY ALL RUN SMOOTHLY BUT NOT THOSE 3 PC'S MAYBE SOME FLASHING IS NEEDED TO DETECT THIS SATA DRIVES. THEY BOOT UP BUT AFTER 2 - 3 HOURS THEY REBOOT AND THEN CANT DETECT THOSE DISK
 

newgate_roldan

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MSI 760GM-P33, no BIOS UPDATE HDD "Cant Detect" Problem.. I update the bios from MSI But the Problem is not fixed, i use 4 same board 10 new HDD from Seagate 500GB, 1TB, Western Digital 320GB,500GB, 1TB Green Caviar, i think the Board of MSI 760GM-p33 has a Factory Defect, because there is a problem on a bios update that they fixed, The problem is "Fixed system report incorrect HDD size after disabled LBA mode." SO. i'm a Technician, but I surrender about this prob. Can MSI fixed this Prob?? both win 7, win XP cant do with it.. PLEASE GIVE A BEST ANSWER>>>>> :pt1cable: aaa
 

chaivatk

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MSI 760GM-p33 has factory defect in SATA chip in the whole lot of production. You should return mb to the dealer. They will replace with the new one the already fix this problem.

 

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