hope someone can help!!!!!

I have just got a new hard drive (WD 500GB Caviar Internal Hard Drive 16MB cache)

I have tried to install my windows xp and now i get "error loading operating system" I have tried pressing F8, F6, F12, Del but nothing, I have an external cd/dvd drive i can get to the menu by pressing F12 and select for it to read the cd drive but NOTHING, this is now driving me insane and i now have no clue on what to do next

PLEASE HELP!!!!!

is this an error loading from the CD or an error loading the XP you just installed ?

What happened when you 'tried to install' your windows XP?
Did it all install ok, or did you get error messages?
Sounds like it has not installed properly, for whatever reason.
Personally, I'd start again.

is this an error loading from the CD or an error loading the XP you just installed ?

the message came up after i had installed xp onto the new had-drive

What happened when you 'tried to install' your windows XP?
Did it all install ok, or did you get error messages?
Sounds like it has not installed properly, for whatever reason.
Personally, I'd start again.

the first install was faulty so i tried again and it went in 100% but i still get the message

just in case it makes a difference, I am using an external usb cd/dvd drive

just in case it makes a difference, I am using an external usb cd/dvd drive

It's not still trying to load from tyour empty cd drive is it?

It might be worthwhile checking that your BIOS is setup correctly.

Is it a IDE or SATA drive? How did you start the windows install? Did it give you the option to format and partition the drive after windows loaded all the initial setup files? You say it installed, did it reboot after doing the initial setup, then carry on? did you get to set the regional sellings?
Does the machine still boot if you put your old drive in/ why were you creating a fresh install on a new drive?

Is it a IDE or SATA drive? How did you start the windows install? Did it give you the option to format and partition the drive after windows loaded all the initial setup files? You say it installed, did it reboot after doing the initial setup, then carry on? did you get to set the regional sellings?
Does the machine still boot if you put your old drive in/ why were you creating a fresh install on a new drive?

it is a sata drive,

I started the windows install by putting the windows disc into the external cd/dvd drive, starting the computer, pressing f8 and selecting the cd/dvd drive to boot.

yes it did give me the option to format and partition the drive.

yes it rebooted after the initial setup, but it did not carry on thats when it came up and said error loadig operating system

no the old drive wouldnt boot which is why i got another drive (plus i wanted more space)

the fresh install was because it came with nothing on it i.e windows was not loaded

See if there is a setting in your bios to run the SATA drives in compatability mode. IF so choose it.

Otherwise you might need to download the SATA controller drivers from the web, and put them on floppy / CD. Then you'll need to do a re-install and choose F6 (IIRC) to specify additional SCSI / Disk drivers during the firt part of the build.

xp doesnt see sata automatically.. as convert says there should be a setting in the bios, it should be in IDE native mode..

Is that the exact error or your rough interpretation of it? Was your old drive SATA? Have you changed anything else or just plugged the drive into the same port and cable the old one was connetced to? What went wrong woth the old drive? Could it be something else at fault... Try what convert says but if you installed the old one OK I can't see why you would have issues with the new one if it's still a SATA drive on the same cable. Did you do the old install or was it already there?
Also keep pressing F8 on Startup and see if you get the options for safe mode, I am not convinced it's even trying to load from the new drive. If you disconnect the new drive and try and boot the computer do you get the same error? The thing about drivers convert suggests might be worth a try, usually though windows will either see the SATA controller or not see it.

conver/born winner: when i go into the bios and look at the "main" the "serial ATA master recognises the hard drive that is in

neeeeeeeeeek: yes that is the exact error message that is on my screen,
my old drive was a seagate baracuda 7200,
have not changed anything else and yes i just pluged the new one straight into where the old one was.
The old drive crashed and wouldnt let me even format it which is why i got a new one thinkng that it was the harddrive at fault.
i have tried pressing F8 but dont get the option of safe mode

incase you havent noticed i am a bit of a novice when it comes to this stuff my dad used to sort all the computer stuff when it went wrong!! (he's not here anymore hence me trying to do it!!!!!!!!!)

i'm tired of people saying that XP doesn't support SATA, since Service pack 2 (and any retail XP since then, which has SP2 or newer integrated) it supports ALL common SATA setups and alot of the common (dell) raid setups out of the box. the XP I use (Retail, +SP3) has worked on every machine I have thrown it in up to now, and I know there's no extra stuff thrown in as I integrated SP3 myself (It was retail SP2 to start with)

I have now added an internal cd drive and tried once again to load windows......it goes through the process of checking the computer asking me where i want to install windows etc then reboots and then.......NOTHING i don't even get the error message now just a blank screen. I have tried to boot from the cd again so that it may take me back to the windows setup screen but....NOTHING!!!!!! AAAARRRGGGGHHHHH

anybody have anymore ideas?????

YOURS
SOON TO BE BALD!!!!!

Not a bad disc is it?

Not a bad disc is it?

do you meen bad hard disc or bad windows disc?????

Windows disc

I have no way of knowing if the windows disc is faulty as I don't have another one to try!!!!

i can borrow u one if u want

thank you for the offer of lending me a disc, the only problem is that i live in MALLORCA, SPAIN and I need it fixed asap!!! with the current postal system in the uk that could be any time between now and 3 years next tuesday lol:hihi:

lol no probs

I now think it has gone from bad to WORSE!!!!!!

I turn the compter on and press F8 but then it dosen't matter if I ask it to boot from the cd or the hard-drive i get NOTHING-ZILCH-NADA, Just a black screen

WHAT THE HELL HAS HAPPENED NOW!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!:huh::rant:

seems its not recognizing the windows cd and than changes over to hard drive but with being empty thats why maybe the black screen as nothing to load from hard drive

I now think it has gone from bad to WORSE!!!!!!

I turn the compter on and press F8 but then it dosen't matter if I ask it to boot from the cd or the hard-drive i get NOTHING-ZILCH-NADA, Just a black screen

WHAT THE HELL HAS HAPPENED NOW!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!:huh::rant:

I now think it has gone from bad to WORSE!!!!!!

I turn the compter on and press F8 but then it dosen't matter if I ask it to boot from the cd or the hard-drive i get NOTHING-ZILCH-NADA, Just a black screen

WHAT THE HELL HAS HAPPENED NOW!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!:huh::rant:

If you were closer I would come have a look!

I would say there's a hardware problem

try going into BIOS and auto detecting the hard drive, see if it detects ok

Could try restoring factory / default settings in the Bios aswell, just in case something has got all screwed up.

Thanks to everyone for there help and ideas

I had to admit defeat this morning and call out Mr computer man and after a breif look at my machine we have now commited it to the computer shop in the sky!!!!!:cry:

The motherboard has finaly had enough and blown up and no longer functions :(

Once again thanks to one and all for your input