Dell Dimension 9100 - XP install can not find the SATA hard drive

Hi StrategicWebs,

I'm just curious, did you format and reinstall XP already? Did you go into the BIOS and switch to AHCI mode instead of IDE Mode?

Your BIOS is trying to handle the SATA like an IDE drive.
You need to configure the BIOS to directly support a SATA hard drive.

Lacking that you need to use the "Press F6 to install drivers" method with a floppy disk.

XP will not install. It errors out because it can not locate the hard drive. I looken in the BIOS and could not locate where to change the AHCI mode setting your referred to.

I tried the F6 option with the SATA drivers I downloaded from Dell for the 9100 and XP could still not see the drive.

Try switching to IDE in the BIOS.

Windows XP doesn't support SATA drivers you have to put them in yourself, thats why Windows XP can't see find the hard drive, if you switch to IDE mode, it should then see your hard drive.

Is this driver you download from Dell:
http://support.dell.com/support/downloads/download.aspx?c=us&l=en&s=gen&releaseid=R99740&SystemID=DIM_P4_9100&servicetag=&os=WW1&osl=en&deviceid=8615&devlib=0&typecnt=0&vercnt=1&catid=-1&impid=-1&formatcnt=1&libid=41&fileid=128971  

You need to add drivers to your install CD.
I recomend that you try nlite www.nliteos.com, it's free and easy to. I use it a lot, there is a guide at http://www.nliteos.com/guide/part1.html
Just copy your windows cd into folder, point the nlite to that dir, he will find what version of windows you are using, on the next selection window, select only integrate Drivers and Create a Bootable ISO. Download latest SATA drivers from chipset maker or motherboard manufacturer.
The downloads usually are .ZIP files or .EXE files. These extract to a directory of all the SATA drivers needed pre and post installation. Look for a folder that is named similar to DISKETTE or BOOT drivers. In this folder may be several subfolders. Either by OS or by drive type (IDE or RAID). Point nLite to the OS and RAID type folder specific to your own setup that is desired.
If your motherboard package came with a SATA diskette then transfer the contents of that diskette to the hard drive into a folder.
IMPORTANT. SATA driver packages come with a file marked TXTSETUP.OEM. Place that file in the same folder as the specific .INF that nLite will point to.
When asked about choose TextMode driver
Multiple SATA drivers cannot be added. The installation will crash. The finished slipstreamed installation disk is created for a specific type of SATA chipset and either RAID or non-RAID setup.

Nlite will slipstream drivers for you and create boot iso. On the last screen you can choose to write directly to CD.

Are u using the sp3 oem cd with xp?

Thanks skywalker39 & Kechka, got past that issue. Everything was looking good until the install gets to the point where XP ask you if you want to "install, repair or exit" screen. At that point, there is no response from the keyboard. The keyboard worked fine at the "select driver" screen. Any ideas?    

Thanks, got past that issue.            My XP install cd was only SP1.

Is the USB keyboard and mouse enabled in your BIOs (If you use USB mouse and keyboard)?

Are you using a PS2 or USB mouse and keyboard?

is that the CD your computer came with?  reason im asking is i have many XC CDs from customers, etc....i tend to use the latest one.  I tried installing the OEM XP w/SP3 CD and it did the same exact thing.  I went to the XP CD w/SP2 and it worked fine.

I know you said you are using the SP1 CD but if your computer didnt come with that CD its very possible that the native drivers are in the XP (before SP1) or maybe your PC came with XP w/SP2.

let me know.
thanks.