Originally Posted by
SRQ Guy
I've been through the install process many times before. The only difference between using an "Upgrade" CD and a "Full" CD for a clean install is that in the "Upgrade" process they ask you to insert a previous OS CD just before setting up the partition. No problem. I got through all of that, formatted my HD (finally!) and Setup copied all of the necessary files to the HD. Then when the computer reboots and is supposed to boot from the HD, it doesn't. I think the MBR is hosed and I need to figure out how to repair it.
IF you can get to the recovery console then you can run 'fixmbr' which may help. You might also take a look at the bootcfg command.
I think everyone has suggested most of the obvious things... didn't remember seeing this one though: is there a RAID vs non-RAID jumper on the mobo?
If all else fails, here is what I might do: go buy a $50 cheapo small drive...something like a 40gb and slap it in the master slot and make your bigger drive the 2nd drive. Install windows to the smaller drive and see if it works. You can always take it back if it doesnt, and if it does then you have 2 drives, one for data and one for the system, which isn't a bad idea anyway. You could even get a raptor or something fast for the system drive. You can also then move the virtual memory to the 2nd drive which will also increase performance.... just a thought.
You might also try just partitioning the large drive into something like 100gb for the system and the rest for data. I'm WAY out on a limb here as my MCSE is burried in the attic collecting dust, but if the XP upgrade is not SP1 (or maybe even SP2) I think there were issues recognizing drives over 137gb. Another way around that is to 'slipstream' the SP2 update pack into your install.
Now, all that being said... With any IDE controller chipset newer than say 2004 I almost always have to supply a driver.
Finally, I think your best option is to find a working computer and download a linux distro, burn that to a DVD and install that
... hey you could always run windows in VMware (that suggest probably doesnt help the frustration level does it?)
edited to add:
The more I think about it, the more it sounds like XP's size limit. If you are using an upgrade CD, then chances are its not even SP1 and is thus limited to like 127 or 137gb... If you dont want to buy a 2nd drive, then make a small system partition, say 30gb and install to that. After you install, upgrade to SP2. Then run diskmgmt.msc, it should recognize the rest of the disk as blank space. Then you can create a data partition out of that... if you need one big drive you might be able to resize it with gparted, or get a copy of the XP install with SP2