Don't know how to format my SATA drive

[dray_04]

Hey guys, I posted ealier that I was going to reinstall windows on my 2nd harddrive (80GB SATA) from my old 80GB IDE harddrive.

The problem is I forgot how to format a 2nd harddrive.

I tried right clicking it and choosing format but that didnt work.

I also tried booting from the winXP pro cd but that only allowed me to install windows on the IDE harddrive. (It didn't give me an option of choosing the SATA drive (maybe because it couldn' detect it.))

Its definately there though. Both harddrives. Both need to be formatted. But only the IDE comes up in the WinXP installation...

Any thoughts

[shihchiun]

Hey guys, I posted ealier that I was going to reinstall windows on my 2nd harddrive (80GB SATA) from my old 80GB IDE harddrive.

The problem is I forgot how to format a 2nd harddrive.

I tried right clicking it and choosing format but that didnt work.

I also tried booting from the winXP pro cd but that only allowed me to install windows on the  IDE harddrive. (It didn't give me an option of choosing the SATA drive (maybe because it couldn' detect it.))

Its definately there though. Both harddrives. Both need to be formatted. But only the IDE comes up in the WinXP installation...

Any thoughts

586393397[/snapback]

When the installer first comes up there's a message that says to hit F5 or F6 if you need to install additional drivers... do that. Get the drivers for your SATA controller and put them on a floppy (you might already have one) according to directions and insert that when it says to, and you should be good to go.

[CY:G]

What if you dont have a floppy? :huh:

[shihchiun]

What if you dont have a floppy?  :huh:

586393501[/snapback]

If you don't have a floppy driver, you can got to your motherboard manufacturer's website and download the proper drivers. They usually have instructions as to how to set up the floppy properly so that it can be used. If you've got no floppy drive, the only way to install Windows would be to slipstream the drivers onto the install disc, as far as I know.

[L3thal Veteran]

Purchase an external floppy drive if you have to. They cost around $20 and come in handy when flashing the BIOS and installing SATA drivers during Windows installation.

[dray_04]

I have a floppy drive.

I'll give it a go and get back to you guys. Please check back. I'll definately update you on my situation whether it be good or bad :)

[DigitalN.]

doesn't a USB flash drive work too?

[Monkeh]

AFAIK, Wind0ze only recognizes the floppy drive. It doesn't let you choose which device you want to load the driver from.

Unless... you can mask the USB stick as a floppy :/.

[dray_04]

Just letting ya know that I successfully installed winXP pro onto my SATA drive.

Big thanks to shihchiun and everyone else who helped (Y)