Windows can't partition on fresh install

[MINIz guy]

I'm trying to install Windows XP Pro SP2 on my rebuilt desktop and it isn't working. The BIOS recognizes the HD fine, everything is setup at stock clocks.

When I have to choose where to install Windows, I try to create a partition in my unpartitioned space. When I do that, it either doesn't create a partition (it will say "Plese wait. . ." and then go back to the original screen if where to install Windows) and if I try again, it will repeat the steps or it will give me the "Please wait. . ." message and after a while (over 5 minutes), it will say that "Setup cannot access this disk" and when I try again, it will BSOD.

What am I doing wrong? :(

Computer specifications:

Asus P5W DH Deluxe BIOS 2206
Corsair XMS2 DHX 4GB 800MHz
Intel E6300 1.86GHz
Seagate 7200.10 160GB
Kingwin Mach 1 550W

[saveus222]

If you've overclocked your memory, lower the speed or something and try again.. you said rebuilt desktop ?? you;ve formatted the drive coimpletely ? try hitting L on the drive to delete partition information etc and then installing. of coure. that is only if you dont want your data or have backed it up somewhere else..

[enteon]

sata controller in AHCI or RAID mode? XP can't handle that unless you give it a driver. set the controller to native IDE or whatever it's called in your bios. unless you are simultaniously working on a lot of big files scattered all over your hdd, NCQ (AHCI) won't give you a feelable performance increase.

apart from that, try another controller or port.

[MINIz guy]

Well, it is a totally new harddrive from Seagate. Nothing is overclocked, everything is at stock clocks and voltage.

The SATA controller is in "Standard IDE" mode, not AHCI or RAID. I've tried many ports, and it still hasn't worked.

Could a bad PSU be the cause of this? I had my DVD-ROM and HD connected to a single molex before, and the computer never recognized the HD. I then switched to the HD being on the SATA connecter and DVD-ROM on the molex, and it began to b recognized. Today, the computer doesn't recognized the HD in any ports.

[MINIz guy]

Heeeeeeeeellllllllllllppppppppppppppp!

I'm lost here and I've tried all the sugguestions!

[saveus222]

possible its a bad PSU but then ur drive shouldnt show up.. hmmm.. do u have a spare psu to connect and see ??

also, have you tried setting the hard drive to ahci mode and installing ?

[Dragy2k]

or your drive could be on its way out ......or your disk may be damaged in some way ...i.e scratches

[MINIz guy]

My drive on its way out again?!? I'm on my 4th drive from Seagate, so now I'm really guessing that it is the PSU. There is no way Seagate can send 4 bad HD's to me, it is only my PSU ruining them. This is my only PSU, so if it isn't the PSU's fault, I will have to pay a costly gamble. I will have to try AHCI mode, just as a last resort.

My XP disk looks fine from all angles. I don't think that is the case.

[MINIz guy]

Well. . . the computer is now working. It was not BIOS settings, not a bad PSU, not a bad HD, nothing wrong with the SATA ports.

The whole problem was the SATA wire. :mad:

I went through hell and back trying to get this to work, even bought a new PSU. Now I find out it was a wire.