Got a computer off hardwareversand, having trouble installing windows xp

Call Me Jimmy

Hey guys, seeing as a lot of you have used hardwareversand I'm hoping you'll be able to help. I'm not very computer savvy but I got a computer off them, they assembled but I mustn't have selected software installation as well.

So I turn on the computer, it says something like "No boot disk found, please insert a boot disk and then press enter". So I assumed that meant windows xp cd, and I put that in and it goes into the blue screen for installation. But it says it doesn't detect any hard disk drives and then restarts the computer.

I really haven't a clue so any help would be much appreciated!

scotchannie

Have you a list of the specifications of the system that you ordered? If so look for what harddisk capacity you ordered e.g. 160gig, 200 gig or 500 gig...

Also if you can open the system up to see if there is any harddrives installed then it has come shipped with a hard drive but no operating system or the operating system is a corrupt installation.

What is the blue screen error that is displayed when you insert the xp disk. Is this the xp disk that was supplied with the computer?

...

h8red

Sounds like XP setup does not have a driver for your hard drive controller. Tricky. Can you tell us what the motherboard make and model is?

DanGerMus

Open up the PC and make sure that something like this

is connected to something like this

With something like this

DanGerMus

Also to the power supply with something like this


What version of xp do you have, how old is the disk?

Call Me Jimmy

Thanks for the replies. I amn't at home now because I don't have internet access but here's the list of stuff I got off harwareversand. I'll try and open the thing up later, what do I need, just a screw driver?

No.: HV20OS58DE 2048MB-Kit OCZ DDR2 PC2-8000 Platinum Dual Channel, CL5
No.: HV21S95ADE ASUS VW195S, 19", 1440x900, VGA, Audio
No.: HV203FAKDE Coolermaster Elite 330 ohne Netzteil schwarz
No.: HVR450CSDE Corsair VX450W 450 Watt
No.: HV1325EIDE Excelstore ESJ9250C 250GB IDE
No.: HV20E220DE Intel Pentium Dualcore E2200 "Box", LGA775
No.: HV202S9BDE Logitech Opti. S90 Value PS/2 (B) OEM
No.: HV33DSHODE Microsoft Windows XP Home SB System Builder-Version
No.: HV202MS5DE MS Wired Tastatur 500
No.: HV1127MSDE MSI P7N SLI-FI Sockel 775 nForce750i SLI, ATX
No.: HVZPCDE Rechner - Zusammenbau
No.: HV206STBDE Samsung SH-D162 bulk beige 16x / 48x
No.: HV1023FJDE XFX GeForce 8800GT 650M, 256MB DDR3, PCI-Express

poggy

is the pc supposed to have one or more hard drives? if there is more than one hdd then set the boot option to the other hdds and see if they boot. sounds like the boios was reset and the drive with xp is not set to boot primary.

also the xp instalation will need to have sata drivers added to it in order to pick up a hdd in the install. this can be done by pressing F6 during the xp install setup or by slip streaming the drivers into the install disk of windows xp.

the first step you should do is check the other drives for a install of xp.
failing that google sata drivers and xp install there will be some tutorials on it.

hope this helps.

PaddyTheNth

That's an IDE drive so the cable should look like this



and it needs to be connected to an IDE slot (blue in this photo)



Also the power supply cable has a narrower end than the one DanGerMus showed you.

If the cable is plugged in to the appropriate places check that it is the connection at the end of the cable (master) which is attached to the hard drive, and not the one about 1/3rd up from the end (slave).

Also have a look at the jumper settings on the hard drive and make sure that they're in the Master position (Cable select should work too). There should be a label on the drive showing which setting is which.

Nice photos of the side of an IDE drive identifying the components here - http://www.helpwithpcs.com/upgrading/install-hard-drive.htm

Call Me Jimmy

Well there was one or two cables left over, and those pictures look like them but if it's inside the computer I don't understand why they would build everything else, close it up and then leave a couple of cables for me to put inside. I should mention, the sli video link thing with the two slots on it is also outside the computer, I assumed they have a single one in there for the graphics card and left that for me to put in if I get a second card...

Call Me Jimmy

lol I managed to open the case and every single connection was tied up in a ball, not one hooked up. I know nothing about the inside of a computer... all the stuff hardware seems to be there, just the wires arent connected.

PaddyTheNth

Damn thats unreal.

I had one stupid cable arrangement regarding the controller for the Tri-Cool fan but thats ridiculous.

You may have a hard time with their customer service though. I reckon you'll have to ring them.

Call Me Jimmy

well will I not be able to just connect the wires with a bit of help from a tutorial or something? i've done some googling but havent found anything very good.

PaddyTheNth

Yeah assembly isn't a huge deal generally, although fiddling about plugging things into the motherboard can get a bit tricky.

Decent guide on tom's hardware http://www.tomshardware.co.uk/how-to-build-a-pc-part-3-uk,review-1929.html

Call Me Jimmy

god damnit, everything is connected except the hard drive power supply, its a four pin one and it just won't go in... it's black with yolks on top that bend when you push down on em, there is one already in the cd drive but the I can't fit the other one into the hard drive slot... any ideas why? should it slot right in no problem?

DanGerMus

Yeah it should be easy enough they can be fiddly though sometime the Power supply end conections get a bit loose if you give the wires a gentle tug at the back of the connector before hand it can help line them up. Try wiggling it gently while sliding it in slowly....lol seriously though:cool:. BTW happ new year now i'm off to do a little of the alternate meaning of the aforementioned. night:D.

KamiKazi

post a pic of the cable you are having trouble connecting and a pic of the hard drive you are connecting it to.