this is kind of a continuation of:
http://www.computing.net/hardware/wwwboard/forum/30130.html
i think i need to Fdisk this drive and then format it and then install windows.
why does it take so long for the comp to find this drive? when it searches for the IDE drives it takes soooo long but finnally finds it.
can anyone gimme a step by step procedure how to fdisk this sh*t and format it and install windows? i think thats the only was i can get this to work.

AMD Athlon XP *barton* 3200+
Asus A7N8X-X
Kingston PC3200 512 DDR
ATI Radeon 9600SE
40 GIG Western Digital 7200 RPM
20 GIG Maxtor 5400 RPM
X-Dreamer II

With windows XP forget about Fdisk, you don't need it. Everything is done from the Windows XP CD.

Boot up from your Windows XP CD. When the installation has recognised the current installation you can then delete the current partition, format it and start again, all from within the Windows CD. Just read and follow the instructions.

However, if the BIOS is taking its time to find your disks, reinstalling Windows XP will not make the slightest difference.

Stuart

the thing is i CANT boot from the CD. read my older post. i would explain it but its all on the other post.

AMD Athlon XP *barton* 3200+
Asus A7N8X-X
Kingston PC3200 512 DDR
ATI Radeon 9600SE
40 GIG Western Digital 7200 RPM
20 GIG Maxtor 5400 RPM
X-Dreamer II

Report Offensive Follow Up For Removal

you know how i said it takes a long time to detect the new 120 gig hard drive? well, when i set as a slave drive with my 40 as primary, it detects it right away. this is the way a managed to format it and install windows on it although i cant run it as a master, by itself. so now im runnin a multi boot. can i get any steps...ANY STEPS, i dont care how long to get my 120 running as a master and thats all i need PLEASE

AMD Athlon XP *barton* 3200+
Asus A7N8X-X
Kingston PC3200 512 DDR
ATI Radeon 9600SE
40 GIG Western Digital 7200 RPM
20 GIG Maxtor 5400 RPM
X-Dreamer II

Report Offensive Follow Up For Removal

You should be following Stuarts advice. Why can't you boot up the XP CD. I didn't see anything about that in your other post.

i dont have the authentic CD, although thats not a problem cuz maybe ill borrow my friends authentic xp home and install that temporarily...

this is whats wierd....
having my master HD as my 40 alone OR my 120 alone, it wont go into windows.
but when i got 40 master and 120 slave it boots(after going through the multiboot menu even though i formatted the 120 through windows after creating the multiboot).
why cant i just install the 120 and thats it? why does it have to take 5 minutes to find in the boot and then not boot up and have the windows setup thing not even work(explanation in other post).
can someone help?

AMD Athlon XP *barton* 3200+
Asus A7N8X-X
Kingston PC3200 512 DDR
ATI Radeon 9600SE
40 GIG Western Digital 7200 RPM
20 GIG Maxtor 5400 RPM
X-Dreamer II

Report Offensive Follow Up For Removal

As was stated, you don't need to fdisk/format...the XP CD will setup the drive for you. I don't understand what you mean by "i dont have the authentic CD"...how did you plan on installing XP without a CD, authentic or not?

How do you have your IDE devices configured? For best results, temporarily install the new HDD as primary master with no slave...& the optical device as 2ndary master with no slave. You can change the configuration after XP is installed. Go into the BIOS & set the 1st boot device to CD-ROM, then boot off the XP CD & follow the instructions.

Asus A7N8X-X
1800+ @8x210mhz
512mb PC3200
Ti4200/8X 128mb
WDC 60GB

Unlike earlier windows versions, you cannot borrow your neighbors XP CD for an installation. You will be unable to Activate it and it will quit after 30 days.

oh trust me, i can get around those things.
i think i solved my problem. everyone was tellin me not to use cable select. then, i had no choice left but to try it and finally it solved my recogniztion problem and i got to format and install windows on the drive i want. all im doin now i transferring important files from my 40 to my 20(dont have windows and is a slave) and then ill take it, put it in as a slave, dump all that good stuff into C(120) and hopefully ill be good to go. ill post up once i get this done.

AMD Athlon XP *barton* 3200+
Asus A7N8X-X
Kingston PC3200 512 DDR
ATI Radeon 9600SE
40 GIG Western Digital 7200 RPM
20 GIG Maxtor 5400 RPM
X-Dreamer II

Report Offensive Follow Up For Removal

yup it worked. its all good. thanx guys for helpin.

AMD Athlon XP *barton* 3200+
Asus A7N8X-X
Kingston PC3200 512 DDR
ATI Radeon 9600SE
40 GIG Western Digital 7200 RPM
20 GIG Maxtor 5400 RPM
X-Dreamer II

Report Offensive Follow Up For Removal