i'm a total computer newb, but i'm trying learn. my windows xp home edition won't boot up. i am unable to boot it up in safe mode. i called the manufacturer and was told to reinstall windows. after reading some tutorials i was able to access the bios, set the boot device as cd/dvd drive and start the reinstall process. right when i get to when windows xp will begin to reinstall, i am told there is no hard drive detected. what can i do now?? i appreciate any help.

Hi, This happened to me once where my hard drive wasn't detected, and I had to replace the IDE cable. The IDE cable is a ribbon cable, typically colored gray, that connects from the back of the hard drive to the motherboard. Do you have an extra IDE cable you can se to test it? Veets

Hi, One more thing you might want to try is check and make sure the power cable from the powersupply is connected to the back of the hard drive. Veets

OK is this ide drive or sata and I suspect sata...you probably need to watch the setup screen in very beginning when it asks you to press F6 to install driver for drive, that should be on a floppy from motherbaord manufacturer. if it isn't you need to find out the make of the board and download same from mb mfgr site. SP2 XP disks has the drivers for these but earlier versions do not.

i initially opened up my computer and checked the wires from the hard drive to the mother board, and the power source, but still had the same problem(thanks anyways, veets) i found the driver cd that came with the motherboard, which let me make a floppy to install, and after a couple of minor snafoos was able to reinstall. many thanks, Rich Mentzel thank you to both of you for your help