So I'm putting together a computer for a friend out of old parts, with a brand new OEM Windows XP disc. Everything works fine, I install it, it reboots. Checks the CD Drive for a boot disc, then goes to the harddrive to load Windows XP.
Oh wait! "Error loading operation system."
This is a brand new harddrive with a brand new copy of Windows XP, what did I miss?
EDIT: I googled for a solution. "Go to the BIOS settings of your machine and change the translation method used to access the hard drive from the default setting “Auto” to “Large” (not LBA, not CHS!)."
The problem with that is, I have to change the Primary Master type from "Auto" to "User Type HDD" in order to choose the "Large" setting.
But when I change to the "User Type HDD", the motherboard doesn't detect the primary master, and thusly can't boot it either.
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Ayliana Moonwhisper Ecksus Cerazal
However, I doubt this is the problem to begin with. Sometimes it helps to take the drive off of cable select and set it specifically to master (which reminds me, is this PATA/IDE or SATA1-2?). You might also try upgrading the firmware of the BIOS on the motherboard.
Ayliana Moonwhisper Ecksus Cerazal
Ayliana Moonwhisper Ecksus Cerazal
EDIT: I guess I'll have to go buy a floppy drive tommorrow so I can flash the BIOS.
Ayliana Moonwhisper Ecksus Cerazal
Honestly I wonder how much the hard drive can have to do with this, especially with all new parts. He was able to load the windows installer onto the hard drive without errors (which naturally comes after formatting), it just wouldn't boot after that. It has to be a firmware problem or HAL problem (maybe some weird conflict). I've also seen bad RAM generate issues like this.
Ayliana Moonwhisper Ecksus Cerazal
Anyway, how's that firmware coming? Have you tried getting a bootable hardware diagnostic disk to test the RAM or whatever? (Memory that's good enough to POST isn't always good enough to handle installation, and if there's some corruption it would translate into what's going onto the hard drive.)