clean XP install on SATA drive

Hi all, I used to know how to do this on (P)ATA hard drives, but this SATA
stuff has me confused. I would like to buy a new hard drive, install my
copy of XP, and use the old hard drive as backup.

Can I install the second/new hard drive, format it and partition it, install
XP on it, then make it the boot drive? In the old days, I would have just
removed the old drive, installed a new (P)ATA hard drive, installed XP, and
added back the old drive as slave/second drive to retrieve my data and then
use that disk for backup. But as I understand it this will not work with
SATA drives because the XP does not include drivers for SATA disks. I have
googled this and found some sites that talk about creating a new disk that
includes the SATA drivers, but thought since the computer is running, maybe
I could use the existing operating system to get the process started more
easily. If yes, how do I get XP to install on the second SATA drive, and
not overwrite the installation on the first drive? Is there a choice that I
can make about where to install XP when I put the XP disk in the computer?
I guess it would technically be dual boot of XP at first? Then it would be
OK for me to delete the operating system from the original disk? Any help
would be appreciated. TIA --Steve

The easy way is to install XP SP2 onto the SATA drive. The more difficult way
is to install with an earlier version of XP and download the SATA drivers from
the wbe site of the motherboard manufacturer. If the system is a Dell, the
motherboard chipset is undoubtedly an Intel one. Once you've downloaded the
drivers, you have to put them on a FLOPPY diskette and press F6 to load the SATA
drivers during the initial phases of the install. That's the only way you can
make the SATA drive the boot drive.

Why did Microsoft require that XP drivers MUST be loaded only from a floppy
diskette? Why does Microsoft do so many stupid things? ... Ben Myers

On Tue, 18 Mar 2008 20:58:39 -0700, "Steve" <> wrote:

>Hi all, I used to know how to do this on (P)ATA hard drives, but this SATA
>stuff has me confused. I would like to buy a new hard drive, install my
>copy of XP, and use the old hard drive as backup.
>
>Can I install the second/new hard drive, format it and partition it, install
>XP on it, then make it the boot drive? In the old days, I would have just
>removed the old drive, installed a new (P)ATA hard drive, installed XP, and
>added back the old drive as slave/second drive to retrieve my data and then
>use that disk for backup. But as I understand it this will not work with
>SATA drives because the XP does not include drivers for SATA disks. I have
>googled this and found some sites that talk about creating a new disk that
>includes the SATA drivers, but thought since the computer is running, maybe
>I could use the existing operating system to get the process started more
>easily. If yes, how do I get XP to install on the second SATA drive, and
>not overwrite the installation on the first drive? Is there a choice that I
>can make about where to install XP when I put the XP disk in the computer?
>I guess it would technically be dual boot of XP at first? Then it would be
>OK for me to delete the operating system from the original disk? Any help
>would be appreciated. TIA --Steve
>

Ah, sorry, I forgot to say that I don't have a floppy drive in this
computer. I have the original XP disk that came with the computer, and a
SP2 disk. I suppose then, the thing to do is to make a slipstream version
(Sorry, probably wrong terminology, I've just read about this and think I
can follow the directions at, e.g.,
http://www.winsupersite.com/showcase...slipstream.asp ). I
think I've read that sometimes SP2 doesn't include the SATA drivers?!?! Is
that possible? If so, what do I look for to see if I have them on my
version? Thanks, --Steve

"Ben Myers" <> wrote in message
news:...
> The easy way is to install XP SP2 onto the SATA drive. The more difficult
> way
> is to install with an earlier version of XP and download the SATA drivers
> from
> the wbe site of the motherboard manufacturer. If the system is a Dell,
> the
> motherboard chipset is undoubtedly an Intel one. Once you've downloaded
> the
> drivers, you have to put them on a FLOPPY diskette and press F6 to load
> the SATA
> drivers during the initial phases of the install. That's the only way
> you can
> make the SATA drive the boot drive.
>
> Why did Microsoft require that XP drivers MUST be loaded only from a
> floppy
> diskette? Why does Microsoft do so many stupid things? ... Ben Myers
>
> On Tue, 18 Mar 2008 20:58:39 -0700, "Steve" <>
> wrote:
>
>>Hi all, I used to know how to do this on (P)ATA hard drives, but this SATA
>>stuff has me confused. I would like to buy a new hard drive, install my
>>copy of XP, and use the old hard drive as backup.
>>
>>Can I install the second/new hard drive, format it and partition it,
>>install
>>XP on it, then make it the boot drive? In the old days, I would have just
>>removed the old drive, installed a new (P)ATA hard drive, installed XP,
>>and
>>added back the old drive as slave/second drive to retrieve my data and
>>then
>>use that disk for backup. But as I understand it this will not work with
>>SATA drives because the XP does not include drivers for SATA disks. I
>>have
>>googled this and found some sites that talk about creating a new disk that
>>includes the SATA drivers, but thought since the computer is running,
>>maybe
>>I could use the existing operating system to get the process started more
>>easily. If yes, how do I get XP to install on the second SATA drive, and
>>not overwrite the installation on the first drive? Is there a choice that
>>I
>>can make about where to install XP when I put the XP disk in the computer?
>>I guess it would technically be dual boot of XP at first? Then it would
>>be
>>OK for me to delete the operating system from the original disk? Any
>>help
>>would be appreciated. TIA --Steve
>>

Is the SP2 disk a Dell disk? As a test, put it in and boot to it. hi Go
through the initial stage of installation (it won't delete anything on your
hard drive. If it has the SATA drivers integrated, it will be able to see
your hard drive. If it doesn't, it will tell you it does not see a hard
drive.

"Steve" <> wrote in message
news:ZT1Ej.65585$ digy.net...
> Ah, sorry, I forgot to say that I don't have a floppy drive in this
> computer. I have the original XP disk that came with the computer, and a
> SP2 disk. I suppose then, the thing to do is to make a slipstream version
> (Sorry, probably wrong terminology, I've just read about this and think I
> can follow the directions at, e.g.,
> http://www.winsupersite.com/showcase...slipstream.asp ). I
> think I've read that sometimes SP2 doesn't include the SATA drivers?!?!
> Is that possible? If so, what do I look for to see if I have them on my
> version? Thanks, --Steve

Steve,
If your current installation of XP, and other application, working properly,
and you are just changing out the drive for a larger capacity HDD. Have you
considered just "Cloning" the HDD that is currently in your PC, to the new
HDD?
1. Most new HDD come with cloning software, or it can be downloaded from the
manufacturer's website.
2. You can purchase a Backup/Imaging application such as Acronis TrueImage.
That will allow you to make backup images of your HDD, and has a cloning
feature. I currently use version 10, the current version offered on their
website for Home use is version 11. You can check sites like Ebay or Amazon,
and see if you can purchase version 10 cheaper. Both versions work with MS
XP & Vista:
http://www.acronis.com/homecomputing...cts/trueimage/

If you new HDD is a Seagate, TI (named by DiskWizard) is offered as their
cloning application, I don't know if it has all the features of the retail
version. And has some good instructions about installing and cloning a SATA
HDD. It can be downloaded from Seagate.
http://www.seagate.com/ww/v/index.js...00dd04090aRCRD

--
Rich/rerat
(RRR News) <message rule>
<<Previous Text Snipped to Save Bandwidth When Appropriate>>



On Tue, 18 Mar 2008 20:58:39 -0700, "Steve" <> wrote:

>Hi all, I used to know how to do this on (P)ATA hard drives, but this SATA
>stuff has me confused. I would like to buy a new hard drive, install my
>copy of XP, and use the old hard drive as backup.
>
>Can I install the second/new hard drive, format it and partition it,
>install
>XP on it, then make it the boot drive? In the old days, I would have just
>removed the old drive, installed a new (P)ATA hard drive, installed XP, and
>added back the old drive as slave/second drive to retrieve my data and then
>use that disk for backup. But as I understand it this will not work with
>SATA drives because the XP does not include drivers for SATA disks. I have
>googled this and found some sites that talk about creating a new disk that
>includes the SATA drivers, but thought since the computer is running, maybe
>I could use the existing operating system to get the process started more
>easily. If yes, how do I get XP to install on the second SATA drive, and
>not overwrite the installation on the first drive? Is there a choice that
>I
>can make about where to install XP when I put the XP disk in the computer?
>I guess it would technically be dual boot of XP at first? Then it would be
>OK for me to delete the operating system from the original disk? Any help
>would be appreciated. TIA --Steve
>

The SP2 disk is direct from MS. The XP disk is from DELL, came with the
computer. I haven't purchased the new HD yet, so we shall see what
happens... (The current/only HD is SATA, but since it already is recognized,
this "test" wouldn't help, would it?) --Steve

"WSZsr" <> wrote in message
news:47e0f1d0$0$12573$...
> Is the SP2 disk a Dell disk? As a test, put it in and boot to it. hi Go
> through the initial stage of installation (it won't delete anything on
> your hard drive. If it has the SATA drivers integrated, it will be able
> to see your hard drive. If it doesn't, it will tell you it does not see a
> hard drive.

Thanks, Rich. Yes, everything is currently working, but I was hoping to use
this as an opportunity to do a clean install and clear out all the
accumulated gunk. --Steve

"Rich/rerat" <> wrote in message
news:. ..
> Steve,
> If your current installation of XP, and other application, working
> properly,
> and you are just changing out the drive for a larger capacity HDD. Have
> you
> considered just "Cloning" the HDD that is currently in your PC, to the new
> HDD?
> 1. Most new HDD come with cloning software, or it can be downloaded from
> the
> manufacturer's website.
> 2. You can purchase a Backup/Imaging application such as Acronis
> TrueImage.
> That will allow you to make backup images of your HDD, and has a cloning
> feature. I currently use version 10, the current version offered on their
> website for Home use is version 11. You can check sites like Ebay or
> Amazon,
> and see if you can purchase version 10 cheaper. Both versions work with MS
> XP & Vista:
> http://www.acronis.com/homecomputing...cts/trueimage/
>
> If you new HDD is a Seagate, TI (named by DiskWizard) is offered as their
> cloning application, I don't know if it has all the features of the retail
> version. And has some good instructions about installing and cloning a
> SATA
> HDD. It can be downloaded from Seagate.
> http://www.seagate.com/ww/v/index.js...00dd04090aRCRD
>
> --
> Rich/rerat
> (RRR News) <message rule>
> <<Previous Text Snipped to Save Bandwidth When Appropriate>>

"Steve" <> wrote in message
news:%T9Ej.65600$ et...
> The SP2 disk is direct from MS. The XP disk is from DELL, came with the
> computer. I haven't purchased the new HD yet, so we shall see what
> happens... (The current/only HD is SATA, but since it already is
> recognized, this "test" wouldn't help, would it?) --Steve
>


Nope, because the SATA drivers are already in place - installed.

I was able to install Win XP sp1 onto a SATa drive without using the floppy
added SATa drivers.

The catch was that WinXPsp1 would only recognize 128 GB of my hard drive. I
had to wait until I added sp2 to format the rest of the hard drive


"Ben Myers" <> wrote in message
news:...
> The easy way is to install XP SP2 onto the SATA drive. The more difficult
> way
> is to install with an earlier version of XP and download the SATA drivers
> from
> the wbe site of the motherboard manufacturer. If the system is a Dell,
> the
> motherboard chipset is undoubtedly an Intel one. Once you've downloaded
> the
> drivers, you have to put them on a FLOPPY diskette and press F6 to load
> the SATA
> drivers during the initial phases of the install. That's the only way
> you can
> make the SATA drive the boot drive.
>
> Why did Microsoft require that XP drivers MUST be loaded only from a
> floppy
> diskette? Why does Microsoft do so many stupid things? ... Ben Myers
>
> On Tue, 18 Mar 2008 20:58:39 -0700, "Steve" <>
> wrote:
>
>>Hi all, I used to know how to do this on (P)ATA hard drives, but this SATA
>>stuff has me confused. I would like to buy a new hard drive, install my
>>copy of XP, and use the old hard drive as backup.
>>
>>Can I install the second/new hard drive, format it and partition it,
>>install
>>XP on it, then make it the boot drive? In the old days, I would have just
>>removed the old drive, installed a new (P)ATA hard drive, installed XP,
>>and
>>added back the old drive as slave/second drive to retrieve my data and
>>then
>>use that disk for backup. But as I understand it this will not work with
>>SATA drives because the XP does not include drivers for SATA disks. I
>>have
>>googled this and found some sites that talk about creating a new disk that
>>includes the SATA drivers, but thought since the computer is running,
>>maybe
>>I could use the existing operating system to get the process started more
>>easily. If yes, how do I get XP to install on the second SATA drive, and
>>not overwrite the installation on the first drive? Is there a choice that
>>I
>>can make about where to install XP when I put the XP disk in the computer?
>>I guess it would technically be dual boot of XP at first? Then it would
>>be
>>OK for me to delete the operating system from the original disk? Any
>>help
>>would be appreciated. TIA --Steve
>>

When you boot from the CD, it does not matter that the OS does detect the
SATA hard drive. Booting from the MS XP SP2 CD would have told you that it
could not find a hard drive since the Microsoft CD does not include SATA
drivers - at least they never did in the past. The Dell XP SP2 CD does
include the SATA drivers.

So yes, the test would have helped!

"Steve" <> wrote in message
news:%T9Ej.65600$ et...
> The SP2 disk is direct from MS. The XP disk is from DELL, came with the
> computer. I haven't purchased the new HD yet, so we shall see what
> happens... (The current/only HD is SATA, but since it already is
> recognized, this "test" wouldn't help, would it?) --Steve
>
> "WSZsr" <> wrote in message
> news:47e0f1d0$0$12573$...
>> Is the SP2 disk a Dell disk? As a test, put it in and boot to it. hi Go
>> through the initial stage of installation (it won't delete anything on
>> your hard drive. If it has the SATA drivers integrated, it will be able
>> to see your hard drive. If it doesn't, it will tell you it does not see
>> a hard drive.
>
>