If you are installing Windows XP after your machine has already had Windows Vista or Windows Seven, you will most likely get the “No hard disk error”. Many people still love Windows XP and just cannot get used to the newer operating systems from Microsoft. The “no hard disk drive” error usually occurs when your laptop or desktop computer is too modern for Windows XP. This older operating system does not come equipped with fancy drivers to run newer type hardware as this hardware was probably not even invented at the time of the Windows XP release.
The most common driver that causes this problem and brings up the “no hard disc error” is the lack of drivers for your hard drive. In the old days, all hard drives were connected by an IDE cable, however newer hard disks have SATA connections. See the screenshot below showing the error. Sometimes you might even see the error when you are trying to select your partition that you want to format. Either way you will see no hard drive.
Now presuming you have your hard drive actually installed properly, and you did previously have Windows Vista or Windows 7 on your computer, then the solution is sometimes obvious.
How to fix the No hard disk drive error?
There are many solutions for this problem on the Internet that all seemed very difficult, however I have found the easiest way is to enter into your BIOS and change settings. To do this you might need to press a certain key on your keyboard when starting your computer. This could be F2, F10, DEL, and so on. Go into your bios and change your SATA Device Operation to ATA instead of AHCI. Install the OS then update all your drivers while in Windows XP and change it back when completed. Now what we will be looking for is something to do with your SATA connection and the menu titles are different for all brands of BIOS.
#1. Look for SATA options. Therefore you can look for any of these menus:
- SATA options under Config menu
- legacy drives under the hard drive section
- basically anything to do with SATA options
#2. When you find this menu you then need to change the SATA options to allow IDE emulation. Below are some examples of what you might be looking for:
- Change SATA Native Support from enabled to DISABLED
- AHCI to IDE emulation
- BIOS -> Config -> SATA -> change: AHCI to Compatibility
- Set ACHI mode to IDE mode
I know this might seems confusing but the moral of the story is to disable or change the AHCI setting so that Windows XP can see the SATA hard disk drive.
#3. Save and exit your BIOS.
#4. Reboot your computer and now the Windows XP error “No hard disk ” found should be gone. Once you have done this you can Install the OS then update all your drivers while in Windows XP and change it back when completed.
Further resources for the “No Hard Disk Error”
http://www.howtogeek.com/..setup-did-not-find-any-hard-disk-drives
http://en.kioskea.net/downgrading-from-windows-vista
http://www.tomshardware.com/..hard-disk-error-install-sata
See more troubleshooting tips
Hopefully this will get rid of your “no hard disk drive” error.set
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Mitz – who has written 761 posts on Computer Tips.
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{ 14 comments… read them below or add one }
This tips are indeed lot more easier. In most of the cases, people would often forget to take their backup and so loss their valuable data when this error breaches to their system.
Thanks
Oliver Powell
2 yrs ago my wife & I decided to get newer PC’s, continuing to use XP & she wanted her own so got a laptop but the sales person convinced her to try Vista (against my advice)! While I got a desktop PC w/XP Pro & the option to install Vista over XP if I wanted to later on. My wife has regretted that decision ever since! And I said, ‘Too Bad, So Sad’….. I’m holding out with XP until the end of time or until Microsoft totally forces me to have to upgrade! And with the majority of business not changing from XP, I don’t think MS has much choice but to keep supporting it or lose business….. XP All The Way, I say!!!
That is not unusual. I know many people that will not let Windows XP go.. IT is a great software.
I bought a very fast desktop with Windows 7. I had it a week and could not find things, and none of my programs worked. Thankfully, I bought it from a builder who was able to remove Windows 7 and install Windows XP. Windows XP forever.
I’ve used XP for 5-6 years and recently (1 year ago) switched to Win 7, but I never want to go back to XP. I found the Win7 to be a lot more stable.
Marty recently posted..Solar Power – The Ultimate Source of Renewable Energy
Definitely, Windows XP is always better than the other OS that Microsoft have. In Windows XP you can add any application to your computer especially in gaming.
Marnie Byod recently posted..Cabinet Maker
i tried inserting the recovery cd but it says no fixed drive found. help! please!At this point of time, many have proven the effectiveness of Windows XP that is why they are able to enjoy and utilize well their computer or laptops.
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yep i agree that xp is still good os
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when i boot up my pc, it says primary master hard disk error. press f1 to resume. if i press f1, it says insert proper boot device. i tried inserting the recovery cd but it says no fixed drive found. help! please!
Windows XP does me just fine. I have no reason to upgrade; especially, since I own an older computer which doesn’t have the power to run the newest operating systems.
ellie
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I agree with Liane. Windows XP is the most user-friendly OS released by Microsoft. Windows Seven eats a lot of memory and there are so many hard disk issues unlike XP.
Hi writer, thanks for your posting this. I ever this problem in my pc, many error when installing windows xp or higher. one of my problem is when i install my pc, and the hard disk are detected, when installing in runing my pc just HANG. can you give me idea for my pc problem, couse i am a newbie in pc hardware equipment.
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In my opinion, Windows XP is equal to Windows 7. Windows XP is better than Windows 7 for gaming, because on Windows 7 there are a lot of compatibility problems, but still Windows 7 is very good at performance. I would sincerely choose Windows 7 because I don’t play games anymore, at least not that much that I would need to choose XP over 7. Thanks for sharing!
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At this point of time, many have proven the effectiveness of Windows XP that is why they are able to enjoy and utilize well their computer or laptops. I am certain that many people who will not experience having problem with this.
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