This disk does not contain a Windows compatible partition!

[joi]

Hi - I really need some help here.

I am trying to install WinXP Pro x64 on a machine which contains XP Pro already. The current install is on a 40GB SCSI and went fine. The motherboard supports SATA disks, and I want to install the new OS on them. However, no matter what I do, I always get the message that "this disk does not contain a Windows compatible partition". This makes no sense, as the partition in question is created by XP, in the install process itself.

This is the first disk, first partition, I have unplugged the SCSI drives so the install does not see them, these two SATA drives are the only drives present. I have used F6 to select the proper VIA SATA drivers, and that goes fine, but still it can't use the partition it self creates.

Can anyone tell me what is going on here and how to fix this??? I just can't get past this partition selection screen.

This is a AMD64, Abit AV8 mobo, 2GB mem, no issues with previous install.

[joi]

Wow. I have to admit that I have not been very active here over the last few years but this really surprises me. Not a single reply! What is happening to the old doc? This used to be a thriving community where all problems were solved, or at least it was attempted to solve all problems!

I am really really surprised.

[SuperSparks]

This is the first disk, first partition, I have unplugged the SCSI drives so the install does not see them, these two SATA drives are the only drives present.

I think that may be the root cause of the problem - Setup needs to write things into the root of the primary partition, which you have disconnected. Try it with the SCSI drives plugged in.

[TropicalBound]

Perhaps XP does not have the correct driver for your board and it cannot see the drives. Download the drivers from the manufacturers website and put them on a floppy. Press F6 at the appropriate time duing the setup process.

[joi]

I think that may be the root cause of the problem - Setup needs to write things into the root of the primary partition, which you have disconnected. Try it with the SCSI drives plugged in.

I did try at first with the SCSI drives present but it did not help. Besides, I don't want to ruin the SCSI partition - and after all, it should not create any problems if the system only sees the SATA drives, it is just identical to a fresh install, I am just trying to make it using an empty disk with only one primary partition.

[joi]

Perhaps XP does not have the correct driver for your board and it cannot see the drives. Download the drivers from the manufacturers website and put them on a floppy. Press F6 at the appropriate time duing the setup process.

I have the correct driver, got it from VIA. The machine sees the SATA drives, can create and delete partitions without any problems on those drives, but the OS install just claims they are not compatible - the very same partitions it created seconds before...

[joi]

OK, I tried to Ghost the old bootpartition onto the new one, thinking that would create the file structure necessary for the install to feel comfortable, but to no avail, it still claims this is not a Windows compatible partition. This must be some kind of a practical joke from Redmond.

[SuperSparks]

Download and run the hard drive manufacturer's diagnostic utility (they run from floppy, there is no need to boot into Windows). Here are the most common ones:

Seagate Seatools

IBM / Hitachi Drive Fitness Test

Maxtor Maxblast 3

Maxtor PowerMax

Western Digital Software & Drivers

Fujitsu Utilities

Samsung Drive Utilities

[joi]

I don't think this is a hardware issue at all. The install just will not accept the partition. I have seen that some have been able to fix this by f-disking from a dos floppy. I have not tried that yet, mostly because I am not sure how I would install the SATA drivers in DOS - or if I would neet that at all. Any comments/suggestions appreciated!

[Train]

If the boot sector is messed up, then yes you can get that error.
I used the low level format/zero write (Full) twice, to reset the hdd back to factory specs. It is in the hdd's diagnostic tools.
Works fine after that.
Just a option that you just might have to use.

[joi]

It might be that the boot sector is messed up, and that would explain why that F-Disk method works. It is at least worth trying what you suggest. But it still baffles me why deleting the partition and recreating it does not fix it too.

[Train]

Deleteing the partition does not touch the boot sector.

[SpywareDr]

As Train was alluding to, when you use FDISK to partition a new hard disk, it creates a partition sector beginning at cylinder 0, head 0, sector 1. When you repartition though, FDISK does NOT update this entire sector. The following DEBUG routine will clear it however:

Addresses  What you type
---------  -------------
           F 200 L1000 0
           A CS:100
xxxx:0100  MOV AX,0301
xxxx:0103  MOV BX,0200
xxxx:0106  MOV CX,0001
xxxx:0109  MOV DX,0080
xxxx:010C  INT 13
xxxx:010E  INT 20
xxxx:0110  [Enter]
           G
           Q

Note: The "Addresses" on the left are for reference only, do not type them in. And on line 0110, just press the [Enter] key.

When you land back at the DOS prompt, reboot.

[joi]

Deleteing the partition does not touch the boot sector.

Aha! That I was not aware of... thank you very much for that info!

[Train]

Your welcome!

SpywareDr's debug routine should get you straightened out.