Harddisk not recognized by Windows XP SP2

[ared]

Few days ago I bought a brand new HP notebook core duo processor (HP 530 notebook) and I'm still hard working to install Windows XP SP2 on its harddrive.
Very frustrating!
During Win XP installation I always get an error that hard disk was not detected, however the harddisk is good because I succeeded to install Linux on this notebook.
I got a suggestion to add the HP drivers trying to edit the Windows XP CD installation kit with a free program- nlite windows component removal.
Since I'm not a 'computer person' I don't know how to work with nlite software or with any other XP editor to edit or configure Windows XP.
If anyone had the same problem, I would be glad to get a simpler solution to make my new notebook to work with Win XP SP2. Also, a CD with drivers was not included in laptop kit.

[Jonathan]

There's a much easier way to add the drivers.  When you first boot to the XP installation disc it will say at the bottom to hit a certain button to specify more drivers.  If i remember correctly the key is F6.  Then it will bring you to a menu to choose drivers to use.  You will need to have the drivers available on a seperate cd.  (see below on how to do that if you're not sure)

Then you just put that cd in the drive and tell the windows installation program to look at the cd for the files. It will load the files from the cd and then go back to the regular installation process and should be able to recognize your hard drive.

So for the driver CD:
The hardest part will definitely be getting those drivers from HP.  The drivers you need are the hard drive controller drivers.  Those sometimes are included as part of the motherboard chipset drivers. Hopefully HP can help you get those.  Just download them from HPs page.  If it is an EXE file there, unfortunately, isn't a really easy way to extract the driver files you need.  If that is the case you'll want to ask their support to send you a .ZIP file with the driver files extracted.  I'm not sure if they'll be willing to do that, but that's definitely what you'll need.

Hopefully the download for the drivers will already have them as seperate files.  If they have the drivers in a .ZIP file when you download it you will just need to extract the file (just right click on the file you download and click extract all files) and then burn it to a cd.

[ared]

I want to thank you for showing me the way, it was a problem with missing drivers, nothing hardware and now it's solved with an xp custom bootable disc made with nlite  and with the needed drivers by someone who knows these things.

[ared]

There's a much easier way to add the drivers.  When you first boot to the XP installation disc it will say at the bottom to hit a certain button to specify more drivers.  If i remember correctly the key is F6.  Then it will bring you to a menu to choose drivers to use.  You will need to have the drivers available on a seperate cd.  (see below on how to do that if you're not sure)

Then you just put that cd in the drive and tell the windows installation program to look at the cd for the files. It will load the files from the cd and then go back to the regular installation process and should be able to recognize your hard drive.

So for the driver CD:
The hardest part will definitely be getting those drivers from HP.  The drivers you need are the hard drive controller drivers.  Those sometimes are included as part of the motherboard chipset drivers. Hopefully HP can help you get those.  Just download them from HPs page.  If it is an EXE file there, unfortunately, isn't a really easy way to extract the driver files you need.  If that is the case you'll want to ask their support to send you a .ZIP file with the driver files extracted.  I'm not sure if they'll be willing to do that, but that's definitely what you'll need.

Hopefully the download for the drivers will already have them as seperate files.  If they have the drivers in a .ZIP file when you download it you will just need to extract the file (just right click on the file you download and click extract all files) and then burn it to a cd.

Unfortunately it didn't recognize any cd I burned, but as I understood it could be a viable way with a floppy disc, but my laptop doesnot have such a device.

[ared]

I got a suggestion to add the HP drivers trying to edit the Windows XP CD installation kit with a free program- nlite windows component removal.

Tried nlite software on vista too but it didn't recognize vista DVD however this seems to be able to do vlite free windows vista bootable CD DVD creator . If you can manage the whole driver adding and DVD creation process the whole operation will be free, otherwise you'll be in my position, not very comfortable to seek for some paid help.