BleepingComputer.com: Need help installing 2nd SATA drive

Hi I have a Dell running XP and i have a 160GB SATA in slot 0. Installed a second SATA in slot 1 and connected the power and the SATA cable. Apparently I have to hit F2 at startup to get into the BIOS and turn slot 1 to 'on' but when i exit setup, it says there is an error. so i go back and turn it off. now i'm stuck. any suggestions?

thanks

Does it say anything other than there is an error, if so please post exactly what it was.

"Error auto-sensing secondary slave hard disk drive, strike F1 to continue, F2 to run the setup utility"

so I hit F1...

"No boot device available. Hit F1 to retry boot, F2 for setup"

so I hit F1, same thing comes up...

then I hit F2 to turn off SATA1 (the new hard drive) and reboot and it's fine.

HELP!!

I'm just curious...what are you referring to when you say that you turn slots on/off in the BIOS?

Is that the Dell software controlling your BIOS?

Thanks .

Louis

when i start the computer, i hit F2, go into BIOS setup, turn SATA1 from off to on

This post has been edited by dr263599: 22 November 2008 - 04:56 PM