cannot install an OS

[Ricky45]

my system finds the HDD but when trying to install WIN.XP.PRO, there is a message saying HDD cannot be formatted. sometimes when it is formatted and win.xp.pro files are copying to the HDD, a message says the disk is damage or currupted. i used 3 HDD and it is the same results.

help please
THANKS

[cguan_77]

hi, are you able to partition your hdd? you need to partition it first before formatting.. check out this site it will help you..

http://www.theeldergeek.com/hard_drives_03.htm

http://support.microsoft.com/kb/313348

[caperjack]

if the drives were used before you don't need to create a partition just format the partition that is already there is good enough ,if the 3 drives you tried were all new ,maybe yes you would need to create a partition first
!
3 different disk all saying the disk may be corrupt !
maybe its refereeing to you windows disk being corrupt and not able to copy files ,maybe you could borrow a disk and try it

[compdoc]

I came across a problem like this a while back and it turned out to be bad RAM causing the problem.

[Ricky45]

hey thanks for you guys support, it turned out that it was a bad RAM.
compdoc was right.

thanks

[jbennet]

Also make sure MBR/Bootsector Antivirus protection is OFF in the BIOS.

It stops the bootloader being written during windows install

[caperjack]

i came across this problem just last night ,friend tried 3 different drive also ,and got errors ,i ran memtest 86 and it had one bad stick of ram .