can you explain this odd situation

[semtex]

I've got a machine which currently has 2 standard ATA133 drives and 1 SATA drive - when i install XP on this machine it will only ever format the SATA drive (which i want to install XP on) when the other ATA133 drives are disconnected. If the drives are connected then XP setup creates a raw partition and will not install the OS. Can anyone explain that? I don't really wanna have to open up my machine anytime i want to re-install

 

[Opteronix]

XP WILL NOT INSTALL ON SLAVE DRIVES. You MUST set oen of the ATA133 drives as a Master of an IDE channel inorder to install.

 

[semtex]

i have done - one master, one slave. It is the SATA drive that I want XP on

 

[Opteronix]

i have done - one master, one slave. It is the SATA drive that I want XP on

OK, make SATA the primary channel through the BIOS. That should cure this ailment.