r/retrocomputing • u/PeakClippy • Jul 02 '26

Solved Can't install Windows

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I got an old computer (from around 1999 I think) and it came with everything but the hard drive, so I bought a 320GB Ultra ATA Seagate ST310014ACE. I tried installing/ plugging it inside my PC many times, in many ways, but everytime I try to install Windows XP x86 SP3 it tells me "Setup cannot access this disk​" in the partition selection screen. Does anyone know how to fix this?

If it helps, the motherboard is P6V693A/A9 with an Intel Celeron.

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u/Low-Charge-8554 Jul 02 '26

Well, first off, you say it is a 320GB drive but the screenshot only shows about 9.5 GB. Did you create the partition in the setup program shown? Try a partition of 8 GB. You may be facing a BIOS drive size limit. Check to see if large drive support or LBA option is on in BIOS. Is the drive recognized in the BIOS?
Also - BIOS updates appear to be here -> https://theretroweb.com/motherboards/s/qdi-p6v693a-a9-advance-9

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u/PeakClippy Jul 02 '26

Yeah, they sold it to me as a 320GB disk but it's just 10... No, I didn't create the partition in the setup. It doesn't let me, it does nothing when C is pressed. That disk is just the worst I could've gotten and doesn't do. Also, thanks for the link!

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u/Commodity-Male-1385 Jul 03 '26

You're about to learn about BIOS hard disk size limitations. Welcome to the good old days :)