As far as I know, when you connect a second SATA drive, Windows XP should automatically detect it and go into the format prompt.

However, when I connect the second drive, the computer freezes once the boot sequence goes to detect hard drives.  The original hard drive with Windows installed has been untouched.

Is there something obvious that I am missing?  I haven't added a secondary drive since the IDE days so maybe there is?

However, when I connect the second drive, the computer freezes once the boot sequence goes to detect hard drives.  The original hard drive with Windows installed has been untouched.

What exactly do you mean by "boot sequence"? Do you mean you're not even making it past the BIOS's POST screen, or do you mean that you're actually seeing Windows get at least some of the way through its startup process before freezing up?

It goes through the BIOS screen and then checks for floppies, CDs etc to see if there is a bootable disc somewhere else.  However when it gets to the point that it checks the hard drive for bootable data (Windows XP), it locks up.  I can get into the BIOS but nothing seems out of line there.  It is definitely locking up when it tries to boot from the hard drive.

So wait, you have windows installed on one SATA drive and everything works fine, but if you add a second Sata Drive it locks up? Which SATA slots are they in. Try putting your primary SATA hardrive in SATA 1, and the second in SATA 2. Then go to the bios and make sure the good SATA 1 hardrive is set up to boot first.

So wait, you have windows installed on one SATA drive and everything works fine, but if you add a second Sata Drive it locks up? Which SATA slots are they in. Try putting your primary SATA hardrive in SATA 1, and the second in SATA 2. Then go to the bios and make sure the good SATA 1 hardrive is set up to boot first.

This is correct.

I will go back and double check to make sure that the second is in SATA 2 and not like 3 or 4 or something when I get home.  But I don't think that should matter?  It's worth a shot though!

have you fixed this? i actually just bought a SATA on friday- it was a dud!! didn't work at all and i just exchanged it today- all is fine now... hmm thsoe SATAs...

anyways, if you haven't fixed it, maybe i'm understanding your problem wrong, but try going into boot priority or something along those lines in bios, then choose hard drive first, then whatever else after it. you're using an enclosure to connect it right?

Normally what I do is I put my new drive in (taking note of the size) and then just boot off the XP installation disc, lie that I'm going to install a new copy of windows and use the utility there to format the RAW partition (I.e. the new HD). Works a charm. If it doesn't come up in that list, check your jumper config on your new drive is correct and that SATA is enabled on your motherboard.

You also need to make sure you HD has power, I had to go to the store and buy a molex-SATA power lead but it was £1 and they were nice.

If you're gonna use this XP disc method, make sure you have your CD drive set to highest boot priority in your bios (Otherwise it goes straight to reading your existing HD on boot).

Also I think just the standard Windows XP doesn't have SATA files to actually support SATA. If you cant get it to install you could download Windows Service Pack 2 and slipstream it into your regular XP disc.

Also, check in your bios that you have all the sata ports enabled, and no fancy raid settings turned on. Disable the onboard raid controller if it was previously on.

it does sound like it's booting from the new drive instead of the first, so check boot orders and what goat said.

Normally what I do is I put my new drive in (taking note of the size) and then just boot off the XP installation disc, lie that I'm going to install a new copy of windows and use the utility there to format the RAW partition (I.e. the new HD). Works a charm.

you do not have to do this at all. easiest way to set up an unformatted drive is to start -> run "compmgmt.msc" and go to drive management. it'll show up in the list of drives and you can partition it there.

you can get to computer management by right-clicking on my computer and going to "manage".

typing "compmgmt.msc" is pretty retarded and definitely takes longer! now like, "services.msc" is actually faster than using the GUIs.

thats just how i do it bro!! (i never realised there was a 'manage' option on my computer hehe im just accustomed to running shit from run)

Late late late but I managed to resolve this problem a long time ago.  I re-arranged which hard drives were connected to which SATA ports and eventually the boot sequence clicked into place and everything started up.  Thanks for the help guys!