Error loading operating system after Windows XP setup.

Issue

Error loading operating system after Windows XP setup.

Cause

This issue is caused by any of the below reasons.

  1. The computer's BIOS does not support the computer hard disk drive's size or settings.
  2. Computer Hard disk drive is not properly setup in CMOS.
  3. Issue with drive's partitions.

Solution

The computer's BIOS does not support the computer hard disk drive's size or settings

This issue is often caused when the BIOS does not properly detect the hard disk drive. To resolve this issue, update the computer motherboard's BIOS.

Computer Hard disk drive is not properly setup in CMOS

Verify that the computer's hard disk drive is properly setup in CMOS setup.

Once in CMOS, verify the below hard disk drive settings.

  1. Verify the hard disk drive is detected.
  2. Try changing the "Access mode" on the hard disk drive to Large or LBA. This setting may vary depending on the BIOS.

Issue with drive's partitions

This issue can be cause if the disk drives are not properly setup or have been changed by another program, such as a utility that comes with a Linux distribution. To resolve this issue, delete and recreate all the partitions before running the Windows XP setup.