After installing new componets, computer wont work with any HDD

[WEeziel]

Some serious problem going on here. I just installed totally new componets to a clients computer: Motherboard, Graphics Card, Memory, processor and the PSU. HDD is still the same with windows XP in it. Everything in the BIOS looks fine and it finds every necessary component, even the HDD. But when I start it up normally, it just prompts the screen that windows cant start normally and then it gives the boot options (Safe mode etc). I just choose start normally, goes a few seconds with windows is loading and then it restarts. I tried with 2 different hdds (Both with windows XP installed) but it wouldn't work with either. They are around 4-5 years old. I tried different sata ports and cables with no avail.

I also tried with a Windows XP sp3 installation cd to fix the installation, but it claimed that there are no mass storage devices connected.

Right now, I'm a bit clueless.

I highly doubt that the all the sata ports are broken in the new motherboard. Any help?

 

[smorizio]

with a new mb install the old mb chipset drivers wont work unless it was the same motherboard. there two things you can do.
1.boot into safe mode f8 and remove all the old devices in windows system. and i mean removing everything. then rebooting and let windows xp try to load right. make sure on a usb stick or cd you have all the newest mb drivers ie the chipset drivers..sound ..ethernet. 2. the better option....plug the customer drive into another pc by a usb to ide/sata cable adaptor..back his data up to the other pc or usb/cd. put the drive back in and do a clean install of xp. when you do the install you have to hit f6 and have the mb chipset software ready. on the new mb make sure your using the intel or amd sata ports and there set to achi mode. on clean instal. the older mb would have had the drives in ide mode.