Why wont computer detect internal hard drive?

Question

im trying to reformat my computer. i have the windows installation disk, and i set BiOS to boot from the CD. the cd is entered into the computer. when i press enter to enter the windows XP setup, it tells me that it does not detect any installed hard drives. but this is a desktop computer with an internal Hard drive. BiOS detects the HDs so i know that they are there... i dont know what to do to make it detect the HD so i can reformat this computer. its a dell dimension 8400/

help!!

Answer 1

check your pin settings

(master-slave-cable select)

Answer 2

Is it a SATA hard drive?

If it's just a generic Windows install disc, SATA drivers aren't included.  You'll have to add them through by putting them on a floppy and hitting F6 to load additional drivers OR you can use a program called NLite to add the drivers to the install disc.