can't reinstall xp

ok, i've worked on this computer before (it's a home built), and i've installed xp 6-8 mos. or so ago. well, this comp (is my old managers), and they had no antivirus, etc., etc. when i got it home i was getting that screen to register windows, as it had been over thirty days (won't let you login), well it let me log in 2-3 times, and now it's basically locked. ok, since it is polluted, i was going to reinstall windows, i opened up the case and there are 2 h/d's, 1 was not connected. i took the cables off the 1 that has the os, and hooked up the other h/d. well, i get to the installation screen (enter to install, f3 to exit, etc.), and i hit enter then it goes to another screen saying that no h/d can be found in the computer. i know this h/d works, as i installed it into my comp to see what was on there (which wasn't much). i just formatted it, and put it back into their case. it had no jumper on it, and i tried different jumper settings (cs, master), and went into the bios, and tried different settings. i even hooked up the other h/d (with the os on it), and i get to the login screen (still can't login). anyway, that h/d works, when i try to install windows on that h/d, i get the same error. so, i'm not sure what's going on. i've tried different bios settings (scsi/raid, optimize settings - or whatever it says), i've tried different jumper settings, tried a new cable, moved the cable to a different slot on m/b, both h/d's. right now i'm not with the comp (i'm running errands), but, i've taken the battery out, maybe that will do something? i know when i'm in the bios i don't see the h/d anywhere (i see the cd/dvd players). however when it's booting up, i see it on bootup. i do know the maxtor h/d is good, as i used "Darik's Boot and Nuke" in their computer to erase it, and i also used my maxtor disc to format it, so any/all help would be appreciated. i myself think it's a bios problem, but i'm unsure? i'm thinking about pulling out 1 stick of their ram, as i noticed it says 32 or 64 mbyte of ram, but i know it has more. thx, sos

 

well, i figured it out. whoever worked on it last moved the ide cable from where it should have been (or at least where the bios would finally recognized it). when i moved the cabel to ide1 or 2, it was finally recognized (i got the pic from the gigabyte website, their m/b), and the cable was installed in ie3. anyway, this was driving me nuts (i'm sure i'll remember this one)!!