Installing XP

anonywho

I'm trying to install XP over Vista, on an ATA HDD.
I had the same problem befoe but the HDD was SATA, so I slipstreamed SP2 on an XP CD and it worked fine, but the XP CD with SP2 isn't working it's saying no HDD detected. Should I slipstream the HDD driver on there or what?

VThornheart

Do you still need the data?

At that point, I generally go for the "back everything up and nuke the bastard" (aka Format) approach.

It's much cleaner than overwriting previous installations, especially when it's going backwards (like you're doing going from Vista to XP).

My advice is to back up what you can and format the bugger.

anonywho

i don't need the data, I thought about doing that, but wouldn't XP still need the drivers for the ATA drive or no? I have no experience with ATA drives and XP

thej3w

If you have a floppy drive, you can press F6 I think during the start of the install and select the drivers off of there.

Also, most bios will have some sort of setting Legacy mode, or Install mode, where it will make the sata appear as an IDE drive. That way you won't need the drivers for the install, but will want to switch it back after it is done.

anonywho

yeah I don't have a single floppy drive in the house, so that's why I wanted to slipstream the driver.
But I thought XP supported ATA. I guess not?

And the HDD's manufacturer's website didn't have a driver for it.

AtomBomb

I may be wrong on this, but I don't think you want a driver for the hard drive. You want a driver for the SATA controller, which is on the motherboard.

anonywho

Well is there such a thing as ATA controller driver?

If I format somehow, is XP going to recognize the HDD?

AtomBomb

I think you're confused. Does the back of your drive look like this?

That's SATA. If it looks like this:

then you have PATA, in which case you wouldn't be having an issue (it's the old standard).

What kind of mobo do you have?

anonywho

I know what they look like but I never opened the laptop, I'm pretty sure it's an Intel, it's my dad's so I'm not really sure.


Okay I just checked the specs, it is indeed a SATA

AtomBomb

What make and model is the laptop?

anonywho

Toshiba Satellite A205-S5804.

thej3w

As I said before, your bios will most likely have a setting so that it makes the SATA controller seem like a IDE controller for the windows install. After windows is installed it will have the driver for the sata controller, but not during the install.

AtomBomb

These guys seem to have done all of the research you'll need.

RedDawn

thej3w wrote: »

As I said before, your bios will most likely have a setting so that it makes the SATA controller seem like a IDE controller for the windows install. After windows is installed it will have the driver for the sata controller, but not during the install.

I agree, you should get into the bios and set the SATA controller to computability mode. I've been running into this a lot lately with newer machines. Once installed you can set it back to the old setting.