HAY GUYS

Bloggs · Local time: Sep 30, 2007, 10:16 PM

I purchased a laptop about 6 months ago and Vista came pre-installed but I'd like to downgrade to XP. The problem I'm having here is that everytime I try to boot from the Windows disc I get an error saying that Windows cannot find any hard disks.

I've looked up about Dual Booting and I followed the procedure by creating a partition of 5GB via Vista's Disk Management tool although I still keep getting this error message. The other way I could try this is to format C: Drive - I don't want to do this as I still have 6 months on my warranty and I've been told this option would make it expire my.

Can anybody help? Any help is appreciated.

Thanks

Jam it back in, in the dark.

Bloggs · Local time: Sep 30, 2007, 11:46 PM

I searched google for some DOS SATA drivers but I couldn't find anything - I have a Compaq Presario C500 (the model number is C504EA though). I'll have a look in the BIOS shortly and let you know if I fix it via that.

Thanks for the fast response, Render !

There's nowhere I can't reach.

Bloggs · Local time: Sep 30, 2007, 11:49 PM

Oh right. I'm just going by what I've been told. Even though, formatting isn't going to help me at this time as I can't even get it to boot up Windows =\

Thanks, though ! At least I know now.

This thing is sticky, and I don't like it. I don't appreciate it.

Bloggs · Local time: Oct 1, 2007, 11:08 AM

Originally Posted by Render

Chances the hard drive in your laptop uses a SATA interface... meaning you need to get some DOS SATA drivers from the manufacturer of your machine.

The other possible method is to try and hunt around in the BIOS and look for a SATA compatibility option that allows your computer to see all SATA ports as IDE.

The only thing I could find in the BIOS refering to SATA was a "SATA Native Support" which is enabled. Is there anything else I should be looking for?

Thanks for the links, Roph ! But the trouble I'm having at the moment is the computer not being able to read a Hard Disk even though I partitioned, so I'm not sure if downloading your copy would make a difference =\

One way to find out I guess.

I am a dolphin, do you want me on your body?

Bloggs · Local time: Oct 1, 2007, 01:38 PM

I've successfully installed XP by disabling the SATA Native Support but now I'm kinda stuck with some of the drivers. I need a Wireless Assistant driver and Graphic Driver (having a widescreen monitor and only getting 1024x768 resolution kinda sucks)

Thanks for all your help so far, if you could help me out by finding the drivers (as I have no recovery discs) then I would appreciate that !

Also, I can't enable the SATA Native Support otherwise Windows XP doesn't load. Would this effect my laptop?

I was speaking idiomatically.

Bloggs · Local time: Oct 2, 2007, 11:09 AM

If I have SATA enabled it doesn't read the Windows disc. I'll have another look into them actually as I have removed Vista now.

What kind of toxic man-thing is happening now?

Bloggs · 07:55 AM

I mean that if SATA Native support is enabled, it won't boot up the windows disc. I had to disable it so it could install XP but now I can't get the drivers to work.

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Bloggs · 10:30 AM

Ok. I'm sorry if I'm not putting it into great detail here. I'll scratch...

I've formatted C: drive
In the BIOS, SATA is Enabled
I put in the Windows disc
It loads up but before asking which partition/drive I want it installed on, it says windows cannot find any disks and has to restart.
I disable SATA Support and it installs windows
doing this I cannot install any drivers or intel chipsets

I hope this explains a bit better (I doubt it though)

Roph. Do you happen to have a Registry Key for that windows please?

How ya doing, buddy?