Trying to get vista off and xp on a new laptop

[die5el]

I want to take vista off a Gateway MT6821 laptop and install windows xp instead. Every time I try to install the OS it comes back cant find the Hard Drive. The hard drive is being seen in the BIOS and when you start windows normally it boots up no problem. I even instaled another hard drive in the laptop and get the same thing. I have tried installing pro, 2000 and everyone of them come back the same. Any suggestions on what is going on.

 

[Baaheeduk]

Do you have any cards or USB sticks inserted? It might be that? For some reason my PC wont boot up with my iPod connected as it must see that first? Bios is set to try CD-ROM, Floppy then HDD.

 

[die5el]

i have no cards or USB sticks inserted and my bios set up is as follows cdrom hard drive etc I try to install the OS it comes back cant find the Hard Drive

 

[beady]

What version of XP are you trying to install? If it's pre Service pack 2, I don't think it's got SATA drivers. I had this problem a while ago trying to use an older XP install disk on my new computer. In that case, I just got hold of an updated install disk (it was for work anyway and we've got a site license). At some point during the start of the install it asks if you want to add third party SCSI and RAID drivers, I think you might be able to get the SATA drivers in there. I don't know where you'd get them from though. Maybe someone else will know. Maybe from the manufacturers website?
Good luck.

edit: There's some info here that might help if you don't have a floppy drive. Seems a bit longwinded but it might be the only way. Still, google turns up loads of stuff with 'xp install SATA'.

 

[die5el]

Thanks beady i totally forgot about the SATA drivers will see if i can get them of the manufacturers website will post back to leave you know if the install of xp completes or not.

 

[jay007]

Download a program called Nlite and create your own xp installation cd with drivers for your hard drive included.

 

[rawsy]

you could put the drivers on a floppy xp askes for that when you select 3rd party drivers during install

 

[jaffa]

If you still have Vista installed and havent formatted yet, then use a program like Driver Genius to get the drivers, it will save every driver you have on the system and also show you what they are for, so just a matter of copying them, then you can have them for when you put XP back on.

 

[die5el]

Thanks to all that helped me out much appreciated i have finally got xp on the laptop . : multi :

 

[Coolur]

Does that Gateway have the Sigmatel HD Audio chip & Did you manage to get audio drivers working on it in XP ???

Coolur

 

[die5el]

Yes i got the sound working on xp the drivers are here :- http://support.gateway.com/support/...udio Driver version 5.10.5031.0&uid=156076284

UAA High Definition Audio fix kb888111.exe;
go to http://hf.xable.net/ and manually locate the kb888111.exe download link (only install this if you
still have no sound after installing Sigmatel Audio Driver; Go to microsoft
website to learn more about this fix-- follow this link: http://support.microsoft.com/kb/888111
Here are all the drivers i used and they work like a dream
Intel Controller Driver ver: 5.5.0.10 :- http://support.gateway.com/support/...troller Driver version 5.5.0.10&uid=156074580

Intel Video Chipset Driver ver 6.14.10.3856 :-http://support.gateway.com/support/drivers/getFile.asp?id=20443&dscr=Gateway%20Intel%20Video%20Driver%20Revision:%206.14.10.3856&uid=156075670

Intel Wireless Network Driver ver 10.1.0.13 :-http://support.gateway.com/support/drivers/getFile.asp?id=20449&dscr=Gateway%20Intel%20Wireless%20Network%20Card%20DriverRevision:%2010.1.0.13&uid=156075824

Media Card Reader ver 2.0.06 :- http://support.gateway.com/support/...d Reader Driver Version: 2.0.06&uid=156075984

Motorola Modem Driver ver 6.11.04.02 :- http://support.gateway.com/support/...odem Driver Version: 6.11.04.02&uid=156076070

Motorola Modem Software ver 6.11.11.03 :- http://support.gateway.com/support/...odem Driver version: 6.11.11.03&uid=156076179

Synaptics Touchpad Driver ver 8.1.13.0 :- http://support.gateway.com/support/...uchpad Driver version: 8.1.13.0&uid=156077128

Intel Chipset Software Installation Utility ver 2.11.15.0 :- http://downloadcenter.intel.com/con...&OSFullName=Windows* XP Professional&lang=eng

Intel LAN Driver for XP ver 8.49.2.3 :- http://downloadcenter.intel.com/con...54&DwnldId=10540&strOSs=&OSFullName=&lang=eng

I would install the Intel Chipset Software and the Intel Controller Driver first. After that, it shouldn't really
matter the order. I do know the last thing I installed was the UAA High
Definition Audio Fix because after installing the Sigmatel Audio
Driver I still didn't have any sound. After opening up the device
manager in XP, I realized the problem was because of the UAA High Definition
Audio driver needed to be updated also. Depending on the ver of XP PRO that
you have (pre-SP1 | SP1 | SP2) you may or may not need the UAA fix. If you
install Sigmatel Audio Driver and can hear audio clips, you don't need
to install the UAA fix. After you install all the drivers, open up the Device
Manager and make sure that you have no expanded fields. Every piece of
Hardware listed should have a compact field (it should have a (+) to the
left of it). If any hardware field is expanded and you see either a red X, a
yellow !, or a red ?, then you need to install that particular driver again.

Hope this helps

 

[Coolur]

Hi M8

Thanks for the very detailed reply...

I am glad and pleased to say I am now running my Gateway Laptop on Windows XP and rid of the Vista....

My laptop is the MT6839B... Vista ran fine on it but I just can not get along with Vista...

Cheers again


Coolur : colors1