Problem switching from Vista to XP on a new laptop

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So I just bought a new laptop from Sager, that came with Windows Vista Home Premium installed.

I already own a full-install disk of Windows XP Pro, so I obviously want to switch to XP.

However, It wont let me. Two things happen. If I try to boot from my XP cd, delete the old partition, then install XP on a new fresh unformatted partition - It says "There is no recognizable hard disk. You may have to use your manufacturer's repair or install disk." Which I dont want to do since its Vista.

If I try to initiate the format from the DOS command prompt I get the message: "System Partition is not allowed to be formatted."

Anyone know a way to get around this? Do not want Vista.

[GSDragoon]

then install XP on a new fresh unformatted partition

In the screen where you delete the partitions and such, there should be an option to format. You have to format the partition before you can put any files/install windows on it.

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then install XP on a new fresh unformatted partition

In the screen where you delete the partitions and such, there should be an option to format. You have to format the partition before you can put any files/install windows on it.

No i mean i can't even get to that screen. It says "Setup did not find any hard disk drives installed on your computer." blah blah blah.

[GSDragoon]

SATA drive on an older motherboard or in a RAID? You may need to load up drivers so the setup can read it. It's F6 or something when it's loading. There should be a message at the bottom about this.

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Ok, i just googled "how to uninstall windows vista"....

and gd this is retarded how much shit you have to do to get rid of vista...

[Isiolia]

You either need to load the drivers for the disk controller for XP setup, turn off AHCI in the BIOS, or both.

[mootsfox]

Your laptop uses a special SATA driver for the HDD, XP doesn't come with it. You can thank Intel, Vista and Sager for the trouble as it's all of their faults.

You'll need to find the chipset/SATA/ACHI driver for XP for your notebook or motherboard and F6 that into your XP install.

If you've ever done a RAID array on a desktop, it's basically the same thing.

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Any chance someone could post a walk-through? I have no idea what i'm doing.

[liami]

If you can find a XP install that has SP2 on it you *should* be able to install without the extra drivers, it worked for me on my laptop.

Also installed an XP Pro disk with no SP's onto a vista machine, had to find the SATA drivers on the web (you can find them by looking at your device manger and SATA controller, then google that product) and put them on a USB stick(floppy works too). Then on the install screen for XP (The very first one you get when you boot from disk) it'll ask you to press F6 to install additional drivers, blink and you'll miss it though.

[GSDragoon]

Or you can use nLite to slipstream the drivers in there and the setup should detect it, but that way is more complicated...

[Izzy]

Or you can use nLite to slipstream the drivers in there and the setup should detect it, but that way is more complicated...

This.

1. Download nLite http://www.nliteos.com/
2. Put in your windows CD and have nLite read it.
3. Find the drivers for your SATA/RAID controller, usually on your laptop's driver download site.
4. Use nLite to slipstream the SATA drivers into your windows installation
5. Burn new CD.
6. Install windows.

[mootsfox]

Actually nLite would probably be easier, and for any future installs it would speed it up.

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Can anyone help me find the correct drivers? This is the chipset i'm using: Intel PM965 Chipset + ICH8M

Can't figure out which ones to get for XP Pro.

This is giving me such a headache ugh.

[GSDragoon]

Man... Intel's site sucks...

http://www.intel.com/support/chipsets/sb/CS-025753.htm This should be it though. The bottom row.

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k maybe final stupid question from me...

which of these files/folders do I slipsteam into my windows xp pro installation?

http://img167.imageshack.us/img167/4634/67015929fa3.jpg

[#686578]

You downloaded the update utility, not the drivers.

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There is no link on intel's site there to just download the driver file I dont think.

[#686578]

This seems to be right, when I tried to check to see if the exe did just expand the drivers it wouldn't let me for lack of proper requirements (your chipset).
http://downloadcenter.intel.com/Detail_ ... l&lang=eng

[Ikith]

If your having this much trouble now your going to have a lot of fun finding individual drivers! Most manufacturers that package with vista don't put xp drivers out on their site so I suggest making a printout of your vista machines device manager before doing this than looking up all the xp drivers and then installing xp! Trust me I have a laptop that becomes literally unstable even with every single driver for xp. Powers off and the wireless disconnects until reboot at times.

[Raiine]

I've done this twice now, both times just changed AHCI to SATA in the bios and XP installed fine.