istalling win xp on laptop

M

mixoptical

Geek Trainee
hi, i am trying to install win xp on laptop after full format. the setup starts, loads all the files and then displays a massage that no hard drives could be found.

*when i boot the computer with boot cd i can see the hard disk, format it, and whatever else, but windows setup cannot see it. (not even 98 or me)

is anyone familiar with this?
thanks
 
mixoptical said:
hi, i am trying to install win xp on laptop after full format. the setup starts, loads all the files and then displays a massage that no hard drives could be found.

*when i boot the computer with boot cd i can see the hard disk, format it, and whatever else, but windows setup cannot see it. (not even 98 or me)
Click to expand...
how are you trying to install XP ?[ot]i presume its SP2[/ot]BTW: how big is the HDD ?

Edit: could you please enter your specs into "My Computer" or you could add them to your sig
 
i have a fujitsu lifebook N3530
(core duo 1.83ghz, 512mb ddr, 100gb)

I am using bootable cd to install the windows.

also i used ultimate boot cd to run some diagnostics on my hdd to make sure it is ok, all the tests gave no errors
 
:confused:
mixoptical said:
when i boot the computer with boot cd i can see the hard disk,
Click to expand...
:confused: [ot]also get the diagnostic tools from your HDD manufactures website[/ot]BTW: is this the only HDD, can you also try a different XP install disc[ot]as your disc may be damaged[/ot]
 
i have tried several xp disks and also 98, 98 se, and ME. all give me the erroe massage - no hard disks were found.

btw, i formatted the hdd with FAT32 and divided it into 2 dos partitions. one ~30gb and other ~70.
 
Not sure if this is it or even possible but - I think your HDD is SATA. As XP does not have support for SATA built into the installation CD, you might have to load the drivers separately. Notice that the installation CD asks you to press F6 for SCSI drivers. See if you can download the drivers from the site. You will need to stick them on a floppy, attach a floppy drive to your laptop and stick the floppy disk in the drive. Start and hopefully after pressing F6, later in the process, XP will load the drivers and recognise the drive.

Again this is a very wild shot in the dark.... might just work :x:
 
saba said:
As XP does not have support for SATA built into the installation CD, you might have to load the drivers separately.
Click to expand...
yes it will work, thankies saba, you could also slipstream your XP CD so the SATA drivers were on the XP CD to include the SATA drivers, then you could just boot the XP CD & install to HDD

BTW: heres a slipstreaming guide
 
the hdd is SATA, so you guessed right, and i tried your solution but i had no floppy drive so i didnt know what to do next.

thank you all for your help.
 
No sweat! I have to say, I never got a slipstreamed CD to work for me. Always ended up using an external floppy drive. But hey... no one's perfect..... you might get it to work....

[ot]By the way whereabouts are you in Israel? If you do not mind me asking? ;) [/ot]
 
i tried to make a slipsteam, but there was an error in txtsetup file, so now i am checking that.....


btw...
i am from Rishon...
 
i ended using a floppy drive too.. tried slipstreaming several times, but each time there was an error, so i gave up on that...

thanks a lot.
 
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