How can I install XP Pro on a SATA machine with no floppy drive? 2

[JonathanMortimer]

Hi,

I am trying to re-install Windows XP Pro on a SATA-only machine but with no luck.

We have an NEC PM270 which has no floppy drive, no floppy drive connector, probably no floppy drive controller full stop. How the blazes am I supposed to get the SATA drivers into the Windows XP Pro installer?? When I press F6 to include other drivers it just looks for a floppy drive, nothing else. The PM270 motherboard SATA drivers come in a handy single EXE installer package, so I can't include them on a custom install CD using something like nLite. I tried booting the machine using a Windows Live cd made using BartPE but that froze as soon as it got to the graphical Windows XP loading screen, probably for the same reason that the SATA drivers were not installed (I could not find a way to include them in the BartPE CD install).

If anybody has a solution to this then please help. The original hard drive has just refused to boot (the machine sees it in the BIOS fine), other SATA hard drives give the same problem (but they boot fine on ATA/SATA machines); we do not have any kind of re-installation media for this machine, just bog-standard Windows XP Pro.

I am wondering if the SATA controller may be damaged, but then why would the BIOS pick up the drive?

It does not give any error, the screen just freezes apparently the instant hard drive access is attempted.

 

[PRPhx]

Does the SATA drivers unpack when you run the installer file? IF so, then I'd find another pc, unpack the drivers, install NLite and build the XP install cd.

How ever, I would also go into the BIOS. Check to see what boot options you have. Is there one for SATA/SCSI?

 

[PRPhx]

OOPS. Wanted to add, I did a google search and found this site:

http://www.trickspedia.com/tips/how-to-install-windows-xp-on-a-sata-hdd-laptop-without-floppy-drive/

it explains how to set up nlite with SATA drivers. You might give it a try.

 

[JonathanMortimer]

I have previously looked in the BIOS and checked out any SATA boot options.

The SATA drivers install directly to an existing Windows installation, the driver files disappear into the ether of the Windows system folders somewhere, I have no idea where or what they might be called.

I already mentioned that I have tried the nLite route, but nLite only recognises drivers if they are in the unpacked format (not from a driver installer EXE).

 

[wahnula]

There are a handful of USB floppies supported by Windows XP for F6 install of any RAID or SCSI drivers:

http://support.microsoft.com/kb/916196

Some are no longer being made so it might be a good investment to pick one up, if you can find one. Here are the supported drives:

1. Mitsumi
2. Y-E Data; Sony part number 09K9835
3. TEAC; IBM option part number 27L4226, FRU 05K9283

If you find one available online please post back with the location, as I would like to pick one up too.

Sometimes there will be an option in the BIOS for using SATA as standard IDE, that will work.

Tony

Users helping Users...

 

[Davetoo]

http://www.google.com/search?source=ig&hl=en&rlz=1G1GGLQ_ENUS296&q=FRU+05K9283+&btnG=Google+Search

I'm Certifiable, not cert-ified.
It just means my answers are from experience, not a book.

There are no more PDC's! There are DC's with FSMO roles!

 

[BadBigBen]

Also check your BIOS settings as to a LEGACY mode for that SATA controller, then no drivers are needed... the SATA will then work as IDE...



Ben

"If it works don't fix it! If it doesn't use a sledgehammer..."

 

[linney]

Have a look at the end of these threads, see the various Bios settings which may be available to you.

Installing WinXP Pro with SP2 on a SATA HD
thread779-1352505

Error Message:Setup did not find any hard disk drives installed in you
thread779-972802

Cannot install Windows XP - Please Help
thread779-1363689




Unattended install, SATA drivers, and NO Floppy, I finally got it to work!

http://www.msfn.org/board/index.php?showtopic=13173

 

[JonathanMortimer]

Thank you all very much for your replies, I will look into your suggestions and see if I can give them a go.

 

[JonathanMortimer]

BadBigBen, your suggestion worked and allowed me to install and run Windows XP without any problems, thank you very much! Only thing is that, even after installing all of the drivers for the motherboard, turning off the SATA Legacy mode in the BIOS means that Windows still cannot load from the hard drive (it stops at the graphical loading screen). So, a SATA machine that can only be used in IDE mode, fantastic. Bit of a waste of a SATA chip and drive, but at least it works.

 

[BadBigBen]

So, a SATA machine that can only be used in IDE mode, fantastic. Bit of a waste of a SATA chip and drive, but at least it works.

actually not, there is no speed difference to be noticed, the only advantages that the native mode bring are NCQ (Native Command Queuing) and HotPlugging...

if you wish to have native SATA, now that XP and all the drivers necessary are installed, then:

HOWTO: enable AHCI mode after installing Windows

http://forums.pcper.com/showthread.php?t=444831

Ben

"If it works don't fix it! If it doesn't use a sledgehammer..."