Problems installing Windows XP on Toshiba Mini NB205

Question

Hi there,
I received my new Mini yesterday.  I re-partitioned and installed Windows 7 and it worked perfectly, but I am trying to install a cleaner version of XP on another partition using and external CD-ROM drive and it is giving me grief.  Basically, XP setup can't find the hard drive.
I tried the usual F6 when it says "Press F6 if you need to install a third party SCSI or RAID driver" but it doesn't seem to register.  It's like it doesn't register that I am pressing F6.  But even if it did, I'm not sure I have the appropriate driver.
Not sure what I am doing wrong.  Anyone have any ideas?
Thanks!
Billy
Solved!
Go to Solution.

Answer 1

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You need to make sure that your XP install disk is at least SP1 level or higher for it to recognize a hard drive larger than 137gb in size.  You can integrate SP1, 2, or 3 into your XP Instlal Disk by using nLite as per this guide.
Because Windows XP doesn't have native SATA support you'll need to do one of two things to install XP on your system.  You'll need to follow this guide to integrate your SATA drivers into your XP Install Disk.  DO yourself a huge favor and use the SATA drivers that they provide.  You can integrate your Service Packs during this proceedure as well.
The other option is as follows. 
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Switching back to AHCI (Runs a little faster than ATA mode)
 - First step is to install the basic Motherboard Chipset Driver and ONLY this driver. Do
not install anything else prior to installing the Intel Matrix Storage Manager Driver as
outlined below.
- Download the Intel Matrix Storage Manager here:
http://downloadcenter.intel.com/Product_Filter.aspx?ProductID=2101
- Once you download the file, run it with the -a switch:
    iata89_enu.exe -a
This will NOT install the Matrix Storage Manager. What this will do is run the installer, and
ONLY EXTRACT the files to C:\Program Files\Intel\Intel Matrix Storage Manager. Again, this
does NOT install anything.
- Your drivers are now located in C:\Program Files\Intel\Intel Matrix Storage Manager. They
will be found in either \Driver, or \Driver64, depending on whether you're running a 32-bit
or 64-bit OS.
- Go to Device Manager --> IDE ATA/ATAPI controllers. Double-click on the Intel ICH8M 3-port
SATA Controller - 2828... remember, *ONLY* click on the device that ends with 2828.
- Go to Driver tab, and choose to Update Driver.
- Tell the Wizard prompts:
- No, not this time
- Install from a list or specific location (Advanced)
- Don't Search. I will choose the driver to install.
- Click the "Have Disk" button. Point it to C:\Program Files\Intel\Intel Matrix Storage
Manager\Driver (or Driver64).
- Choose the driver you want to install....
- After you install the driver and click OK out of every menu, reboot the laptop.
-) During reboot, go into BIOS and turn on AHCI mode
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Install your drivers in this order.
Restart after each driver and take the time to test between drivers.
Some will apply and some won't.
Chipset software
Display driver
Sound driver
Modem Driver
If your machine has the internal WiFi card, then install the WLAN and/or WiFi driver
ACPI Common Modules (required for Power management tools to function)
Toshiba Console
Display Hotkey utility
Touchpad Driver
Touchpad enable/disable utility
Toshiba Network Device Switch utility
Toshiba Power Saver Utility
Toshiba Controls
Toshiba Utilities
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If you don't post your COMPLETE model number it's very difficult to assist you. Please try to post in complete sentences with punctuation, capitals, and correct spelling. Toshiba does NOT provide any direct support in these forums. All support is User to User in their spare time.