Problem with reverting from Vista home to XP Pro

anwar1337 · 09-14-07, 01:08 PM

I just got a new laptop, and it came with vista home which blows and takes up about 1000mb of ram with only 3 windows of IE open and i only have a gig so the computer is running sluggish. Its a core 2 duo @ 1.6, 1gb of ram, 120gb hdd,8400m gs.

My problem is... When I put the xp cd in, i get into setup and once its done loading its preliminary files it asks if I want to repair, I hit no. Then the next screen says... Windows did not find a HD in this computer so setup can not go on, press enter to restart...
Is this because of some different file system that vista uses? How should I go about taking care of this. You guys are the smartest people I know that deal with computers so please help a broTher out!

Thanks.
BTW its a Dell Vostro 1500 if any of you guys needed to know

djrussell · 09-14-07, 01:40 PM

you could always totally wipe it and start from a blank drive instead of trying to overwrite vista.

anwar1337 · 09-14-07, 02:08 PM

What do you mean wipe it clean... thats what Im trying to do with the XP cd but it wont even let me format it doesnt go past the repair screen... Is there some program i can burn onto a cd that will wipe my hd and put it back into NTFS? Theres no way that windows cant find a hd unless itcant recognize the file system.

djrussell · 09-14-07, 02:11 PM

darik's boot and nuke. never used it but i hear good things.

http://dban.sourceforge.net/

Neuromancer · 09-14-07, 02:23 PM

More then likely since you are using a socket 775 system you are going to need to find out what chipset your harddrive is controlled by and then get some sata/raid drivers for it.

The reason it says "no hdd" is it can not see the HDD.

If you want to take a stab in the dark without looking up your chipset in Vista device manager... then download the atest jmicron drivers, and F6 install with hte windows XP cd

anwar1337 · 09-14-07, 05:24 PM

How would SATA/RAID drivers help in this situation? Laptops now a days use SATA? I'm pretty sure its IDE but i might be wrong. And youre saying install the SATA/RAID drivers during the initial file loading of XP's setup?

Trap05 · 09-14-07, 05:48 PM

It's sata for sure so if XP can't see the drive you'll need a slipstreamed XP install CD or a usb floppy for the F6 install to load the appropriate driver. What brand and model of notebook? Check the manufacturers support site and see if you can download the driver there.

GotNoRice · 09-14-07, 07:12 PM

Yeah this really has nothing to do with Vista being on there before. It doesn't have the drivers necessary to see your drive and you need to load them via F6 at setup start. Without a floppy drive, it will be considerably more difficult.

anwar1337 · 09-14-07, 08:02 PM

Ok, found the chipset driver from dells website which states SATA storage support. Its an exe, will that be able to run during the windows setup? Also do you guys think I can use a USB stick for this orno?

anwar1337 · 09-14-07, 08:16 PM

Ok well its not letting me install anything without an A drive. Is there any other way to tackle this problem or am i screweD?

anwar1337 · 09-14-07, 08:18 PM

What would happen if I did a recovery? Same thing as before, the whole no hd recognition?

billb · 09-14-07, 08:32 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by anwar1337

What would happen if I did a recovery? Same thing as before, the whole no hd recognition?

If you're using XP sp2, the sata drivers are included and load automatically. The problem is the hidden restore partition Dell put on th HDD. Boot the Windows Install CD into Recovery Consul and run fixmbr and fixboot. I think you can run Format from there too. If not, just get a DOS boot disk (you can download the files from numerous places.) and Fdisk then format.

There are also methods for installing XP and keeping VISTA there so you can dual boot...but that's a whole different story.

Trap05 · 09-14-07, 08:58 PM

You'll need to purchase a usb floppy drive

anwar1337 · 09-16-07, 09:11 PM

Will it recognize a USB Floppy drive as Drive A in windows setup?

Trap05 · 09-18-07, 12:37 PM

Yep it will work just fine

09-14-07, 01:08 PM	Thread Starter #1
anwar1337 Member Join Date: Apr 2003	Problem with reverting from Vista home to XP Pro I just got a new laptop, and it came with vista home which blows and takes up about 1000mb of ram with only 3 windows of IE open and i only have a gig so the computer is running sluggish. Its a core 2 duo @ 1.6, 1gb of ram, 120gb hdd,8400m gs. My problem is... When I put the xp cd in, i get into setup and once its done loading its preliminary files it asks if I want to repair, I hit no. Then the next screen says... Windows did not find a HD in this computer so setup can not go on, press enter to restart... Is this because of some different file system that vista uses? How should I go about taking care of this. You guys are the smartest people I know that deal with computers so please help a broTher out! Thanks. BTW its a Dell Vostro 1500 if any of you guys needed to know __________________ § ASUS P5B-Deluxe § Intel e6300 1.86 @ 3.00 § Thermalright XP-120 + Kingwin 120MM § Corsair Dominator XMS2 PC8500 2 x 1GB § XFX 8800GTS 640MB § Antec Super Lanboy § OCZ Modstream 520W PSU § 74GB WD Raptor § NEC ND-3520A § Samsung 997DF § Logitech Z-5500 Digital Speakers § Logitech Elite Keyboard + Logitech G5
	QUOTE Thanks

09-14-07, 01:40 PM	#2
djrussell Member Join Date: May 2007 Location: everett, wa	you could always totally wipe it and start from a blank drive instead of trying to overwrite vista. __________________ x2 5600 21/45 w/Tt ruby orb GB ga-m61p-s3 2x512 + 2x2 ocz platinum 4-4-4-12 seagate 'cudas 80gb + 500gb rosewill stallion 500w raidmax sagitta case powercolor HD3870 PCS
	QUOTE Thanks

09-14-07, 02:08 PM	Thread Starter #3
anwar1337 Member Join Date: Apr 2003	What do you mean wipe it clean... thats what Im trying to do with the XP cd but it wont even let me format it doesnt go past the repair screen... Is there some program i can burn onto a cd that will wipe my hd and put it back into NTFS? Theres no way that windows cant find a hd unless itcant recognize the file system. __________________ § ASUS P5B-Deluxe § Intel e6300 1.86 @ 3.00 § Thermalright XP-120 + Kingwin 120MM § Corsair Dominator XMS2 PC8500 2 x 1GB § XFX 8800GTS 640MB § Antec Super Lanboy § OCZ Modstream 520W PSU § 74GB WD Raptor § NEC ND-3520A § Samsung 997DF § Logitech Z-5500 Digital Speakers § Logitech Elite Keyboard + Logitech G5
	QUOTE Thanks

09-14-07, 02:11 PM	#4
djrussell Member Join Date: May 2007 Location: everett, wa	darik's boot and nuke. never used it but i hear good things. http://dban.sourceforge.net/ __________________ x2 5600 21/45 w/Tt ruby orb GB ga-m61p-s3 2x512 + 2x2 ocz platinum 4-4-4-12 seagate 'cudas 80gb + 500gb rosewill stallion 500w raidmax sagitta case powercolor HD3870 PCS
	QUOTE Thanks

09-14-07, 02:23 PM	#5
Neuromancer Member Join Date: Oct 2005 Location: Tau'ri	More then likely since you are using a socket 775 system you are going to need to find out what chipset your harddrive is controlled by and then get some sata/raid drivers for it. The reason it says "no hdd" is it can not see the HDD. If you want to take a stab in the dark without looking up your chipset in Vista device manager... then download the atest jmicron drivers, and F6 install with hte windows XP cd
	QUOTE Thanks

Problem with reverting from Vista home to XP Pro

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09-14-07, 05:24 PM	Thread Starter #6
anwar1337 Member Join Date: Apr 2003	How would SATA/RAID drivers help in this situation? Laptops now a days use SATA? I'm pretty sure its IDE but i might be wrong. And youre saying install the SATA/RAID drivers during the initial file loading of XP's setup? __________________ § ASUS P5B-Deluxe § Intel e6300 1.86 @ 3.00 § Thermalright XP-120 + Kingwin 120MM § Corsair Dominator XMS2 PC8500 2 x 1GB § XFX 8800GTS 640MB § Antec Super Lanboy § OCZ Modstream 520W PSU § 74GB WD Raptor § NEC ND-3520A § Samsung 997DF § Logitech Z-5500 Digital Speakers § Logitech Elite Keyboard + Logitech G5
	QUOTE Thanks

09-14-07, 05:48 PM	#7
Trap05 Member Join Date: Jan 2005 Location: Alberta, Canada	It's sata for sure so if XP can't see the drive you'll need a slipstreamed XP install CD or a usb floppy for the F6 install to load the appropriate driver. What brand and model of notebook? Check the manufacturers support site and see if you can download the driver there. __________________ CoolerMaster 690 Antec HCG 620w Gigabyte Z68X-UD4-B3 + i5 2500K Xigmatek Dark Knight S1283V w/crossbow G.Skill 8GB 1600 MSI GTX 560ti 448 1280MB Corsair Nova 64GB SSD Windows 7 x64 HP SP1 Corsair k60 & Logitech MX518 BenQ RL2450H 24" 1080p http://www.heatware.com/eval.php?id=60834 SteamID trm2006
	QUOTE Thanks

09-14-07, 07:12 PM	#8
GotNoRice Member Join Date: Dec 2002 Location: Pleasant Hill, CA	Yeah this really has nothing to do with Vista being on there before. It doesn't have the drivers necessary to see your drive and you need to load them via F6 at setup start. Without a floppy drive, it will be considerably more difficult. __________________ Main Rig: i5-2500K @ 5Ghz - ASUS P8Z68-V - 2x EVGA Geforce GTX680 Superclocked in SLI - 16GB DDR3 1600 - X-Fi Titanium PCI-E - Crucial M4 128G - Antec TruePower Quattro 1000w - Corsair 800D LAN Rig: Q6600 @ 3.6Ghz - Gigabyte EP45-UD3P - 2x 4870x2 Quad-Crossfire - 6GB PC8500 - X-Fi XtremeMusic - Intel X25-M G2 80GB - Thermaltake Toughpower 1000w - Thermaltake Armor Jr. Server: Core i5 650 @ 3.85Ghz - Asus P7H55-M PRO - 12GB DDR3 - FSP 550w PSU
	QUOTE Thanks

09-14-07, 08:02 PM	Thread Starter #9
anwar1337 Member Join Date: Apr 2003	Ok, found the chipset driver from dells website which states SATA storage support. Its an exe, will that be able to run during the windows setup? Also do you guys think I can use a USB stick for this orno? __________________ § ASUS P5B-Deluxe § Intel e6300 1.86 @ 3.00 § Thermalright XP-120 + Kingwin 120MM § Corsair Dominator XMS2 PC8500 2 x 1GB § XFX 8800GTS 640MB § Antec Super Lanboy § OCZ Modstream 520W PSU § 74GB WD Raptor § NEC ND-3520A § Samsung 997DF § Logitech Z-5500 Digital Speakers § Logitech Elite Keyboard + Logitech G5
	QUOTE Thanks

09-14-07, 08:16 PM	Thread Starter #10
anwar1337 Member Join Date: Apr 2003	Ok well its not letting me install anything without an A drive. Is there any other way to tackle this problem or am i screweD? __________________ § ASUS P5B-Deluxe § Intel e6300 1.86 @ 3.00 § Thermalright XP-120 + Kingwin 120MM § Corsair Dominator XMS2 PC8500 2 x 1GB § XFX 8800GTS 640MB § Antec Super Lanboy § OCZ Modstream 520W PSU § 74GB WD Raptor § NEC ND-3520A § Samsung 997DF § Logitech Z-5500 Digital Speakers § Logitech Elite Keyboard + Logitech G5
	QUOTE Thanks

09-14-07, 08:18 PM	Thread Starter #11
anwar1337 Member Join Date: Apr 2003	What would happen if I did a recovery? Same thing as before, the whole no hd recognition? __________________ § ASUS P5B-Deluxe § Intel e6300 1.86 @ 3.00 § Thermalright XP-120 + Kingwin 120MM § Corsair Dominator XMS2 PC8500 2 x 1GB § XFX 8800GTS 640MB § Antec Super Lanboy § OCZ Modstream 520W PSU § 74GB WD Raptor § NEC ND-3520A § Samsung 997DF § Logitech Z-5500 Digital Speakers § Logitech Elite Keyboard + Logitech G5
	QUOTE Thanks

09-14-07, 08:58 PM	#13
Trap05 Member Join Date: Jan 2005 Location: Alberta, Canada	You'll need to purchase a usb floppy drive __________________ CoolerMaster 690 Antec HCG 620w Gigabyte Z68X-UD4-B3 + i5 2500K Xigmatek Dark Knight S1283V w/crossbow G.Skill 8GB 1600 MSI GTX 560ti 448 1280MB Corsair Nova 64GB SSD Windows 7 x64 HP SP1 Corsair k60 & Logitech MX518 BenQ RL2450H 24" 1080p http://www.heatware.com/eval.php?id=60834 SteamID trm2006
	QUOTE Thanks

09-16-07, 09:11 PM	Thread Starter #14
anwar1337 Member Join Date: Apr 2003	Will it recognize a USB Floppy drive as Drive A in windows setup? __________________ § ASUS P5B-Deluxe § Intel e6300 1.86 @ 3.00 § Thermalright XP-120 + Kingwin 120MM § Corsair Dominator XMS2 PC8500 2 x 1GB § XFX 8800GTS 640MB § Antec Super Lanboy § OCZ Modstream 520W PSU § 74GB WD Raptor § NEC ND-3520A § Samsung 997DF § Logitech Z-5500 Digital Speakers § Logitech Elite Keyboard + Logitech G5
	QUOTE Thanks

09-18-07, 12:37 PM	#15
Trap05 Member Join Date: Jan 2005 Location: Alberta, Canada	Yep it will work just fine __________________ CoolerMaster 690 Antec HCG 620w Gigabyte Z68X-UD4-B3 + i5 2500K Xigmatek Dark Knight S1283V w/crossbow G.Skill 8GB 1600 MSI GTX 560ti 448 1280MB Corsair Nova 64GB SSD Windows 7 x64 HP SP1 Corsair k60 & Logitech MX518 BenQ RL2450H 24" 1080p http://www.heatware.com/eval.php?id=60834 SteamID trm2006
	QUOTE Thanks

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