topic Re: Cant boot Windows XP pro in PCs & Accessories

Cant boot Windows XP pro

Poerqe — Tue, 05 Dec 2006 10:14:49 GMT

hi guys,

I just got my vaio, and wanted to format the harddrive and install windows XP pro. I have windows media center on my laptop. But when i try to boot with the xp cd, i get no harddrive found. Tried several xp cd's.

Any suggestions?

Re: Cant boot Windows XP pro

kee-lo_ — Tue, 05 Dec 2006 12:18:19 GMT

Before you go any further make sure you have made your recovery DVDs.

Re: Cant boot Windows XP pro

Blencogo — Tue, 05 Dec 2006 17:18:05 GMT

Do you have a SATA Hard Drive?

If so you must load the drivers by pressing F6 at the Windows setup screen.

Re: Cant boot Windows XP pro

Poerqe — Tue, 05 Dec 2006 23:27:06 GMT

hey guys thanx for your replies

Kee-Lo

thats the first thing i did

@Blencogo

I have the VGN-AR11B, it comes with the Sata harddrive, and i did try pressing f6. But that doesn't seem to help, cus it asks for a diskette drive or something. And in the end i still get the error, no harddrive found

Re: Cant boot Windows XP pro

Blencogo — Tue, 05 Dec 2006 23:51:06 GMT

Hi Poerqe,

Windows does not have generic SATA drivers so they need to be loaded before you can install XP. On a Vaio this is normally done by putting them on a floppy disc and loading them by pressing F6 at the Windows screen.

However, there are other ways of doing this - by using a CD, see HERE and HERE

Alternatively, you can slipstream the drivers with a copy of your XP installation disc.

Unfortunately, there is no easy way with a SATA drive.