Can't reinstall XP after installing Vista

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logangreer

4 posts

Wannabe Geek

#11839 14-Feb-2007 11:56

I have a Dell PC. I installed a copy of Windows Vista on it. I don't like it, so I am trying to reinstall XP Home. When I click on the cd drive the XP Home CD is in, it brings up the menu, but the "Install Windows XP" option is grayed out.
So I try to boot from the disk, but when it is done loading all the things and I tell it I do not want to repair, but to install, it says "setup did not find any hard disk drives installed on your computer" and makes me reboot my computer.
Vista still works fine, so I know the Hard Drive is working.
I cannot install disk drivers during the XP installation because this machine doesn't have a floppy drive.
Is it really impossible to install XP on a computer with an SATA HDD if you don't have a Floppy?
Please help me figure out how to make it recognize that I have a hard drive.
Thanks.

freitasm

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#60759 14-Feb-2007 11:58

If you have SATA drives you must have the drivers disc ready. An alternative is to use a install disc with Windows XP Service Pack 2 instead of the original Windows XP.

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logangreer

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Wannabe Geek

#60760 14-Feb-2007 12:03

Could I burn the drivers onto a cd? Could I put them on a flash drive?
It doesnt appear that the XP install even looks at the CD drive, just the floppy.
This is taking up MUCH of my valuable time at work, but it must be done.
Windows XP Home was on there before, why does it not work now?
And why when I click on the disk in Vista is the option to install XP grayed out?

freitasm

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#60761 14-Feb-2007 12:05

Windows XP doesn't "know" about SATA drive. Only from Service Pack 2 basic drivers were included in the install. So, yes, as I posted before, you will need either drivers in a floppy disc or a Windows XP Service Pack 2 CD...

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freitasm

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#60764 14-Feb-2007 12:09

An alternative is to search for "Bart PE" and slipstream the SATA drivers into the Windows XP install, creating a new boot CD and going from there.

Have a look on this blog post for some instructions: http://www.geekzone.co.nz/hadders/1846

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logangreer

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Wannabe Geek

#60765 14-Feb-2007 12:30

Found a friend with an XP Home SP2 disk. It's working.
For legal reasons I will use the product key from my non SP2 disk.
Thanks for the help!

As a side note. Your replies sound short and almost upset. While helpful, they did not communicate care of any kind.
Take it or leave it.

Glad we got this working.

freitasm

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#60766 14-Feb-2007 12:33

logangreer: As a side note. Your replies sound short and almost upset. While helpful, they did not communicate care of any kind. Take it or leave it.

Not at all. It is just that the replies didn't need longer explanations. And at the end, the advice as correct: either use a XP SP2 install or slipstream the install disc. I am glad option #1 worked well for you, since it is the easiest one to go for (the second one would take a lot longer, I think).

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logangreer

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Wannabe Geek

#60767 14-Feb-2007 12:45

It never asked me to input a product key. Will this be a problem? The computer the disc belongs to is on the same network.

grant_k

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#60778 14-Feb-2007 15:31

It is possible that you have a CD which is intended for use in a Volume Licensing scheme in which case no Product Key is requested during installation. If that is the case though, I would have to say it is a little strange as that licensing scheme was usually only intended for Windows XP Pro.

Have a look in the System Tray and see if there is an icon saying "30 days for activation" or words to that effect. If that is the case, you are going to have problems as MSFT's server will detect that you are using the same software on 2 different PCs.

The CD that you borrowed will probably be an OEM copy which will not allow you to reinstall on different hardware. Whereas your original XP Home copy (I have one of those too) allows multiple installs so long as they are no closer than 120 days apart.

The simplest way out of this dilemma will be for you to buy a $10 floppy drive and create that driver disk. I know it's unbelievable in 2007 that you need to do this, but c'est la vie... I have been caught in exactly the same way.

Alternatively, look into the slipstreaming process that Mauricio mentioned.

I hope that helps.

Cheers,
Grant.

hellonearthisman

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#60790 14-Feb-2007 16:15

There is a nice freeware prog from http://www.nliteos.com/ called nlite that lets u add sp2 and your own drivers to make your own personal xp install cd. It's really easy to use, Bart PE was a little confusing to me. nlite automates the install, even entering your reg number and folder settings and the like, so u install how u like and u don't even need to press a key once ya boot ya home brew one.

just my 2c 5c 10c thought (I feel like my views more valued these days since the passing of the 2c and 5c coins)