Driver and OS install question.

[kxm9976]

Hi,

Gateway MX6920.
http://support.gateway.com/s/Mobile/Q106/BladeC/1009030nv.shtml

I will be installing a new XP Sp2 on a SATA drive when I get the laptop going.
As I understand, I will need the SATA drivers. My laptop does not have floppy.
I came across the nLite program, which will let me combine the OS install files with the drivers into one CD, which then I can use to install the OS.

My problem is that the only place I can get these drivers are from GAteway site. The motherboard is made by Quanta. But it does not allow me to just download the driver. I have to download a zip file, then execute exe file which will safe the drivers on a floppy.

Now, if I do that, will I be able to go into the floppy and take the driver alone and put it in the nLite? What about the video, audio, etc drivers, do I do the same as the SATA driver?

Thanks

 

[mpilchfamily]

You shouldn't need the SATA drivers. You should be bale to pop the XP disk in and install the OS without any issues.

 

[kxm9976]

You shouldn't need the SATA drivers. You should be bale to pop the XP disk in and install the OS without any issues.

I finally got a chance to work on this.
When I try install the XP, it initiates the process and starts loading files. Then, it brings up the window where one has to hit ENTER to install XP or R for repair, etc.
I hit enter and I get this message.

"Set up did not find any disk drives installed in your computer.

Make sure any hard drives are power on and properly connected to your computer and that any disk related hardware configuration is correct. This may involve running a manufacturer supplied diagnostic or setup program.

Setup cannot continue. To quit Setup, press F3"

I tried it on the old hard drive and on a brand new hard drive with same results.

Any ideas what this might be?

Thanks

 

[ChaiBabbaChai]

Yes, it doesn't have the drivers for your SATA device.

nLite rocks. You need a computer with windows installed on it to build the nLite disc though. I forget the details it's been a while since I made a slipstreamed install disc but nLite kicks ass.

Just get Win7 if possible. Installation is 1/6 of the XP install time on an identical system.

 

[tcsenter]

My problem is that the only place I can get these drivers are from GAteway site.

False. Your system uses the Intel 945G/GM chipset. Drivers are available from Intel.

What about the video, audio, etc drivers...

What about them? You get them from the same place...the chip/device manufacturer. e.g. Intel chips use Intel drivers, NVIDIA chips use NVIDIA drivers, Realtek chips use Realtek drivers....so on and so forth.

[insert device vendor here] chips use drivers from [insert device vendor here].

 

[kxm9976]

False. Your system uses the Intel 945G/GM chipset. Drivers are available from Intel.


What about them? You get them from the same place...the chip/device manufacturer. e.g. Intel chips use Intel drivers, NVIDIA chips use NVIDIA drivers, Realtek chips use Realtek drivers....so on and so forth.

[insert device vendor here] chips use drivers from [insert device vendor here].

You are right. I went to the Intel website and the drivers were there. But, just like the Gateway site, you have to download the file, pop in a floppy, run the executable file that you extract from a zipped file, and it will create a floppy with the drivers.

My problem is that my laptop doesn't have a floppy drive and I don't have a US Floppy driver either. Only my desktop has a floppy.

I was trying to use nLite to create an installation disk with the SATA drivers, but the program is asking for a specific file that the zipped file that I downloaded from Gateway (same as Intel website) doesn't have.

If I were to run the exe file on my desktop and I create floppy driver with the drivers, will I be able to go into the floppy and extract the specific driver file to include in the nLite?

Any other suggestions?

Thanks

 

[kxm9976]

Yes, it doesn't have the drivers for your SATA device.

nLite rocks. You need a computer with windows installed on it to build the nLite disc though. I forget the details it's been a while since I made a slipstreamed install disc but nLite kicks ass.

Just get Win7 if possible. Installation is 1/6 of the XP install time on an identical system.

It does seem to be a great program. But I can't figure out how to get a SATA driver for my laptop that I can include in nLite.

 

[bruceb]

Per the instructions at Gateway you have to use a USB floppy drive for the install

Information and Instructions about this download file

=======================
File Description: Gateway(r) Notebook Computer Intel SATA Support Driver
Version: D00455-001-001
Operating System: Microsoft(r) Windows(r) XP Tablet OS
Part Number: D00455-001-001.exe
Date: 03/28/2006
=======================


Table of Contents
=======================
Overview
Identification
Installation
Removal
Troubleshooting
Reason for Update
Applicable Part Numbers
=======================


Overview

This is the SATA hard drive driver for Gateway notebook computer models listed in the Applicable Part Numbers section below. This driver is needed during installation of a non-Gateway supplied operating system.


Identification

If you have a Gateway notebook computer listed in the Applicable Part Numbers section below and are installing an operating system other than what shipped with your Gateway computer, install this driver.


Installation

Note: Installation of this driver requires the use of a floppy disk drive. If your computer does not have an internal floppy disk drive, an external USB drive can be used instead.

Download the driver file to the desktop, and then perform the following steps.

1. If you have not already done so, locate and double-click the D00455-001-001.exe file that you downloaded from the Internet and execute the file. Files extract to the C:\Cabs\D00455-001-001 folder on your hard drive.

2. Insert a blank floppy disk in the floppy disk drive.

3. In the C:\Cabs\D00455-001-001 folder, double-click F6flpy32.exe.

4. Click OK to start the disk creation.

5. The disk creation dialog box closes when the disk is complete.

6. During the installation of Windows you will need install this SATA controller driver. Press the F6 key on your keyboard to install a third party controller driver.

7. The Windows installation program requires the use of a USB floppy disk drive and the floppy disk that was created above.

8. The Windows installation procedure attempts to load the drivers twice; once directly after the F6 selection, and a second time after the installation files copy to the hard drive.

9. Select the "- Intel(R)82801GBM SATA AHCI Controller Mobile ICH7M" option as listed.

Note: To find the required selection it may be necessary to scroll down even though there is no indication to scroll down.

Note: If you experience any recognition errors during the installation, please reference this Microsoft Knowledge Base article KB916196. This article explains which USB floppy drives are supported by the Windows installation process. http://support.microsoft.com/kb/916196/en-us

Removal

Because the computer must have these SATA drivers when using a non-Gateway supplied operating system, these drivers are necessary and should not be removed.


Troubleshooting

If you have trouble installing the drivers, try creating another floppy disk, or use a USB floppy disk drive.


Reason for Update

This is the initial release of the driver.


Applicable Part Numbers

C-120 Series:

1014291R - Gateway C-120X

CX210 Series:

1008807 - Gateway CX210S
1008808 - Gateway CX210X

CX2700 Series:

1009036 - Gateway CX2724
1009063 - Gateway CX2720
1009089 - Gateway CX2724h
1013921R - Gateway CX2726

E-100M Series:

1008799 - Gateway E-100M
1008800 - Gateway E-100M G
1008973 - Gateway E-100M SB

E-155C Series:

1014294R - Gateway E-155C
1014292R - Gateway E-155C G

M255:

1008801 - Gateway M255-E
1008803 - Gateway M255-G
1008989 - Gateway M255-E SB

M285:

1008804 - Gateway M285-E
1008805 - Gateway M285-G
1008990 - Gateway M285-E SB

M465:

1008637 - Gateway M465-E
1008667 - Gateway M465-G

M685:

1008638 - Gateway M685-E
1008666 - Gateway M685-G

MP6000 Series:

1009092 - Gateway MP6954h

MP8000 Series:

1013924R - Gateway MP8708
1013975R - Gateway MP8708H

MX1000 Series:

1009046 - Gateway MX1025
1009097 - Gateway MX1023
1009098 - Gateway MX1023h
1013959R - Gateway MX1027

MX6000 Series:

1009028 - Gateway MX6214
1013916R - Gateway MX6216
1014062R - Gateway MX6433
5961 - Gateway MX6710
5962 - Gateway MX6750
6157 - Gateway MX6750H
6244 - Gateway MX6708
6245 - Gateway MX6708h
1008869 - Gateway MX6910H
1008963 - Gateway MX6951
1008962 - Gateway MX6951H
1009030 - Gateway MX6920
1009072 - Gateway MX6919
1009066 - Gateway MX6912
1009090 - Gateway MX6920h
1014033R - Gateway MX6956
1014028R - Gateway MX6955
1013928R - Gateway MX6930
1013918R - Gateway MX6931
1013973R - Gateway MX6930H
1013974R - Gateway MX6931H
1014065R - Gateway MX6957
1014072R - Gateway MX6958
1014061R - Gateway MX6959
1014068R - Gateway MX6960
1014080R - Gateway MX6961
1014112R - Gateway MX6961H
1014106R - Gateway MX6962

MX8000 Series:

1013955R - Gateway MX8710
2905895R - Gateway MX8710
1008827 - Gateway MX8750

NX100 Series:

1008798 - Gateway NX100X

NX200 Series:

1008794 - Gateway NX260X

NX500 Series:

1008796 - Gateway NX510S
1008797 - Gateway NX510X

1008644 - Gateway NX560X
1008652 - Gateway NX560XL

1009163 - Gateway NX570X
1014077R - Gateway NX570X
1009146 - Gateway NX570XL
1014078R - Gateway NX570XL
1014079R - Gateway NX570QS

NX800 Series:

1008645 - Gateway NX860X
1008647 - Gateway NX860XL

S-7000 Series:

1014293R - Gateway S-7125C
1008655 - Gateway S-7510N
1008648 - Gateway S-7710N
1014340R - Gateway S-7410M

Components:

4006186R
4006187R
4006197R
4006198R
4006199RYou can also try what is at this link to slipstream them into the XP CD

http://www.digitgeek.com/how-to-slipstream-sata-drivers-into-xp-cd/

Or perhaps, try to get a copy (or slipstream XP SP3 into the XP CD)
and then it should have SATA drivers in it already.

 

[Paperdoc]

This whole issue is exactly why mobo makers and their BIOS creators developed the SATA port Mode called IDE (or PATA) Emulation. Win XP in all forms has a built-in driver for IDE devices, but not for SATA. Its Install routine can load external drivers from a floppy disk (it has that driver, too) but no other device. (Vista and Win 7 both have more options, and do have SATA and AHCI drivers already). And it needs a driver for a SATA device to install to that device.

The clever alternative in current BIOS's is IDE Emulation. Within BIOS Setup when you Enable the SATA port for your drive, you also set the port's mode. Choices usually are IDE Emulation, native SATA, AHCI, or RAID. For any of the last three you WILL need to load a driver at the beginning of the Install process. XP only can use a floppy for this, but later Windows can also use a USB drive or an optical disk. The simplest choice, though is IDE Emulation. In this mode the mobo makes the actual SATA device appear to Windows as a plain IDE device for which it already has a driver, and it all just works! The downside is that you do not get the benefits of some extra features of real SATA or of AHCI, if that had been your preference. Read up on those benefits to see whether they matter to you. If you don't need them, just use the IDE Emulation mode and worry not!

 

[ChaiBabbaChai]

I haven't had a FDD since about 2004 and I've installed XP on SATA disks. You just have to use nLite if I recall correctly - it's possible this motherboard's BIOS is emulating IDE for the SATA port but I'm not sure. As far as getting the driver, kxm9976, can you use winRAR to extract the exe and point nLite to the directory that you extracted the exe into? Try that.

 

[tcsenter]

The problem is that OEM computers (particularly notebooks) often don't have the SATA mode selectable in BIOS, so the user is stuck with AHCI mode.

I created a custom install CD for Windows XP Home SP3 with the Intel ICH7M/DH AHCI drivers integrated (text mode), then identified which files had been changed/modified and saved only those files/folders to ZIP archive:

http://s89934018.onlinehome.us/Changed.zip (14MB)

You should be able to copy your install CD to the hard drive, then drop the contents of the ZIP file (after extracting) into the I386 folder and overwrite any current files. Then use NLite to create a new bootable install CD.

I also included the OEM BIOS files for Gateway/Emachines so that you shouldn't need to enter a product key during installation or activate Windows after installation.

 

[brandonwh64]

the process of splitstreaming sata drivers for laptops with nLite is really easy once you get the steps needed to create the CD.

1st. copy the windows XP cd contents to a folder on your hard drive. c:\winxp

2nd. Download the sata drivers that are required from intel. http://downloadcenter.intel.com/T8C...3289.zip&PrdMap=&strOSs=&OSFullName=&lang=eng

3rd. Use winRAR to unzip the f6flpy3289.zip file

4th. start nLite and point it to your extracted windows xp install folder (IE c:\winxp)

5th. add driver in text mode then when it opens up the browse box goto were you extracted the f6flpy3289.zip file and click on all of the INF files. then when it pops up select all of the drivers that it displays.

FINALLY. Once you have click ok on the add driver section the click create bootable cd. THEN BURN AND INSTALL ONTO LAPTOP! TOO EASY!!!

 

[RebateMonger]

The answers above, showing how to obtain and install Intel SATA drivers, are good answers.

Here's another description of what's going on with XP and Intel SATA controllers in AHCI or RAID mode, as well as how to integrate the Intel drivers into an XP/2003 Install CD using nLite:

http://www.msfn.org/board/integration-intels-sata-ahci-and-raid-drivers-t107504.html

Quoting this article:

"Users who are going to install XP or W2k3 and want to get advantage of the Intel S-ATA Controller features AHCI or RAID, have to enable them within BIOS prior to the OS installation and additionally have to integrate the appropriate Intel textmode drivers into the OS CD or to load them via F6/floppy during the installation. Otherwise Windows Setup will not detect the Intel S-ATA Controller connected hard disk drives."

 

[kxm9976]

Thank you everyone for your input. I will start working on the laptop this week. I'll keep you updated.

Anandtech RULES!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

 

[VirtualLarry]

This whole issue is exactly why mobo makers and their BIOS creators developed the SATA port Mode called IDE (or PATA) Emulation. Win XP in all forms has a built-in driver for IDE devices, but not for SATA. Its Install routine can load external drivers from a floppy disk (it has that driver, too) but no other device. (Vista and Win 7 both have more options, and do have SATA and AHCI drivers already). And it needs a driver for a SATA device to install to that device.

The clever alternative in current BIOS's is IDE Emulation. Within BIOS Setup when you Enable the SATA port for your drive, you also set the port's mode. Choices usually are IDE Emulation, native SATA, AHCI, or RAID. For any of the last three you WILL need to load a driver at the beginning of the Install process. XP only can use a floppy for this, but later Windows can also use a USB drive or an optical disk. The simplest choice, though is IDE Emulation. In this mode the mobo makes the actual SATA device appear to Windows as a plain IDE device for which it already has a driver, and it all just works! The downside is that you do not get the benefits of some extra features of real SATA or of AHCI, if that had been your preference. Read up on those benefits to see whether they matter to you. If you don't need them, just use the IDE Emulation mode and worry not!

If it were only just that easy. Most laptops of that era, or at least my Gateway with 945GC/M chipset, they locked the BIOS so that it is forced to be in AHCI mode (of course, the laptop shipped with Vista). They intentionally locked out XP by doing that.

 

[kxm9976]

I have a super newbie question. How do I find out if my laptop is Intel ICH7R/M, ICH8R/M, ICH9R/M, or Intel ICH8/9/10? What is this thing called?

 

[tcsenter]

Intel 945 chipsets only come with ICH7 variants.