floppy drive questions

[trevelynzx]

hey guys, i'm trying to install my hard drive now, and i've come to the conclusion that i need a floppy to install the SATA software for the XP cd to recognize it. anyway, just wondering: can i use a usb connected floppy drive? will that be recognized by the BIOS as a legit drive?


thanks!

 

[Googer]

Originally posted by: trevelynzx
hey guys, i'm trying to install my hard drive now, and i've come to the conclusion that i need a floppy to install the SATA software for the XP cd to recognize it. anyway, just wondering: can i use a usb connected floppy drive? will that be recognized by the BIOS as a legit drive?


thanks!

Sometimes it can be, but with Windows XP it probably will not get noticed untill the OS has finished installing.

 

[trevelynzx]

so how would you recommend that i create a driver diskette from my floppy-less laptop and transfer it to my PC? get a usb floppy drive for the laptop and an internal floppy drive for the PC?

 

[Googer]

You will have to slip-stream the drivers on to the Windows Installation CD. There are several variations on the process but it's all roughly the same

http://www.maximumpc.com/2005/01/how_to_slipstre.html
http://www.winsupersite.com/showcase/windowsxp_sp2_slipstream.asp


Tomshardware did an article on it a while ago but it seems to have been moved or deleted and I cannot find it.
http://www6.tomshardware.com/howto/20040908/index.html

 

[Googer]

http://www.helpwithwindows.com/WindowsXP/winxp-sp2-bootcd.html

http://www.tacktech.com/display.cfm?ttid=295

http://www.extremeoverclocking.com/arti...guides/Windows-Slipstream-Guide_1.html

http://www.commodore.ca/windows/slipstream/windows_slipstream_sp.htm

 

[Bozo Galora]

I have often wondered about that myself, though I have never bought a mobo that didnt have a floppy controller. XP is hard coded to look to A drive FIRST for SATA drivers - they key question is can you then search other places to get them - like a usb floppy. But then the followup question is can the XP install CD mount basic USB drivers to access usb floppy during install????

perhaps yes, this link implies you can "steer" install to separate CD
http://www.experts-exchange.com/Hardware/Q_21619840.html
"So what you do here is this: burn the SATA drivers onto a separate CD. Then, begin the OS install as normal. When prompted for the SATA drivers, remove the OS install CD, replace it with the SATA drivers CD, browse that CD (it may do so automatically) and point to the drivers. After driver install, remove that CD and replace it with the OS CD to finish install."

trevelynzx>>>
For my own info, i would really like you to try the 2 CD method - cant hurt.
Just put drivers only on CD - no folder - so XP can find them without complicated path


this link from HP implies you can access usb floppy during install........
http://h20000.www2.hp.com/bizsupport/Te...ocument.jsp?objectID=PSD_EL050616_CW02

Inquiring minds want to know.

Edit: Just want to confirm that "bootability" of CD\USB has ABSOLUTELY NOTHING to do with this problem.

 

[Googer]

I tried the CD trick with Service PACK 1 a long time ago and it did not work for me. Also HP uses a Custom Install recovery disc that has been re-coded and is differant from your typical installation discs.

 

[stevty2889]

Originally posted by: trevelynzx
hey guys, i'm trying to install my hard drive now, and i've come to the conclusion that i need a floppy to install the SATA software for the XP cd to recognize it. anyway, just wondering: can i use a usb connected floppy drive? will that be recognized by the BIOS as a legit drive?


thanks!

Modern motherboards have integrated SATA, so the drivers normaly aren't needed for windows install unless you are running RAID. If windows sees the hard drive without using the drivers, then they aren't needed.

Windows install won't read from a USB floppy drive to get the drivers, so you'll have to have an internal floppy, but you could use a USB floppy on your laptop to get the drivers.

 

[Googer]

Originally posted by: stevty2889

Originally posted by: trevelynzx
hey guys, i'm trying to install my hard drive now, and i've come to the conclusion that i need a floppy to install the SATA software for the XP cd to recognize it. anyway, just wondering: can i use a usb connected floppy drive? will that be recognized by the BIOS as a legit drive?


thanks!

Modern motherboards have integrated SATA, so the drivers normaly aren't needed for windows install unless you are running RAID. If windows sees the hard drive without using the drivers, then they aren't needed.

Windows install won't read from a USB floppy drive to get the drivers, so you'll have to have an internal floppy, but you could use a USB floppy on your laptop to get the drivers.

You are correct about the USB, HP must be using a customized install disc to do what they are recommending. Normal Windows does not work that way.

Also you are correct again about the SATA issue. But if it does not work, some BIOS' offer an PATA emuation mode for SATA drives. After Windows has finsihed loading then you can at your discression install the SATA driver for better performance.