How can I install XP on gateway M-6881 model?

[in4some]

I bought this laptop last year October. since then, it has been testing of my patience period.
I can't install certain programs on it. it always crashed last minute of installation.
also so many times I have seen blue screen while I surfed the net. (never visited any adult ero website or alike). tried everthing I could but stll .....
so I decided to clean install XP on it.
however the laptop couldn't recognize any hard drive. it says 'no drive found'.
I am stuck here. can anyone help me?
if there is anyone who has same model(gateway m-6881) did cleaninstall XP on it, can you share drivers?

thanks in advance.

 

[WackyDan]

Enter the system bios, and under "SATA" turn AHCI to disabled or compatibility mode.

THis is quite common as the win xp install lacks the required sata drivers to see the drive for installation. Google it.

 

[in4some]

I read this story before, but can't address 'SATA'.
went to BIOS > Advanced tap but there is no SATA controller mode option to choose.
where can I find it?

 

[WackyDan]

It might just be labeled "AHCI" or "Storage controller"

 

[in4some]

none.
under Advanced tap,

I/O Device Configuration
DMI Event Logging

Legacy USB Support [Enabled]
Large Disk Acess Mode [DOS]

Wake on Lid Switch [Enabled]
Auto Dim [Enabled]
Battery Auto Learning: [Disabled]

Quiet Boot Mode: [Enabled]
No Excute Mode Mem Protection [Enabled]
Processor VT Fuction [Disabled]


I see nothing about SATA, AHCI, or Storage controller.

 

[WackyDan]

Then you'll have to use F6 during the xp install to inject the storage drivers, or build a slip streamed xp install disk with the drivers.

 

[in4some]

It seems that's the case here.
thanks WackyDan.

 

[Billb2]

If gateway never sold that model with XP preinstalled, there may be some XP drivers that are unavailable.

And SATA drivers have been native to XP since sp1.

 

[NavJitsU4]

I have the same problem, Gateway laptop also. There is no AHCI option in the bios. Gateways website does not have any SATA drivers.

Gateway MX6959

Recovery partition was wiped.


What can I do?

 

[in4some]

I followed this instruction and was able to install XP.
http://www.digitgeek.com/how-t...ta-drivers-into-xp-cd/

before I clean-installed XP, I ran SIW software and identified all parts.
then went to gateway support and downloaded XP drivers. I couldn't find them all there, so googled those parts' drivers and downloaded too.

http://www.gtopala.com/ (SIW software just press 'download SIW' button'. don't need to buy any)


now I need to find my 'Network Key' that I set it up while DD-WRTed Asus WL-520GU.
duh. if I can't find this by tomorrow, then I will reset it.
does anyboday know where to find it or how? I think there was the website showing all my current DD-WRT setting and options to change there. but I couldn't remember it neither.

EDIT : Nver mind. solved this probelm too.

 

[WackyDan]

Originally posted by: Billb2
If gateway never sold that model with XP preinstalled, there may be some XP drivers that are unavailable.

And SATA drivers have been native to XP since sp1.

No. They haven't. Still aren't. Go take a new system out of the box today, and slap in your xp install media (SP2 even), and see what happens.

 

[will889]

Regarding XP and SATA - true SATA (ACHI) isn't XP native. IDE emulation is. Many less savvy types (not your typical AT'er) were/are running IDE emulation in a lower DMA mode with a single SATA HDD install and didn't know any better. In most cases though you can install single SATA drives with bios defaults on most motherboards with XP but it's going to be under IDE emulation. There many new boards that default to ACHI when bios is set to "optimized defaults" (with Vista in mind) that you would have to enter the bios and manually toggle IDE emulation for SATA to be able to set up with XP/SATA with no hassle. One nice thing about nVIDIA Nforce boards (most not all) is that even under IDE emulation - the DMA mode ( mode6 = ata 133) is a higher DMA mode than Intel/AMD chipset boards under IDE emulation, as those boards usually default to mode 5 (mode5 = ata 100) or worse mode 4. From what i've seen to get mode 6 and above on AMD/Intel boards under XP you have to load true ACHI SATA drivers and be running in ACHI mode.