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    Installing Windows - Cannot find HDD!

    Discussion in 'Windows OS and Software' started by Destrel, Nov 7, 2008.

  1. Destrel

    Destrel Notebook Consultant

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    I just received my new laptop: Sager NP5793.

    It does not come with a pre-installed OS and I am trying to install Windows XP on it. The setup process, however, tells me that it cannot find any active HDD on the computer...

    Any advice as to what I can do? Can I 'activate' it somehow or something?
     
    Destrel, Nov 7, 2008
    #1
  2. vinumsv

    vinumsv MobileFreak™

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    You Need to Disable AHCI mode in bios bro or you can have AHCI drivers in Floppy / USB Drive
     
    vinumsv, Nov 7, 2008
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  3. Destrel

    Destrel Notebook Consultant

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    OK - thanks I will try that. I have no idea what AHCI even means, but hopefully it will work.
     
    Destrel, Nov 7, 2008
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  4. vinumsv

    vinumsv MobileFreak™

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    vinumsv, Nov 7, 2008
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  5. Destrel

    Destrel Notebook Consultant

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    Thanks for the info and the tip. I am happy to report that it worked!

    Cheers and have some rep!
     
    Destrel, Nov 7, 2008
    #5
  6. grzechu

    grzechu Newbie

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    a better solution would be to integrate SATA with XP by using nLite.
     
    grzechu, Nov 8, 2008
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  7. makaveli72

    makaveli72 Eat.My.Shorts

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    How's that better? That's more work.

    +Rep vinumsv!
     
    makaveli72, Nov 8, 2008
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  8. grzechu

    grzechu Newbie

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    It is true, but when you disable the AHCI, HDD will not work as SATA. It will be slower than it should.
     
    grzechu, Nov 8, 2008
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  9. akg7091

    akg7091 Notebook Consultant

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    Also, ncq will be disabled by disabling ahci. The best thing is to use the f6 method and install the driver in windows setup itself
     
    akg7091, Nov 8, 2008
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  10. makaveli72

    makaveli72 Eat.My.Shorts

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    Can you really see a difference though? I don't think it's worth it...unless using RAID or something.
     
    makaveli72, Nov 8, 2008
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  11. Deks

    Deks Notebook Prophet

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    Actually there is a good degree of noticeable difference.
    My load times were shorter on this 5400 rpm SATA drive than they were on my older 7200 rpm ATA (desktop) drive.

    So it's better to integrate the SATA drivers into your XP installation disc and get that out of the way because your computer will be running properly and not slightly crippled.
    The hdd is already a bottleneck for most computers, so why not make the most of it?
     
    Deks, Nov 8, 2008
    #11
  12. makaveli72

    makaveli72 Eat.My.Shorts

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    I wouldn't go through the trouble...hopefully I never have to go through all that when I get an SSD.
     
    makaveli72, Nov 8, 2008
    #12