Vista + SATA?

Hi,
I am not really good at when it comes to OS's and softwares but my question is , do I need the SATA drivers like in XP for my toshiba X205-S9359(came with Vista OS) before I start installing the Vista Ultimate disk that I bought from Bestbuy today?(To have a clean install without crapware and all that)

Just a yes or no kinda answer will work too

Thank you very much

 

Hi.

I re-installed vista32 on my desktop, and it spotted my sata hdd and did not require and additional drivers.

I suppose you laptop will be the same.

Regards

John.

 

Thanks for the response John. Did you re-install vista32 using your disks came with the computer(or you created) or purchase a seperate vista os disk like I did?

 

Hi.

I created the disk from the link below

But it should be the same procedure with a purchased disk.

http://forum.notebookreview.com/showthread.php?t=240320

Regards

John.

 

Ok thanks. One more question. Where can I check if windows spotted the drivers for it from? Device manager?

 

Hi.

I am not 100% sure what you mean?

If vista setup does not install the sata drivers, then you will not be able to install vista.

And you will not damage your current Vista, as vista will not be able to see your sata hdd.

but it will, dont worry.

Regards

John.

 

Vista should have the necesary drivers to identify the SATA HDD. As far as the rest of the drivers is concerned. Vista will either natively support it(as in drivers already available) or will prompt you to update drivers through Windows Update. But, yes device manager is the place to look for if any driver has not been installed, then you will see an exclamation mark beside the device. Since you are just doing a clean install of Vista and Toshiba shipped the OS with it, you shouldnt have any problems finding drivers for that model.

 

Miner, thanks for the explanation. Yes I can find the drivers for my laptop on Toshiba's website. My concern was that what if I couldn't find the SATA drivers if it asks. But you are telling me that Vista automatically should identify the SATA HDD. Then I should be good to go.

Out of curiousity, so SATA HDD drivers come built in the Vista OS?

Thanks again...

 

Yes, I havent heard of anyone not being able to install Vista due to lack of SATA drivers. The SATA format was approved back in 2003(a year or so after XP went Gold), so Vista definately should have the necessary drivers.

 

SP1 does it seems...

Before I obtained SP1 slipstreamed media from MS installing Vista on my i1520 would lead to constant reboots mid-installation (drive would be seen, but once Vista tries its first reboot it wouldn't see it anymore) unless I installed the Intel drivers posted earlier.

So I'd say if your media is SP1 or newer your safe otherwise get the SATA drivers on a USB drive just in case.

 

Hmm...Thanks for letting me know. In any case, installing the drivers should be a bit more easier considering the drivers can be loaded from a USB drive rather than hunting for a floppy. It is strange that the 1520 required the SATA drivers. None of the HP dv6000/dv6500 series which used the same chipset required any SATA drivers on a clean DVD.

 

What do you mean by saying "media"? Do you mean the OS?

And also where are the necessary SATA drivers located?

 

Yes, Vista will support your Sata drive. the Sata drivers you are refering to actually are drivers to support the Intel chipset's new features. Such as a Sata interface.

 

On my Sony FZ when I did the clean install I downloaded the SATA drivers and burned them to a cd. I did NOT integrate them into a Vista install disk like is required with XP. Instead during the Vista install there is a point where you can point the Vista installer to YOUR own SATA drivers. This is much like XP, but the trouble with XP is it can only use drivers you supply on floppy. (That is why everyone has to integrate the driver into the XP install.) Vista install is MUCH friendlier. It will let you have the drivers on CD, DVD, Floppy or even a USB thumb drive.

Vista DOES have default SATA drivers, I chose to use the Sony specific ones (actually they are Intel drivers in disguise) because that driver is tuned a bit more than the generic one in Vista. I also know that other folks have initially installed Vista with the generic drivers and then upgraded to vendor specific ones after the fact.

Gary