Question

Help installing Windows XP on Acer laptop that had previously been set up for Vista

Asked by: innercproductions

I have an Acer Extensa 4620Z laptop that I bought from Best Buy with preloaded Windows Vista.
150GB Hard Drive.

No Vista CD. Recovery files were on the Hard Drive. Did not load to CD (never could get it to work)
( didn't realize that I didn't have a physical CD either... so didn't worry too much about it )

In the end, I realized that the hard drive was bad. So under hardware warrenty, I took it to Best Buy and they eventually replaced the hard drive with a note on my ticket that I needed an OS.

They wanted to charge me to put it on. (which at the time, did not make any sense)
I thought that I must have a CD somewhere. And I asked the guy at Geek Squard/Best Buy what he thought. And he said that my laptop SHOULD have a CD. So I said OK. I'll do it when I get home (i thought)

[ Now... my situation ]

I need to install an OS on this laptop. But for now, I want to install Windows XP.
Mainly because I have to order Vista from Acer.

But I've been reading, and some say that the laptop was set up for Vista and is missing some files to load XP. (not sure)   I read that on a forum post before.
So I would have to completely clear my laptop and then install XP...  but in the end, the poster said he couldn't get XP to load... except for Media Center.


When I start up the computer, I get a few lines:

Broadcom UNDI PXE-2.1 v10.0.8
Copyright ........
(more copyright)
All rights reservered.
(more copyright)

PXE-E61: Media test failure, check cable.
PXE-M0F: Exiting Broadcom PXE ROM.
Operating System not found.



I assume I need to partition my drive and then install Windows XP. But I feel that I need help.
Because I've read many posts of problems.
I would like to partition my drive into four sections as well.

Would it be wise also to update my BIOS? Someone said to check into that as well.



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Answers

 

by: apache09Posted on 2008-09-16 at 17:20:53ID: 22494483

"But I've been reading, and some say that the laptop was set up for Vista and is missing some files to load XP."
- If the hard Drive was replaced there should be no problems.

I would recommend the following:
Start up the Laptop, and go into the BIOS Settings.
Make sure the first boot device is set to CD ROM.

Insert XP OS cd, and restart laptop.

You may get a msg that says "Press any key to boot from CD ROM&"
If so, just press the space bar.

Then just follow the steps in the Windows Installation


At this Point, I would not worry about partitioning the HD into 4 sections.
Install Windows first, then you could always use something like Partition Magic later on.

 

by: innercproductionsPosted on 2008-09-16 at 17:32:41ID: 22494543

Ok.

Booting up the CD-rom is no problem.

Is starts to load the "Windows Setup"
At the bottom is loads files. Takes about a minute or two.

Then I get to "Welcome to Setup" and I can choose three options:
- To set up Windows now, press ENTER
- To repair ...
- To quit ...

I hit ENTER.

...and I get the message...

"Setup did not find any hard disk drives installed in your computer.

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

Setup cannot continue. To quit Setup, press F3."


And that's where it sits.

Help?


 

by: apache09Posted on 2008-09-16 at 17:50:16ID: 22494617

Restart PC, Go back into BIOS and see if the hard drive is listed there.
If not, should be an option to auto detect.
Once detected save settings F10, reboot PC
Rerun the Windows Installation

 

by: innercproductionsPosted on 2008-09-16 at 19:57:34ID: 22495125

Yes. It's there.
Number 2 on the list: IDE0: TOSHIBA MK1652GSX-(S1)

I don't see anything about auto detect.

Running partition magic sees the drive fine.

But... I don't see anything about auto-detecting...

 

by: apache09Posted on 2008-09-16 at 20:27:37ID: 22495242

Thats okay.

Once you can see it in the BIOS.
Press F10 to save changes, exit and restart, booting to CD Rom

Rerun Windows Installation

 

by: innercproductionsPosted on 2008-09-16 at 20:42:20ID: 22495291

Same results.

 

by: jlpogi23Posted on 2008-09-17 at 02:08:26ID: 22496716

first boot vista,
click start then search manage
press enter
now choose disk management
right click on the partition you have and choose shrink
shrink it like 20000MB
now right click on the new unallocated partition u made
and choose new simple volume
follow the instructions then choose the letter you want for it eg. (E:)
now boot the xp cd
note:follow the other comment above on how to boot your cd
and when the setup aks your where to install windows
choose the partition u made, e.g (E:)
hit enter and ur xp should install

 

by: nobusPosted on 2008-09-17 at 06:19:47ID: 22498139

check if your disk is ok  :
http://www.hitachigst.com/hdd/support/download.htm      

 

by: innercproductionsPosted on 2008-09-17 at 09:00:03ID: 22500291

First of all. I do not have Vista. I have NOTHING on my computer.
It's a new hard drive that Best Buy Geek Squad just put on there. Read the original post.

So how do you expect me to start Vista??????

Secondly, I have made NO partitions. I have done nothing. The computer is just as it is since the Geek Squad gave it to me.
No OS. Nothing loaded.

I have Hiren's Boot CD 9.5 with many tools on CD. Can I use any of those to check things or partition anything?  http://www.hiren.info/pages/bootcd

I assume you ( jlpogi23 ) are just wanting my to partition the drive?
What on Hiren's BCD can I use, that you can walk me through?






 

by: nobusPosted on 2008-09-17 at 09:23:15ID: 22500558

hiren is an highly illegal cd !

 

by: innercproductionsPosted on 2008-09-17 at 09:51:37ID: 22500870

I've never used it. Someone had it sitting in a drawer.
I just typed what was on the cover. A URL and a name.
Don't know much about it.  I guess I won't plan on using it.
Is it just pirated software? or what?  (don't want to sidetrack - but thanks for telling me)
Or does it do something in particular that is illegal?


I need to run the Drive Fitness Test from the link you sent me, right?





 

by: LeeTutorPosted on 2008-09-17 at 10:08:29ID: 22501064

You say:

>...and I get the message...

"Setup did not find any hard disk drives installed in your computer.

The reason is probably that you have a SATA drive on your computer, and XP came out much too early to have the drivers for SATA built into its drivers database.  During the early stages of setup, have you pressed the F6 function key to load the SATA drivers from a floppy?
   
More info, see this page:

http://xphelpandsupport.mvps.org/how_do_i_install_windows_xp_on_a.htm

If you don't have a floppy drive on your computer, you have a couple of alternatives:  a) buy a cheap USB floppy drive, or b) slipstream the SATA drivers into the XP install CD, with the free program called NLite, as detailed on this page:

http://www.howtogeek.com/howto/windows/resolving-setup-did-not-find-any-hard-disk-drives-during-windows-xp-installation/

Also sometimes there is an option in the BIOS to disable the SATA interface, which you do during setup, and then turn it back on after the install is complete.  Most newer systems default to AHCI (Advanced Host Controller Interface) access mode for the disks.   Just go into the BIOS and disable AHCI.


But you also said:

>But I've been reading, and some say that the laptop was set up for Vista and is missing some files to load XP. (not sure)   I read that on a forum post before.


Absolutely!   This is one of the problems with trying to install a 7-year old Operating System, WinXP, on a modern computer.  Many of the manufacturers today do not have XP drivers for their newest computers.   You have to go to Acer support website and see if they have XP drivers available for your model.  If yes, then download them and after that it is best to also slipstream those drivers into your XP installation CD using the aforementioned NLite.

 

by: innercproductionsPosted on 2008-09-17 at 10:14:01ID: 22501131

Thanks LeeTutor. I think I understand.
I'll see if I can educate myself a little on the process and get back to you on the progress.

I do not have a Floppy drive, so I will try one of your mentioned alternatives.

Question: do the USB ports work on boot? Will it even try to read from a USB floppy drive?

 

by: LeeTutorPosted on 2008-09-17 at 10:21:51ID: 22501226

Unless you have the option in the BIOS to boot from a USB device, it won't boot from it (you don't need to do that, however); but in the BIOSes that I have worked with, it WILL recognize the USB floppy drive for installing your SATA driver...  And it MUST be on a floppy drive, for it is expecting to install from drive A: and won't recognize, for example, getting the driver from a USB jump driver or external hard drive.

 

by: DeenorPosted on 2008-09-26 at 07:45:48ID: 22580026

The Present Laptops that are coming with Windows Vista are not really suitable for XP OS
the Acer 5620-4025 as my experience goes works well with XP though it come with Vista, you can down load all the drivers for that system from acer.com.

Then again all other laptops wont work that they, either  will shoot a net work trouble,
or HD and even some time through hardware compatibility problems.

I feel its mere waste of money and time to try out installing XP on Vista systems otherwise you are
lucky.  I have tried on HP, Toshiba, Dell but somehow one system with Acer worked out well
I 've installed XP pro on two Acer 5620-4025 without any problem and they are running well - no complaints from my friends. Try out in the market - good luck

20120131-EE-VQP-002

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