Windows Installation Problem

Lennys_Shinpad

Hi,

I am trying to clean up an old laptop. I decided to copy all of my files to an external hard drive and then re-install Windows. It is a Toshiba Equium L40M laptop and came with Vista installed. I ran the program to reset the machine to its factory settings but, during the process, the laptop said that it could not locate the hard drive. The laptop then wouldn't load up or anything. I decided to buy a copy of XP as I did not really like Vista but, when I went to install it, I had the same problem.

I have had a look on the web for this issue and cannot find a solution. It appears to be caused by a limitation in my BIOS. My BIOS shows the hard drive but I cannot select it to change its settings.

I would be really grateful for any help with this. At the moment, I have a laptop that doesn't work. I am sure it can be salvaged but I have no idea how to do it.

NiftyDigits

You didn't need to buy XP. You just needed an Toshiba recovery disc and perhaps Chipset Drivers, though they may use IDE drives. You just had to ask.

There is no such laptop as an Equium L40M. Did you mean Equium L40-17M? What is the model number? PS***

Lennys_Shinpad

Yes it's 'Equium L40-17M' sorry about that.

I do have a product recovery disc as well. Do I just stick it in the CD ROM?

I will post the model number when I get back home from work. How come I didn't have to buy XP?

I guess I can always just sell my XP disc.

Sounds promising.

NiftyDigits

Lennys_Shinpad wrote: »

Yes it's 'Equium L40-17M' sorry about that.

I do have a product recovery disc as well. Do I just stick it in the CD ROM?

I will post the model number when I get back home from work. How come I didn't have to buy XP?

I guess I can always just sell my XP disc.

Sounds promising.

Product Recovery disc is Vista though isn't it? You want an Toshiba XP recovery disc.
Will see if I can find it for you after my siesta.

Looking at a better solution for you....

onzey

Might need to check bios version for XP compatability if you change to XP.

NiftyDigits

onzey wrote: »

Might need to check bios version for XP compatability if you change to XP.

Already did that. But looking at a more progressive solution, rather than going backwards.

Quiet_Spark

You need the hard disk controller drivers loaded on to a separate disk and you need to press the F6 key when prompted during Windows setup.

If for any reason you can't install the correct disk controller drivers for the chosen OS (eg, because Toshiba don't make them available), then change the hard disk controller mode from "AHCI" to "IDE Compatibility" mode and Windows XP will then install.

NiftyDigits

Quiet_Spark wrote: »

You need the hard disk controller drivers loaded on to a separate disk and you need to press the F6 key when prompted during Windows setup.

If for any reason you can't install the correct disk controller drivers for the chosen OS (eg, because Toshiba don't make them available), then change the hard disk controller mode from "AHCI" to "IDE Compatibility" mode and Windows XP will then install.

onzey is on the right track, but I am looking at something else at the moment.
In addition, in the first post it appears that the OP has an idea about changing the Compatibility Mode, but couldn't find the settings in the BIOS.

Lennys_Shinpad

Bit of a delay on this one (Nifty I can't seem to PM you for some reason).

I managed to install Windows 7. However, I had to skip the authentication part as my Vista code did not work. I now have 30 days to sort this out.

Does anybody know how I can do this? I thought I could do it via the BIOS some way.

Half way there!

HereAgain_2

Seems he is still on his siesta. I'm sure he will awaken soon.

Did you install from boot and format the system reserved and the Windows partitions, choosing (Custom(advanced) and Drive options(advanced) respectively?

ie

Lennys_Shinpad

HereAgain wrote: »

Seems he is still on his siesta. I'm sure he will awaken soon.

Did you install from boot and format the system reserved and the Windows partitions, choosing (Custom(advanced) and Drive options(advanced) respectively?

ie

I'm afraid I can't remember which options I selected. However, I didn't go for upgrade. I did a normal installation instead. Should I do a reinstallation?