Resolved XP Setup doesn't detect hard drives

Hello everyone.
I have an issue with a laptop where I'm trying to install Windows XP. It currently runs Windows 7 RC but it's now shutting down every 2 hours so I was going to install XP back on it.
The problem is simple, the setup loads and then says that there are no hard drives installed on the laptop. Obviously, there are but the setup doesn't see them for some reason. It tells me to just press F3 to quit.
The laptop is an Acer Extensa 4820z.

 

It sounds like the laptop probably has a sata hard drive. XP doesn't come with sata controller drivers so you need to load drivers for it during the install. Did you receive any floppy disks with the computer when you bought it? If so, one of them probably contains the drivers you need. If not, you'll have to go to the manufactures web site and download them. Put them on a floppy and then start XP's setup process again. If you watch, somewhere in the initial setup stage, it will say press F6 to load mass storage drivers or some such thing. Whatever the case, press F6 and you'll be prompted to insert the floppy with the drivers on it into the floppy drive. Setup will find them, install them and you'll then be able to see the hard drive.

If you don't have a floppy drive, you can purchase an external one and use that. They are relatively cheap. If you don't want to do that, there's ways you can add the drivers to your XP CD but I'd have to find a link for you on that one. If you post back, please tell us the brand name and model of the laptop.

 

Ah thank you. I had options to install with or without SATA/RAID drivers though I wasn't sure what they would do. It worked like a charm, thanks again.

 

You're welcome. Glad I could help.