windows XP and ahci/sata driver

[NeveValkoinen]

Hi again, i return here from time, cuz i've never been able to try this procedure cause of some personal problems, and i'm ready now to install xp.

Now, i've prepared the XP disc with drivers (and thanks a lot again for all the help). The only thing is that i nedd to recreate partition on my HDD, and i would ask what type of partition i need to create, FAT32, NTFS, ExFat eccetera....

sadly i needed to format my pc, and with all this time passed, i've forgot how i've been able to create partition, and i've forget everything. Can you help me with this last step? 😕

[Paul_Tikkanen]

Hi:

Use the disk management tool in W10 create a new partition, and quick format it NTFS, and install XP on the new partition.

https://support.microsoft.com/en-us/help/17418/windows-7-create-format-hard-disk-partition

If there is no unallocated disk space, you will need to create unallocated space by shrinking an existing partition (C:\).

[NeveValkoinen]

ok. it change anything if i got w10 instead of win7? NTFS anyway i should choose?

[Paul_Tikkanen]

NTFS.

The only time you can use FAT32 is if the partition is 32 GB or less.

Then you have other issues in FAT32 if you ever work with a single file that is larger than 4 GB.

Instructions I posted, though for W7, the same for W10 too.

So, even if you plan to make the partition less than 32 GB, use NTFS anyway.

[NeveValkoinen]

Strange thing happened: the system boots from the disc i burned, but it doesnt start, it shows the blinking underscore like it is loading, but never start.... i don't know which could be the problem...

Maybe is because the nLite doesnt work with a non original XP disc, but i dont know where i could legally buy or download the Real XP operative system 😕 it is not available anymore....

[Paul_Tikkanen]

You'd have to find one second hand on eBay, I would imagine.

They can be had for cheap.

https://www.ebay.com/sch/Operating-Systems/11226/i.html?_from=R40&_sop=15&LH_BIN=1&_nkw=windows%20xp...

[NeveValkoinen]

ok, i'll see if i could buy one if i dont find any other solution.

i suppose i'll first try to buy a usb floppy drive to use my normal XP disc without nLite...

Meanwhile, there's something else i could try here? which could be the problem?

[Paul_Tikkanen]

Unfortunately, I would have no idea.

I would use a USB FDD.

OK, so you have a genuine MS XP installation disk.

No need to buy one on eBay.

[NeveValkoinen]

Ok, after some try (no more with disc, but with a new utility found on the web (called Driver Packs Base https://www.raymond.cc/blog/how-to-integrate-floppy-sata-raid-driver-into-windows-xp-cd/2/ ), i've managed to reach the setup, then i pressed f6 and system said "it is impossible to determine the type of one or more storage devices installed on the system ecc ecc", i then choose to select manually which drivers to load, and a windows show "achi driver..." and i selected those, but here the message "impossible to find AHCIX64.SYS".

I've done the exactly same thing without this driver pack, but instead burning the iso to the usb with the drivers you passed me, with another tool like Rufus, and said the same message.

I will now try with the original installation disk, without drivers, and see if it say the same. if wont show the same message, i should say that they werent the right drivers? 😕 

I'm starting to doubt that i effectively got the right drivers...

[Paul_Tikkanen]

Are you installing XP 32 bit or XP 64 bit?

I gave you the 32 bit drivers, and if windows is looking for AHCIX64.SYS, then that file would be for a 64 bit operating system?

If you are loading XP 64 bit, I have to give you the 64 bit files.  32 bit files won't work on a 64 bit system or visa versa.