I cannot install Windows Vista Business or Windows XP Pro from the Original installation CD, but only FROM LENOVO RECOVERY CD, on ThinkPad R500 Type 2714-AAG. I slipstreamed Intel AHCI drivers with installation Windows XP Pro CD, first phase of installation procedure on Windows XP went by well, the system correctly detected hard drive, I successfully created installation partition, but after first restart the system did not boot and communicated that "hard drive reading failure. press ctrl+alt+delete to restart". The installation difference in my case between vista and xp is that vista setup program is not proceding and says that the hard drive controller is disabled in bios and it cannot find bootable device. Of course it is correctly enabled and works well. On Windows XP first stage of setup passes, but after reboot the system does not boot from hard drive with communicate I have written above.

But the most intresting thing is the Linux Slackware 13 installs and works well, and so the Windows XP Pro recovered from original manufacturer recovery cd. Unfortunately regarding safety policy in our company I cannot accept installation from Lenovo Recovery CD.

I'm so confused now. I really don't know what is wrong, is it a hardware problem, or I'm doing anything wrong. It's the first such problem in my whole "Lenovo laptop's adventure".

Maybe you have had similar issues ?

I'm eagerly waiting for a message from you.

Best regards
Witold Tosta

I would get a fresh XP install DVD (real not copied or slipstreamed) and try that in compatibility mode as set in BIOS. If it works it's your CD.

I've tried, both with original CDs XP's SP2 or SP3 with compatibility SATA mode enabled. Also I have tried with slipstreamed Intel AHCI drivers both on compatibility or AHCI SATA modes. Both of them failed, with the same message after reboot. I've stuck with this laptop for two days from now, and my ideas are getting deplete. I'm starting to assume that it is a hardware problem of a SATA controller. I have to mention, that I've tried to install Windows system on another SATA 2,5 inch hard drive with the same result. My another try was to install the system on another PC, pass the second installation stage (entering id's, product keys, hardware detection, etc.) and then inserting installed drive into my unlucky laptop... bad luck too

The funniest thing is that the Polish support service didn't help me at all (get through to them borders on the impossible, they do not answer phonecalls, another time there is always busy line), so I have called to the US lenovo support, and the call center worker told me that the product was manufactured in Poland (he asked for the S/N first), so probably I will have to call the polish support service

I've stuck.

Witek

You've got me on this one. I can't think of a reason in the world that a recovery CD set and a Linux live CD would work but not a known good XP install DVD. It doesn't make sense. For giggles I might try to zero out the drive with activekilldisk and see if that helps.
http://www.killdisk.com/

The next day I did like you have advised. Unfortunately with no success. For the last chance I tried to install Windows 7 and the 7's installer similar to Vista installer didn't pass hard drive partitioning phase, saying that there is no device it could boot from. As I had written before Windows XP passed the first stage of installation , but didn't boot up after restart.

I could bet, that in this case it is a broken hard disk controller matter. So I give up. The laptop is going to return to a guarantor.

I'll write when it'll come back to me again.

Best regards
Witek

I resolved my problem at last. I'm not sure what is the real cause and the nature of the problem in my case.

I'm going to briefly describe what was the reason of my problems with installing Windows XP on Lenovo ThinkPad R500.

My Laptop is: Lenovo ThinkPad R500 Type 2714-AAG; Current bios version: 3.09 (7YET79WW)

When installing Windows XP Pro i set up device boot order in bios utility. I excluded every device but the optical CD/DVD drive from which I was going to install Windows XP. When first installation stage passed and the computer restarted, I entered the bios utility again and I excluded the optical drive and included back the hard disk drive, where the system had just been installed.

Then the system couldn't boot and it communicated that the hard drive had reading failure (press ctrl+alt+delete to restart).

The solution is the following. After first installation pass and automatic reboot DO NOT exclude the cd/dvd drive from a boot order and do not change the device boot order. Don't press any buttons, just wait until the CD boot prompt disappears and the system will boot from a hard drive. After that you can change the boot sequence to whatever you want and exclude every drive you need excepting of course the one with the windows system installed. Simple, isn't it ? In many other laptops and desktops such boot changing sequence doesn't matter at all. In Lenovo R500 it does, a lot

First boot device is - CD/DVD drive
Second boot device is - hard drive

Best regards.
Witek