T60 questionable windows 8 unable to install XP

[thetimerider]

Just bought a T60 2623-d7u, nice clean machine. But it has windows 8 and though when i bought it upon first inspection it actually says "the current version of windows is activated", however the more i use it i am noticing more and more little messages that say "activate windows go to pc settings to activate windows". In settings it says windows not activated but when clicking on details button it says windows is activated. I'm pretty confused, but in the end this cant be a legal copy.
I must say i don't like windows 8, and i have a legal copy of XP, when i tried to install XP it tells me there's no HDD to install to and the only option is to quit the install.
Any ideas why it don't see the HDD on install.

Thanks for any help

[miro_gt]

because your HDD is running in AHCI mode, and there are no drivers for that in a regular XP disk - somebody have to implement those manually.

to solve - go into your BIOS and turn the HDD mode back to "compatible". Then install XP.

If you want to use AHCI - install drivers when your XP is up and running, then go back to BIOS to switch to AHCI operation.

[thetimerider]

Thanks for the info, that worked, I did end up grabbing a small but usable 65GB Kingston SSD from Staples yesterday for $49.99, and so far XP is doing fine on it.

Is everything I've read about partition aligning just have to do with having multiple partitions?
Is AHCI mode applicable with SSD's?

Thanks

[Easy Wind]

Is AHCI mode applicable with SSD's?
Thanks

No

[ajkula66]

Quite the contrary.

You want your SSD running in the AHCI mode.

Partitions must be correctly aligned - plenty of info on "how to" on this forum...presuming you're still intent on running XP.

[Easy Wind]

Thanks for the correction George

Now, there is a reason why I wear these glasses hanging on my nose, but I see they are not working very well as I thought it said "more applicable" versus "mode applicable."

[thetimerider]

Thanks

I will upgrade to Windows 7 soon, obviously the best way to go from all that i read.
Did not like that Windows 8!