Thinkcentre A55 Desktop --- Downgrading to Windows XP

[muneer_b]

Hello people,

Our office doesnt support Windows Vista yet , so we downgrade any new desktops/laptops to windows xp pro. the problem is downgrading to windows xp . when I boot from a windows xp bootable CD , it does the usual intiall setup steps(the blue screen) , the point it reaches where you have to select a hard disk to install , I get an error "HD not found" . I have faced this problem on downgrading IBM/Lenovo Thinkpad laptops to windows xp & i have a solution for that :

1) Go to BIOS setup
2) Select Config
3) Select Serial ATA (SATA)
4) Select "Compatibility" mode

But the problem with an IBM/Lenovo desktop is in BIOS , there is no "compiblity" mode for SATA . instead there is a "disable" mode.
I have tried to put SATA config to "disable" , but its no use .while selecting "disable mode" for SATA , the desktop never boots from CD.

I am hoping this problem is not posted anywhere else this forum, since i tried to do a search but couldnt yield any positive results.

Thanks in advance to the people who reply.

[bill bolton]

You need the particular A55 SATA driver for XP (which should be available from the Lenovo support web site) and an understanding of how to use a required device driver during the XP install process.

Using additional disk drivers during an XP install is a general topic, on which you can find quite a lot of information with a simple Google search.

Cheers,

Bill B.

[muneer_b]

You need the particular A55 SATA driver for XP (which should be available from the Lenovo support web site) and an understanding of how to use a required device driver during the XP install process.

Using additional disk drivers during an XP install is a general topic, on which you can find quite a lot of information with a simple Google search.

Cheers,

Bill B.

Thanks a lot Bill .Thanks for the response . I will try that & get back to you. But i am not sure whether this will work since i have being downgrading lots of HP/IBM machine (mostly laptops) to Windows XP by changing the setting in BIOS (while facing this "no HDD found" problems in XP installation). Its worth a shot trying your suggestion.