Author Topic: Setting up XP on a Thinkpad (Read 1708 times)

Perd Hapley · « **on:** January 09, 2010, 11:38:57 PM »

I'm trying to install XP on my friend's Lenovo T61. When the very first set of options comes up, it asks whether I want to install XP, use the Recovery Console, or Quit. I choose to install XP, and it tells me that it doesn't find any hard drives, so setup cannot continue.

I know it has a hard drive, because it is currently running Vista and the hard drive is listed in the BIOS.

I came across something online about XP disks not having SATA drivers. Could that be it?

Perd Hapley · « **Reply #1 on:** January 10, 2010, 12:17:43 AM »

Another potential problem:

My friend bought an OEM system builder version of XP Pro from someone on the internet. The laptop has a COA on the bottom, but the product key is very faint, so it's hard to make out.*

Can I install this new copy he bought, or do I have to use the COA that's on the computer?

The situation, I think, was that his original installation of XP failed, and a computer shop installed Vista on it to get it running again. At the bottom of the screen, it says Build 6002, This copy of Windows is not genuine. I think they did this free of charge.

*All of my computers are desktops, but I have their product keys written down elsewhere, in case the stickers get scratched up. Surely, anyone with half a brain would do this for the sticker on the bottom of their LAPTOP! But if I know Rick at all, this will have never occurred to him.

RocketMan · « **Reply #2 on:** January 10, 2010, 01:43:59 AM »

Unless there is something funky about the hard drive, the install disk should see it. Is it visible in BIOS? Is it set to a RAID function in BIOS? Some laptops have room for two drives these days, and RAID is often an option in those.
Is the CoA on the bottom of the laptop for WinXP Pro, or Home Edition. The two are not compatible.
Also, did the OEM version he bought off eBay have a CoA, or is it just the installation disk?

Perd Hapley · « **Reply #3 on:** January 10, 2010, 09:23:32 AM »

I went back into the BIOS, and there was a hard drive setting for AHCI or Compatibility mode. I switched it to Compatibility, and all is well.

I talked to Rick this morning, and asked him if the COA on the machine is for XP Pro. He thinks it is. Unfortunately, I can't read the product key very well.

But I would think the system builder XP disk and product key should work. I've done a similar install on one of my Dell computers; it had a COA on it for Win2000, but it's currently using an OEM copy of XP. So...

lee n. field · « **Reply #4 on:** January 10, 2010, 01:56:55 PM »

Quote

know it has a hard drive, because it is currently running Vista and the hard drive is listed in the BIOS. rolleyes

I came across something online about XP disks not having SATA drivers. Could that be it?

Does your XP disk have service pack 2 on it?

If not, you'll probably need to make a driver floppy, and acquire a usb floppy drive. One booting the XP disk, press f6 when you see the "press f6 to....." on the bottom (real early in the process). Feed it the floppy when requested.

Perd Hapley · « **Reply #5 on:** January 10, 2010, 03:10:31 PM »

Sorry, I should have updated you guys but things were a little busy. The install seems to be going OK. The system builder product key was accepted, and the OS is installed. I won't be happy until I go to the Windows Update site and it treats me like I'm all legitimate and stuff. Unfortunately, I've got to find some drivers for the ethernet controller before I can go online with it.

The disk is SP 2.

Perd Hapley · « **Reply #6 on:** January 10, 2010, 05:09:42 PM »

Turns out my friend got scammed.

The XP that he bought turns out to be a volume license type.

The annoying thing is, I keep editing the registry, but it keeps telling me the OS is still activated.

RocketMan · « **Reply #7 on:** January 10, 2010, 10:35:03 PM »

That sucks for your friend. That's a risk you take when you buy an O/S on eBay.
Get the magnifying glass out, and/or use whatever other tricks are necessary to make the product key visible on the original CoA. I suspect it's the only way you're going to get a legit install on that machine.

lee n. field · « **Reply #8 on:** January 11, 2010, 08:31:21 AM »

Quote

but it keeps telling me the OS is still activated.

This is a problem?

Perd Hapley · « **Reply #9 on:** January 11, 2010, 05:06:15 PM »

Windows Update site says it's not genuine. I wanted to try entering the machines original COA, but it won't "deactivate" the other one. So, yeah, it seems like a problem.

lee n. field · « **Reply #10 on:** January 11, 2010, 05:25:47 PM »

Ahhhhh.

SOL.

Perd Hapley · « **Reply #11 on:** January 11, 2010, 11:51:13 PM »

Try as I might, I just couldn't make out the faded characters on the COA sticker, so I'm giving him my copy of XP Home.

Perd Hapley · « **Reply #12 on:** January 16, 2010, 08:12:48 PM »

So, XP is all installed and (mostly) updated.

~~Every time I log on to XP, the desktop appears, then the screen goes black for an instant, then everything works fine again. Any guesses?~~

I downloaded something, don't remember what, but that problem went away.

The only other problems I've noted are an "unknown device" in device manager, that needs a driver; and one of the two entries for Ethernet Controller needs a driver.

Also, I just looked at the BIOS settings again, and all the PCI are on IRQ 11. Is that bad? I changed them all to AutoSelect.

Edit: It all works now, just has those two little problems in device manager.

sanglant · « **Reply #13 on:** January 17, 2010, 01:59:25 AM »

there is a working cdkey for winxp pro on a certain torrent site

and to install without "I went back into the BIOS, and there was a hard drive setting for AHCI or Compatibility mode. I switched it to Compatibility, and all is well." you will need a drive controller driver floppy i think it's F8 or F6 you have to hit to load the drivers in the install

RocketMan · « **Reply #14 on:** January 17, 2010, 03:31:18 AM »

Fisty, for that unknown device that needs a driver, did you look for chipset drivers for that laptop? They should be available at Lenovo's website.
Also, if the laptop has a memory card reader, the drivers for that need to be loaded. For some reason, some HP laptops have them bundled with the chipset drivers. Or they are found in the chipset driver section on the HP download page for the particular laptop. I don't know if Lenovo does the same thing for their laptops.

Perd Hapley · « **Reply #15 on:** January 17, 2010, 11:05:17 AM »

I've updated the chipset drivers, and the BIOS too, for that matter. I'll look and see if Lenovo has a memory card driver on the site.

The device manager shows two ethernet controllers, one of which needs a driver. Could that one be for wireless, or would wireless and Cat5 use the same controller?

RocketMan · « **Reply #16 on:** January 17, 2010, 01:25:15 PM »

It could be the wireless driver. Also, does that laptop have a modem? (Look for a 4 conductor telephone jack.) If so, did you load the driver for it?

Perd Hapley · « **Reply #17 on:** January 17, 2010, 03:36:03 PM »

Yeah, the other ethernet controller was for wireless. Found the driver. It seems that everything is on Lenovo's website, it's just that device manager calls it one thing; the web site calls it something else.

It does have a modem and a card reader listed, both have drivers.

For the unknown device, when I look at its properties, on the Details tab, it says ACPI/ATM1200. Location is ICH8M LPC Interface Controller. I'm looking it up to figure it out right now.

OK, I downloaded a TPM driver from Lenovo that fixed that issue, but now the other TPM doesn't work. Is it better to have question mark or exclamation point?

Perd Hapley · « **Reply #18 on:** January 17, 2010, 06:32:45 PM »

OK, I have taught this laptop who its daddy is. All driver issues are resolved. Client Security download fixed the TPM issue. Thanks for the help, folks.

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Author Topic: Setting up XP on a Thinkpad (Read 1708 times)