Fresh Windows install on Portege M400

[Jesse]

I am trying to do a fresh Windows install on a Toshiba Portege M400, however when I place the Windows disc into the DVD drive and start loading up the compoents, the Windows install cannot seem to find any working hard drives. Obviously the hard drive is still working (since I'm writing this post on the tablet) so I was wondering if anyone had any suggestions or similar experiences with the M400 that may be able to help.

Thanks in advance.

[nossy]

Problem is the HDD in the M400s are SATA and SATA HDD drivers are not natively supported in XP. You'll need to somehow install the driver during the Windows setup (And also find the SATA HD driver/controller). Usually by floppy when installing XP on a desktop. Vistas should correct this problem.

[nfwolfpryde]

Yeah, Nossy hit it right on the money. Try this file ->CLICK HERE!!!<-.

Good luck.

[Jesse]

Thanks for the responses. How would I use that executable raid driver? I don't have a floppy drive, so would I have to find one or could I install that before reformatting the drive?

Thanks again for the advice.

[Jesse]

Just a follow up... I've been racking my brain trying to see if there is a way to reformat Windows without using an external floppy drive (admittedly, after getting the computer, I can't afford a floppy drive ). Does anyone know if there is a way to do it without one? Possibly using a SD Card or burning the RAID drivers to a CD even?

[drzeller]

I have not done this, but I believe you can do something called 'slipstreaming" a file into the XP installation. I think it involves burning your a copy of your install CD with the needed files added and some other installation files modified so the intaller knows about the additional files. Try googling on something like "XP install slipstream SATA" (without quotes).

Another thing to look into would be whether the Toshiba utility that can create a bootable SD card (which emulates a floppy disk) can be used. I know this existed on the M200, but I never checked to see if it is around on our M400's (and I am not at mine now...).

One other thing... I hope you know that you need the TabletPC version of the installation for XP. This is basically only available through OEM's (technically only with a valid system or hardware component) or through MSDN. The standard installers from retail will not work for this.

D.

[P8RSON]

Couldn't you use a 'bootable USB Stick'?

Also, for every Notebook I have owned I have used Ghost to make a backup of my hard drive.
This saves all the headache in having to re-install Windows XP..... and any custom software.

[Jesse]

Thanks drzeller. Those are both pretty interesting ideas... I'll look into them both. P8RSON; I haven't tried to do that, but I've read everywhere that the SATA/RAID drivers have to be loaded from an "A:" Floppy Drive. I'm not sure how accurate that is, so I may try to give that a shot as well.

[SimsHsia]

On the topic with drzeller and "slipstreaming" the RAID/SATA drivers; this is a good guide (and site for unattended installations of Windows): http://unattended.msfn.org/unattended.xp/view/web/36/

[Jesse]

I attempted to follow the above guide in order to slipstream the sata drivers into the Windows XP image, with no success. I'm not sure if I messed it up in the translation from the SIS drivers mentioned in the article to the M400 raid drivers, however I gave it a shot to no avail. I'm wondering if there is someone out there that is pretty tech savy and has a M400 that might be able to provide a step-by-step guide pertaining to the M400 and slipstreaming the drivers into the Windows image. (probably a big request, but worth a shot).