[HOWTO] install windows XP on ASUS F3Sv

this guide will attempt to walk you through the installation of windows XP on the ASUS F3Sv. It may work for other notebooks, but it is only tested and proved working on the F3Sv.

Creating a bootable ISO

1. if you tried to install using the actual windows XP cd, you would have realized it doesnt work because the installer cannot locate your hard drive. You need to download nLite from:
http://www.nliteos.com/
This application will allow you to create a working ISO of windows XP.

2. Install and run nLite. It will ask you where your windows XP files are and where you want to create a temporary folder for the session (this folder can be deleted after you are done)

3. nLite will then present some options, you can select any of them you wish but you must select both "Integrate Drivers" and "Create Bootable CD".

4. download and extract this:
http://rapidshare.com/files/6891703...rs_v7801012_32bit_packed_by_Fernando.zip.html
it is what gets you past the "cannot locate hard drive" installation error.

5. when you get the option to integrate new drivers, in the bottom right corner there is an insert button (click it) then click multiple drivers and browse to where you extracted the above download. It will then bring up many options, first make sure that Textmode driver is selected, then select all of the options that have "mobile" in parentheses on the right side.

6. now it should be good to go, so let nLite create a bootable cd of your custom windows XP installer and put it in your cd drive, then reboot.

The installer should run without any problems now.

Finding the latest drivers

UPDATE: It appears that ASUS is now offering drivers for us F3Sv users who want winXP on their machine. Head over to the ASUS Support site and grab all the drivers you need from there!
(You may still want to use some of the drivers listed below, but those often involve some testing. The ones from ASUS will be tailored specifically for this notebook and have already been tested.)

video driver

I chose the latest driver (version 169.09) from laptopvideo2go.com, you can get it here:
http://www.laptopvideo2go.com/forum/index.php?showtopic=16154
There are instructions on that site on how to install this driver, so i wont go into details.

wireless driver

I chose the latest driver (version 11.5.0.32/9.0.4.37) from intel, you can get it here:
http://downloadcenter.intel.com/fil...XP+Home+Edition&lang=eng&strOSs=45&submit=Go!
To install this driver just go to device manager (right click on "my computer" > properties > hardware tab > device manager) then browse to the "network adapters" section and select the intel wireless. Update the driver with the same method you used to install the video driver.

sound driver

1. go to
http://www.realtek.com.tw/downloads...1&PNid=24&PFid=24&Level=4&Conn=3&DownTypeID=3
and download the "Windows 2000, Windows XP/2003(32/64 bits) Driver only (Executable file)"
2. run the WDM_R185.exe file you downloaded (185 might change to a newer version, that is the version i am using now though)
3. restart your computer after the installation (it will prompt you to do so)
4. when you restart your computer you will notice that your sound driver still doesnt work, so you must go back to
http://www.realtek.com.tw/downloads...1&PNid=24&PFid=24&Level=4&Conn=3&DownTypeID=3
and download the "Windows 2000, Windows XP/2003(32/64 bits) Driver only (ZIP file)"
5. unzip the WDM_R185.zip file
6. go to device manager, and under the heading "System devices" there will be a new entry because of the WDM_R185.exe file you ran earlier, double click on it (it should be called something like "PCI Device")
7. use the "Have disk" method used when installing the video driver and the wireless driver
8. when you are asked the hardware type select "Sound, video, and game controllers"
9. keep going until you get to the part with the "Have disk" button that you would normally click on, instead there should be a driver listed in the small window. Use that one instead.
10. Now in device manager under the "Sound, video, and game controllers" heading there will be a new entry titled "Realtek high definition audio". Double click on it.
11. Now use the "have disk" method to install the driver you downloaded in the WDM_R185.zip file.
12. and now it should be installed and working!

notice: You may get a "new hardware found" message popping up every time you login after using this method (saying that it found an 'audio modem' or something simmilar to that). I just went to device manager and disabled the 'audio modem' and everything still works fine, but you may prefer to have everything working, if you do this post might interest you (just ignore the part at the top talking about LAN, the important part is just under it)


other drivers

you may require other drivers for things such as the memory card reader, but i havent looked into that (and probably wont) because i dont need them. Thraken has found some that work as described in his post here:
http://forum.notebookreview.com/showpost.php?p=2158869&postcount=201

you can also go to device manager and there will be a list of devices under the heading "other devices". For each of these devices double click them, then click on the box that says "reinstall driver". Then select "Yes, this time only" and click next. Next select "Install the software automatically". Some of them will successfully install, others wont.



Special thanks for this guide go to Thraken and this site:
http://www.msfn.org/board/Integration-Intel-Sata-Raid-drivers-t107504.html

 

Thanks Fittersman, I didn't catch this guide before. I added it to the Info Booth.