Anyone format & reinstall without Restore CD?

I just got an MX6956 for Christmas and, like all of my PC's, I like to nuke the OEM partition and install everything clean. Unfortunately, none of my Windows XP CD's have the SATA drivers for the HDD. Also, unfortunately, Gateway did not include a setting in their BIOS (like many other manufacturers) to disable "Native SATA" so the BIOS sees it as an IDE hard drive. Anyways, I have located the Gateway SATA drivers and have them but I do not have a USB floppy drive. I am under the impression that the "F6" option only really wants to use a floppy and making a slipstreamed XP CD with the drivers already on it just seems like a very lengthy and inconvenient option. Are there any other options? Is there any way to pull those drivers off a USB thumb drive or external USB HDD? I'd rather not have to go buy an external floppy simply for this one purpose...

Thanks in advance for any help/comments.

 

AFAIK, the XP install routine will only use floppy drives to check. I can't think of any other way to get it done.

Are you sure the BIOS doesn't have an option? Is there anything like legacy mode or ATA5/6 mode? Anything relating to the HDD you don't recognize?

 

nope... there are very few options in there... I recognize just about everything in there... If I get a chance today, I'll post what all options I have in the BIOS and maybe I'm overlooking something...

 

nevermind, thanks anyway...

I just dropped by my local Best Buy and grabbed a USB external floppy drive so I can do this and then I'll return it and buy one online. Its ridiculous how expensive the retailers make these things... Off-brand "Dynex" costs $57 @ Best Buy while a Sony or NEC costs ~$20 at newegg.com. Thats a huge markup.

 

Yes, what a pain XP and Gateway are both being in this case. Go figure. Anyway, I just wanted to say, that this so-called "off brand" Dynex, is actually Best Buy's home brew. The markup really is RIDICULOUS, especially if you know what the cost is on the one they sell. Here is what you do. Make a friend at Best Buy, preferably in the computer department, and get them to give you the hookup. Be discreet about it, cause otherwise you could get them fired, or scare them about the whole thing.

Ask them, what Employee Cost is, maybe even tell them you used to work there. I bet they will let you know, and I bet you will be surprised, especially on any of their "Private Label" brands, like Dynex, Init, Insignia, Rocketfish, and of course, who could forget their Geek Squad brand products.

If you knew they cost, you would probably NEVER pay full price there again. Not much markup on big items like say the Laptop itself (maybe $50) or on a Desktop (about the same), hell, sometimes you are better off paying full price for the package discounts (instant rebates).

A $60 (roughly) USB Floppy Drive by Dynex, is probably 15 bucks, and take a look at on of the USB Cables they sell, or even their ethernet or firewire cables. A buck our two at the most, honestly. I have actually bought a USB Hub, instead of a USB Cable since they come with a 6 foot cable usually, the same **** cable next to it, by itself, is $30+, like I said, go make a friend, you will be happy you did.

 

Stumbled by this website by accident but I see you need help so I am here. I will make this VERY EASY so you'll never need a floppy drive to reinstall. However, you need access to another computer with XP installed and a CD burner.

1) Download Intel Matrix Storage Manager from Intel @ http://downloadfinder.intel.com/scr...lName=Windows*%20XP Professional&lang=eng

2) Install it on the computer with Windows XP and the CD Burner. Don't reboot if asked.

3) When done installing, go to C:\Programs Files\Intel\Intel Matrix Storage Manager and copy the "Driver" folder to the desktop

4) Copy the whole Windows XP CD to a folder named XP on the Desktop

5) Download nLite @ http://www.nliteos.com/download.html

6) Install nLite and launch it. If asked to install .Net Framework, install it also.

7) Click next and select "Browse" and go the the XP folder on the Desktop

8) Click next and you should see information about your copy, just click next again.

9) Click next yet again, and you'll arrive at Task Selection.

10) Click Drivers and Bootable ISO and the red dot should go green. For the sake of this post, I will not go into other features.

11) Clicking next will take you to Drivers. Click on "Insert", then "Single Driver". Go to the "Driver" folder on the desktop and select iastor.inf.

12) You'll get a new menu. Make sure text mode bubble is circled and select all three drivers with mobile in their names by holding ctrl and clicking on each one. Then click ok. *Note* You can select them all if desired.

13) Click next and it will ask to start the process. Click "Yes" and wait about a minute. Then click next, and make a ISO image or direct burn. Your done!

If you need help, email @ [email protected]. If desired, I can also teach you how to add Ethernet, Wireless, etc.