The Notebook Review forums were hosted by TechTarget, who shut down them down on January 31, 2022. This static read-only archive was pulled by NBR forum users between January 20 and January 31, 2022, in an effort to make sure that the valuable technical information that had been posted on the forums is preserved. For current discussions, many NBR forum users moved over to NotebookTalk.net after the shutdown.
Problems? See this thread at archive.org.

    BSoD when trying to install XP

    Discussion in 'Gateway and eMachines' started by Xonar, Sep 16, 2008.

  1. Xonar

    Xonar Notebook Deity

    Reputations:
    1,457
    Messages:
    1,518
    Likes Received:
    13
    Trophy Points:
    56
    Well, I've been angrily trying to install Windows XP on my 7811FX, but every time XP finishes scanning for stuff (the bottom of the screen), and says "Windows is beginning setup", I get a BSoD. No error messages occur, no indication on what could cause this. I tried to install XP with Vista already installed, both 32/64 bit, and I formatted the whole partition, and tried to install XP, but I still get BSoD's. I know people have successfully installed XP on their 7811FXs, but it angers me that Windows XP won't even start installing for mine. . . Google searches have come up empty, so I've turned to creating -yet another- P7811FX thread.
     
  2. WozniakMac

    WozniakMac Notebook Consultant

    Reputations:
    24
    Messages:
    102
    Likes Received:
    0
    Trophy Points:
    30
    Turn AHCI off.
     
  3. Dook

    Dook Notebook Virtuoso

    Reputations:
    318
    Messages:
    2,301
    Likes Received:
    0
    Trophy Points:
    0
    Try doing the install after setting the hard drive mode to "Compatibility" in the BIOS if you havent done so already.
     
  4. Andy

    Andy Notebook Prophet

    Reputations:
    2,133
    Messages:
    6,399
    Likes Received:
    1
    Trophy Points:
    206
    Or slipstream the iaAHCI driver....
     
  5. Hep!

    Hep! sees beauty in everything

    Reputations:
    1,806
    Messages:
    5,921
    Likes Received:
    1
    Trophy Points:
    206
    Seconded. Also note that changing the hard drive operation mode could render currently installed operating systems unusable until you revert back (a note if you're dual booting)
     
  6. Xonar

    Xonar Notebook Deity

    Reputations:
    1,457
    Messages:
    1,518
    Likes Received:
    13
    Trophy Points:
    56
    Alright, so I went into BIOS and changed my SATA mode to IDE, and installed XP successfully. Now, do I change it back to AHCI, or keep it at IDE. I will not be dual-booting. Thanks for all the help guys.
     
  7. Andy

    Andy Notebook Prophet

    Reputations:
    2,133
    Messages:
    6,399
    Likes Received:
    1
    Trophy Points:
    206
    AHCI provides a slight boost in overall HDD performance, and it is noticeable most when doing multiple read/writes....

    Going back to AHCI will be a bit tough. But it can be done.
     
  8. Xonar

    Xonar Notebook Deity

    Reputations:
    1,457
    Messages:
    1,518
    Likes Received:
    13
    Trophy Points:
    56
    Ah, so if I kept it as IDE, I wouldn't see any noticeable decrease in performance? I wouldn't be doing any HDD intensive tasks.
     
  9. Andy

    Andy Notebook Prophet

    Reputations:
    2,133
    Messages:
    6,399
    Likes Received:
    1
    Trophy Points:
    206
    No, there is no substantial decrease in performance. Don't bother about it. :)
     
  10. Hep!

    Hep! sees beauty in everything

    Reputations:
    1,806
    Messages:
    5,921
    Likes Received:
    1
    Trophy Points:
    206
    Actually, I stupidly installed Vista on my desktop with AHCI off, and it's been that way for a while. This morning I stopped being lazy and re-enabled it, and my bootup time was cut down to about 2/3 of normal.
     
  11. stormlifter

    stormlifter Notebook Consultant

    Reputations:
    7
    Messages:
    140
    Likes Received:
    0
    Trophy Points:
    30
    Yeah just slipstream the driver. It's BSODing because it doesn't have the drivers to see your hard drives.
     
  12. Xonar

    Xonar Notebook Deity

    Reputations:
    1,457
    Messages:
    1,518
    Likes Received:
    13
    Trophy Points:
    56
    Alright, well I noticed XP takes a while to load. . .

    Anyone know anyway to get AHCI to work under XP?
     
  13. Eric618

    Eric618 Notebook Consultant

    Reputations:
    1
    Messages:
    129
    Likes Received:
    0
    Trophy Points:
    30
    I'm working on that now... Trying to figure it out. :confused:
     
  14. scotchirishprince

    scotchirishprince Notebook Geek

    Reputations:
    2
    Messages:
    77
    Likes Received:
    0
    Trophy Points:
    15
    When I tried to install XP MCE SP2 I got that same BSOD with AHCI enabled.

    I thought it was something to do with my disc so I tried the XP Pro SP3 that came with a Dell I have and it installed w/o a hiccup while AHCI was enabled.

    Whatever they added in SP3 accounts for that AHCI, apparently (drivers perhaps?).