Problem with installing xp64, Please help

I have a new x61.

I just put in a 200 gig hitachi drive and was able to detect it using compatability mode in the bios.

I installed xp 64 on the clean drive just fine and I have it in it's dock and everything seemed ok. I was able to use an external keyboard, mouse, dvd drive, etc.

I used the clean install guide and installed the newest chipset driver from intel and then everything seemed to get messed up.

I have no access to any of the usb ports, am not able to access the external usb dvd drive. Also, I tried to do a clean install again but since I cannot read from the dvd drive (it's not detected), I am kinda stuck.

I can move files over using the SD slot but that's about it.

I also tried the chipset driver from the lenovo site but it still hasn't changed anything. Wondering how to roll back the chipset up (though I've done the install many times so I don't think that will help either).

Any help would be appreciated.

Thanks!

 

bump to the top.

Must be someone who has run into this problem

 

No one has any ideas?