Sony Vaio VGN-FZ445D - The bios has no hardware options! Help!

Hi all,

I'm trying to do a standard windows xp sp2 cd boot, hard drive format and install (currently has vista) on this sony laptop.

I can boot the cd no problem and I get as far as the windows xp setup where it detects drives/partitions. It then says there are no configurable drives found, press F3 to quit setup.

So I'm guessing the sata hard drive is running in a mode that needs to be changed to standard ata or compatibility? I've seen this on other laptops.

Only problem is, when I go into the bios I get no options to do anything! I can change the date/time and change the boot order. I don't even see any other options, it's not like they are there but I'm not allowed to make changes - there's nothing else there! I've never seen a bios screen like this. I simply can't install xp on this laptop. Can anyone help please!

Many thanks

Jack

 

Yes, you will need to slipstream the SATA drivers from www.intel.com's support pages. Using nLite and your own disc, you can then make one capable of installing onto a SATA drive.

 

Greg thanks for the reply. I've downloaded the AHCI_Intel_v7.5.0.1017 drivers which I believe are the correct ones for the machine. I went through the process with nlite, but nothing's changed. Add to that the fact that windows setup does not detect a usb floppy so I can't even try the drivers out from a disk. I'm ready to give up... Are there generic sata drivers around?

 

Tried again and it worked - must have done the wrong option for the drivers. Thanks for your help!