OT (ish) Install XP onto a SATA drive - do I need drivers?

  • Thread starter Thread starter Martin C
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M

Martin C

Sorry this is a bit off topic, but I do not have access to a hardware
newsgroup through my ISP.

I have a full XP HOME SP2 CD which I want to install afresh onto a new PC
build. With the old build, I managed to install XP with no problems onto a
SATA drive and it never asked me for SATA drivers (fortunately as I did not
have them on a floppy disc).

As I will be using a new SATA drive (larger capacity) in my new build, will
I still be able to install XP without needing the SATA drivers. Are the
drivers present on an XP SP2 disc, but were not present on an older XP disc?

Looking on the web seems to imply that I will always need the drivers copied
to a floppy drive (or go through a more complicated route if I don't use a
floppy). Is this the case or does the SP2 disc negate this problem.

TIA

Martin
 
It depends what controler and bios settings are used.
WinXP doesnt contain Raid/Controler drivers
 
SP2 negates nothing. There is no way we can answer this question as we have
no clue which controller your system has, some need the driver installed via
F6, so have it handy, it's not that difficult to have it available in case
you need it.
 
Martin C said:
Sorry this is a bit off topic, but I do not have access to a hardware
newsgroup through my ISP.

I have a full XP HOME SP2 CD which I want to install afresh onto a new PC
build. With the old build, I managed to install XP with no problems onto a
SATA drive and it never asked me for SATA drivers (fortunately as I did
not have them on a floppy disc).

As I will be using a new SATA drive (larger capacity) in my new build,
will I still be able to install XP without needing the SATA drivers. Are
the drivers present on an XP SP2 disc, but were not present on an older XP
disc?

Looking on the web seems to imply that I will always need the drivers
copied to a floppy drive (or go through a more complicated route if I
don't use a floppy). Is this the case or does the SP2 disc negate this
problem.

TIA

Martin
Click to expand...


Martin:
There should be no SATA driver issue here since your system apparently
detected the older SATA HDD when you previously installed the XP OS onto
that disk. As has been alluded to by one or more responders to your query
it's the motherboard's BIOS that determines whether a SATA driver will be
necessary. Nearly all the motherboards produced during the past four or five
years contain (in effect) "built-in" SATA controller drivers for a non-RAID
configuration. There are some exceptions but they're few & far between. Have
you checked your motherboard's User Manual or Guide re this issue?

(It would be helpful if you indicated the make & model of your motherboard
in queries of this kind).

In any event, have you raised this question because you've experienced a
problem of non-recognition of your new SATA HDD or just to anticipate a
possible future problem in this area?
Anna
 
My question was to anticipate any possible problems as this will be a
completely new motherboard, so the fact the old one worked was not a
guarantee.

As the motherboard has now arrived, I can say that the manual states that it
WILL recognise SATA drives via the BIOS.

Thanks for everyones help.

Martin
 
Which does NOT mean that you won't need to provide Windows setup with the
proper driver.
 
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