Setup problems due to floppy driveless mainboards

[Welmoed-JC]

Intel has released new mainboards (with D3xxx chipset) that do no longer
support floppy drives (diskette stations). Intel however still provides
drivers for RAID on a diskette (very odd).

Microsoft's OS Setup (F6 for extra drivers) explicitely requests drive "A:"
and
no other media drives when installing extra drivers! That also applies to
Vista Setup.
Microsoft's support operators asked about a solution for this prehistoric
drive problem clam up and don't understand the problem when explained ("so
you have a computer with only diskette drives?"; "Just connect a floppy drive
to the mainboard."; "I only can file a complaint for you".).

Anyone out there being able to explain how overcome this problem (no: not
buying another mainboard having a floppy connector) to get SETUP to look at
another drive (CD/DVD) for installing those drivers?

Welmoed.

 

[DL]

Later mobo / bios support usb floppy drives.

The setup cannot be 'hacked' to install from cd

 

[Shenan Stanley]

Intel has released new mainboards (with D3xxx chipset) that do no
longer support floppy drives (diskette stations). Intel however
still provides drivers for RAID on a diskette (very odd).

Microsoft's OS Setup (F6 for extra drivers) explicitely requests
drive "A:" and
no other media drives when installing extra drivers! That also
applies to Vista Setup.
Microsoft's support operators asked about a solution for this
prehistoric drive problem clam up and don't understand the problem
when explained ("so you have a computer with only diskette
drives?"; "Just connect a floppy drive to the mainboard."; "I only
can file a complaint for you".).

Anyone out there being able to explain how overcome this problem
(no: not buying another mainboard having a floppy connector) to get
SETUP to look at another drive (CD/DVD) for installing those
drivers?

Two options:

1) As DL said - USB Floppy Diskette Drive.
2) Use some application to read the floppy diskette image, copy the files
and integrate the drivers into your installation media.

 

[ralphie]

Two options:

1) As DL said - USB Floppy Diskette Drive.
2) Use some application to read the floppy diskette image, copy the files
and integrate the drivers into your installation media.

--
Shenan Stanley
MS-MVP
--
How To Ask Questions The Smart Way



I've had the same issue. Try using a product called "NLITE". It's freeware that allows drivers to be "slipstreamed" or merged into a bootable install disc for windows xp. my hp computer has sata drives from intel that aren't currently included by ms. i was able to use "NLITE" to create a new windows xp install cd with the drivers and get past the "f6" message. good luck.

 

[Welmoed-JC]

Is somewhere a step-by-step description of the integration process?
Is simply copying those files into a specific folder sufficiently or do I
have to do more?
I can copy the files on diskette using another computer, which also can be
used for burning a CD.

Welmoed.

 

[DL]

google for 'nlite' plenty of guides / info

Is somewhere a step-by-step description of the integration process?
Is simply copying those files into a specific folder sufficiently or do I
have to do more?
I can copy the files on diskette using another computer, which also can be
used for burning a CD.

Welmoed.

 

[Frank Pajerski]

I encountered/solved this dilemma recently when building a PC with Intel's
DP35DP mobo ... P35 chipset, many USB ports, no floppy controller ... and a
large SATA-connected hard drive.

Vista Home Premium ... install went fine with Intel RAID drivers loaded
during setup time from a USB flash drive.

WinXP Home ... using the base CD (retail), the RAID drivers loaded OK during
setup time from a USB Floppy Diskette Drive ... but only a "supported" USB
FDD - see KB916196 for supported models. I bought a supported USB FDD most
easily/quickly/cheaply via eBay. But, a few minutes later in the WinXP
install process (during the "loading devices" phase), a BSOD consistantly
resulted. I concluded that WinXP could only be installed in this "modern"
environment from a WinXP CD with SP2 slipstreamed in. With my inexperience,
I was uncomfortable with several SP2-slipstreaming procedures that I found.
Then I found "nlite" at http://www.nliteos.com/index.html and easily made
the desired customized install CD. No problems thereafter.

--- Frank

 

[keeto]

You are saying then, that if the XP install cd has SP2 included, then there
is or should be no problems with installing XP on boards without normal
floppy disk controllers and that is using ANY usb fdd...or specific ones?

 

[smlunatick]

You are saying then, that if the XP install cd has SP2 included, then there
is or should be no problems with installing XP on boards without normal
floppy disk controllers and that is using ANY usb fdd...or specific ones?









- Show quoted text -

This may or may not work. Some Intel "drivers" may be available on
the revised XP SP2 install CDs. However, as previously "answered"
there are methods of adding your required drivers when re-creating a
"custom" XP install CD (aka slipstreaming.)