Win XP and support for SATA drives?

[Walter R.]

Can I install Win XP SP3 on a modern computer which uses only SATA drives?

As I understand it, there is no support for SATA drives in Win XP.

How can I load Windows if there are no drivers for the installation of a
SATA drive?

Thanks for your input, I am not very knowledgeable about these drives.

I am thinking of buying a modern Dell or HP with SATA drives, reformat to
wipe out Windows Vista and the other bloatware, and then install Win XP 3.

Is this a good idea?

 

[Ken Blake, MVP]

Can I install Win XP SP3 on a modern computer which uses only SATA drives?

Yes.


As I understand it, there is no support for SATA drives in Win XP.

How can I load Windows if there are no drivers for the installation of a
SATA drive?

The computer you buy should come with whatever drivers you need.

Thanks for your input, I am not very knowledgeable about these drives.

I am thinking of buying a modern Dell or HP with SATA drives, reformat to
wipe out Windows Vista and the other bloatware, and then install Win XP 3.

Is this a good idea?

I don't think it's a good idea. I'd stay with Vista, or better yet, go
to Windows 7, which will be available on October 22. If you stay with
Vista, just make sure the specs are adequate for it; in particular, be
sure you have at least 2GB of RAM.

Why are you against Vista? Have you actually used it?

 

[peter]

Most motherboards that have SATA connectors come with a utility to make a
floppy SATA driver installation disk
from the Drivers CD that comes with the mobo. During XP installation there
is a point where it asks you to push F6
if you need 3rd party drivers doing so will allow XP to look for those SATA
drivers on the Floppy only and install them.

Buying a preconfigured system and erasing the OS that came pre-installed
usually voids the warranty.
There is also no guarantee that XP drivers are available for that specific
system. You would need to check with the
vendor. You could conceivably buy a system without an OS which would then
have the necessary drivers on CD but again
you would need to check with the vendor

peter

 

[smlunatick]

Can I install Win XP SP3 on a modern computer which uses only SATA drives?

As I understand it, there is no support for SATA drives in Win XP.

How can I load Windows if there are no drivers for the installation of a
SATA drive?

Thanks for your input, I am not very knowledgeable about these drives.

I am thinking of buying a modern Dell or HP with SATA drives, reformat to
wipe out Windows Vista and the other bloatware, and then install Win XP 3..

Is this a good idea?

Yes you can. Sata motherboards can "emulate" IDE or the computer
manufacturer has to provide the SATA drivers for the XP install
process.

 

[Leroy]

If you purchase a new Dell computer with Windows Vista preinstalled,
Dell will offer you a FREE upgrade to Windows 7 which is vastly superior
to Windows XP.

 

[JS]

First make certain whatever model your thinking of
buying has Windows XP drivers available on the
manufactures web site.

Yes you can use SATA drives, but you may need a floppy
to install the SATA drivers during the XP Install or if you are
lucky enough the BIOS may have what called "Legacy Mode"
or "IDE Mode" or "Enhanced mode", but most off the shelf PCs
have a very limited set of BIOS options.

You might consider building you own PC. Look for discounts,
rebates and other specials and you could actually equal or beat
the cost of a store bought PC
(Less the hours of you time to build and test it).

 

[Paul]

Can I install Win XP SP3 on a modern computer which uses only SATA drives?

As I understand it, there is no support for SATA drives in Win XP.

How can I load Windows if there are no drivers for the installation of a
SATA drive?

Thanks for your input, I am not very knowledgeable about these drives.

I am thinking of buying a modern Dell or HP with SATA drives, reformat to
wipe out Windows Vista and the other bloatware, and then install Win XP 3.

Is this a good idea?

This Dell Vostro desktop in the Small and Medium Business section of the
site, offers a version of Vista with "WinXP downgrade rights". That makes
it possible to get WinXP with the box.

http://configure.dell.com/dellstore/config.aspx?c=ca&CS=cabsdt1&l=en&OC=DT_V420_R_E

This HP Compaq dx2400 Microtower PC in the Small and Medium Business section
has WinXP downgrade rights as well.

http://h10010.www1.hp.com/wwpc/us/en/sm/WF04a/12454-12454-64287-321860-3328893.html

"Genuine Windows Vista Business with downgrade to
Windows XP Professional custom installed"

If you look around, there are a number of options.

Vista, downgrade to WinXP
Vista, free upgrade to Windows 7 when it ships.
Or just plain Vista.

Some of the smaller computer companies, can also be more flexible,
when it comes to the version of OS installed. You won't necessarily
save any money that way, but you're spared the agony of putting it
all together. For example, this outfit is still offering WinXP
Home or Pro.

http://web.eurocom.com/EC/ec_model_config1(1,200,0)

HTH,
Paul

 

[John]

Can I install Win XP SP3 on a modern computer which uses only SATA drives?

As I understand it, there is no support for SATA drives in Win XP.

How can I load Windows if there are no drivers for the installation of a
SATA drive?

Thanks for your input, I am not very knowledgeable about these drives.

My computer (XP Home) has nothing but SATA for its hard drives and
optical drives. Never had a problem installing, booting or running.
All the support is built into the mobo and the bios.

Reply-to address is real
John

 

[Timothy Daniels]

My computer (XP Home) has nothing but SATA for its
hard drives and optical drives. Never had a problem installing,
booting or running. All the support is built into the mobo and
the bios.

You probably have WinXP with SP3 - which has the SATA
drivers in it.

*TimDaniels*

 

[John]

You probably have WinXP with SP3 - which has the SATA
drivers in it.

*TimDaniels*

It's SP3 now, but it was SP2 when I first installed it. But that
doesn't really matter. The support had to have been built into the
mobo/BIOS because it was able to read the SATA optical drive, and
format the SATA hard drive, in order to install Windows in the first
place

Reply-to address is real
John