Installing Windows XP Pro SP3 (32-bit) onto my Toshiba laptop

[Denholm]

Hello everyone,

I've found myself in an interesting situation requiring assistance. My Toshiba L305-S5962 laptop is giving me a boatload of trouble when I attempt installing Windows XP Professional, SP3. Here's some background on the computer and situation:

My laptop contains a dual-core Intel Pentium T4200 2.0GHz processor, Mobile Intel GL40 Express Chipset, 250GB 5200RPM SATA hard drive, 2GB DDR2 800MHz RAM, and an integrated Intel graphics chip. The problem I'm encountering seems to stem from Windows XP's installer not having native SATA drivers. I figured this wouldn't be a problem as Toshiba does provide SATA drivers for a Windows XP installation (Intel Matrix Storage Manager 8.0.0.1039). However, upon integrating the Mobile ICH8M-E driver into my Windows XP installation (using nLite) and launching the installer (after rebooting), I consistently get stuck at a Blue Screen of Death.

The Blue Screen of Death appears after the status message, "Starting Windows" just after all Windows installation components have loaded into memory. In an attempt to resolve this problem, I tried using a newer version (9.5.0.1037) of the same driver. When that failed, I attempted to install using SATA compatibility mode. Regardless of what I do, I get stuck with a Blue Screen of Death after the status message, "Starting Windows."

Can anyone offer a suggestion regarding what I might try to install Windows XP onto my laptop?

[katanaso]

Try changing the HDD setting in the BIOS again.  I had the same issue on an older PC with an Abit motherboard, and it frustrated me.  I was using a PCI RAID card in it, and was getting blue screens as well, but some searching led to changing the BIOS setting from AHCI to IDE.

That might be the issue you're having.  Do a web search for "blue screen, ahci" and check out the results for WinXP.

mir

[Denholm]

That does appear to be the solution in a lot of these cases. I'll give it another shot. Just to let you know, mine is not called IDE mode but "compatibility" mode. If there's a difference, I don't know.

[Denholm]

Good news! I just found a decent help article explaining in more detail how to integrate the drivers into my Windows XP installation. After reading a "shotgun" selection technique is more likely to yield results under these circumstances--and after using katanaso's suggestion--Windows XP Installer finally launched without a STOP error. I'll keep everyone updated how things turn out. Hopefully I can switch back to AHCI/SATA mode soon.

Just for reference... When using AHCI (or SATA) mode, I get the following STOP code after the installer attempts to load Windows for installation:

0x0000007B (0xF78D2524, 0xC0000034, 0x00000000, 0x00000000)

[katanaso]

Awesome.

I think you can switch back once the OS is installed, but I'd patch it too.  Unfortunately, I gave away the PC I mentioned, so I can't check the BIOS on it, but I recall changing it back, because that's how it was before I did a re-format.


mir

[Denholm]

I've got great news and I've got bad news. The good news is probably obvious. Windows XP installed and is running perfectly.... in Compatibility mode. The bad news.... When I switch back to AHCI/SATA mode, I continue receiving a BSOD.

Upon getting Windows XP installed I went ahead and updated the ACHI drivers to the latest version from Intel. In addition, I installed an Intel storage utility which I thought would assist with SATA compatibility. So far, it seems I'm still stuck. At least not as badly as before.

[Bino]

I've got great news and I've got bad news. The good news is probably obvious. Windows XP installed and is running perfectly.... in Compatibility mode. The bad news.... When I switch back to AHCI/SATA mode, I continue receiving a BSOD.

Upon getting Windows XP installed I went ahead and updated the ACHI drivers to the latest version from Intel. In addition, I installed an Intel storage utility which I thought would assist with SATA compatibility. So far, it seems I'm still stuck. At least not as badly as before.

If the hard drive cannot support AHCI then it won't matter what software you load.  Since it's a laptop drive, I suspect you're not missing out on all that much.

[MrRiplEy[H]]

If the hard drive cannot support AHCI then it won't matter what software you load.  Since it's a laptop drive, I suspect you're not missing out on all that much.

Yep, forget the AHCI your age old laptop is not going to start flying. Btw XP doesn't need any SATA-drivers after XP2 they're built in.

[Denholm]

If the hard drive cannot support AHCI then it won't matter what software you load.  Since it's a laptop drive, I suspect you're not missing out on all that much.

I definitely noticed the difference in loading times of operating systems. While it's not much, I do prefer the faster speeds of AHCI/SATA over IDE Compatibility mode.

While I didn't know XP SP3 had built-in SATA drivers, I would still like to use AHCI mode when running XP SP3. Could anyone offer suggestions on what I might try next? I'm currently flat out of ideas, especially since Toshiba claims this laptop can run XP without mentioning anything about IDE Compatibility mode.

[Denholm]

I've tinkered with this problem a bit more. With some research on my Linux machine, I discovered what may be causing the issue. Granted, the "solution" seems strange (even to me), yet I'm going to give it a shot (once I find the stinking file on Intel's website).

Upon running "lspci" in the Linux terminal, I received a list of connected devices and controllers. These three stood out to me:

00:1f.0 ISA bridge: Intel Corporation ICH9M LPC Interface Controller (rev 03)
00:1f.2 SATA controller: Intel Corporation ICH9M/M-E SATA AHCI Controller (rev 03)
00:1f.3 SMBus: Intel Corporation 82801I (ICH9 Family) SMBus Controller (rev 03)

I know for certain the second item listed is installed on Windows XP (I've confirmed via the Device Manager). However, I can't confirm the first and third item listed as being installed on Windows XP. Yes, I am aware the third item listed is a PCIe controller. However, why would Linux use it and Windows XP dismiss it?

Any idea where I might find the first and third item? I've looked at the Intel website and tried Google yet I can't find an exact match which works for my Toshiba Satellite.

[Denholm]

Problem solved!

This was a typical case of Windows thinking it knew what it needed. Instead of installing the proper SATA controllers, Windows installed improper drivers which caused the BSOD when using AHCI mode. Upon forcing Windows to update the drivers which I found via the following help-guide, I managed to successfully boot XP using AHCI.
http://www.msfn.org/board/topic/107504-integration-of-intels-sata-ahci-and-raid-drivers/

Just for reference purposes. I updated my AHCI controllers listed in the device manager and forced them to update with the Intel(R) ICH9M-E/M SATA AHCI Controller (Which you can download from MediaFire). I received a Windows warning mentioning Windows could not verify the controller would work with my hardware. Since I knew this was the controller for me, and I verified it was WHQL signed, I ignored the warning and continued updating. After updating the last controller I received a BSOD (which I figured might happen, as the new controllers were designed to run an AHCI hard-drive, not an IDE compatibility hard-drive). After re-booting I switched over to AHCI mode and voila!

Windows XP is now running smoothly. Thanks for the input everyone.

[Kermit de frog]

Awesome Denholm!

 

[skribetm]

only reason i bother with windows is because of this stupid game.
otherwise, i'd be on some distro fulltime.

[MrRiplEy[H]]

only reason i bother with windows is because of this stupid game.
otherwise, i'd be on some distro fulltime.

99% of people could use Mac/Linux instead of windows if it were not for the games.

[Denholm]

I think you hit the nail on the head. The only reason I'm using Windows is for simulation purposes. I don't have the time nor the processing power to use utilities such as Wine to emulate a Windows environment.