Floppy disk drive not detected.

You can slipstream the storage controller drivers from the floppy disk image you download from Acer's web site into an ISO image of the Windows XP installation CD using a program like nLite.
You can then burn the slipstream ISO image into a CD & use it to boot & install Windows XP without the need to use the floppy disk.

You can download nLite at the following link:
http://www.nliteos.com/download.html
After downloading the installer, install the program & start using it.

The following link describes how to use nLite to slipstraem the SATA drivers into the Windows XP installation CD:
http://maxeasyguide.blogspot.com/2008/04/preparations-for-winxp-installation-cd.html

I tried this myself, & it worked without problems. I now no longer need to use the floppy drive when installing Windows XP on my system.

You must have latest Windows Xp CD .
Latest Motherboard chipset does not recognise hard disk without proper sata raid or sata driver. So you can install sata driver if u have USB floppy drive by downloading latest Sata raid to floppy. At the time of installation you will see a message press f6 to if u need to install raid driver.then press f6 asking for floppy drive and floppy insert press enter to continue.

Hi, your Windows XP install CD doesn't have SATA drivers for the hard drive included, so it's not able to address your hard drive. You can't disable SATA in the BIOS to make it work since your hard drive is still SATA. You'll need to get a 3.5" floppy disk and drive if your laptop doesn't have one. They make external 3.5" USB floppy drives that will work.

1. download the SATA drivers for your laptop (iastor.sys and inf)
2. copy the drivers to your floppy disk (about 6-7 files)
3. plug the floppy drive into your laptop
4. boot to the Windows XP CD
5. as soon as the installation starts, it asks you to "Press F6 to specify RAID or controller drivers" - Press F6 now
6. When setup asks for it, point it to the floppy drive
7. Installation will continue and find your SATA hard drive

Ta-da! Rock on with your bad self.

You need to use the RAID/ATA floppy disk that was provided with your motherboard. It was supplied either on the cd or on seperate floppies.
When you have the disk in the floppy drive you press F6 when it asks at the very beginning of loading files in the windows setup.
When the setup asks load the RAID/ATA drivers and when you go to install your hard disk will be detected. You will have to get a floppy drive and plug it up if you don't already have one. There is a way to build a windows setup cd which includes the ata/raid drivers but it's often easier to just get a floppy drive.

See this , you have to download the SATA driver , as you have a SATA hard disk , then slipstream it into the xp installation package.

Alternatively , put the driver on a floppy and press F2 when prompted during the setup when its loading all the files (It says Press F2 if you want t o install a SATA Driver"

Then it will detect your drive and install as normal :D

http://news.softpedia.com/news/Install-Windows-XP-On-SATA-Without-a-Floppy-F6-47807.shtml

ok my friend its not that easy but its always possible

fisrt just to know why u r unable to install xp because u have the HARD DISK SATA

and windows xp wont detect it because there are no definitions for SATA HDD.

so what should we do to fix this problem, you will know that by following these steps:

at the begining you need a floppy disk and floppy disk drive (i know thats not available in the new laptops, so u might need to buy one).

ok now we will need to download the SATA definitions from here:
http://www.4shared.com/file/37736514/7da1991f/raid138.html
and save it in the floppy disk (dont forget to unzip the file first).

now lets start the windows installation process (as usual).
u before you get to load the windows file there will be a prompt (in the buttom of the screen) asking you (press F6 if u need to install a third party...........) now press F6 quickly.
you will have a new screen with three options (S= specify, enter= continue or F3= exit).
now lets press S.
you will have a prompt asking you to (insert the labeled disk manufacturer ................).
lets insert the floppy disk now. and press enter
and when its asking you to select definition, select RAID driver.
and when its asking you about windows logo testing press yes.
and after finishing the definition process it will detect the HDD.
now continue installing windows as usual

enjoy XP (i know its a long story but its worth it :)

sure let me know what happened with u and for any other problems plz let me know

cheers

is the green light on all the time, if it is the ide cable is probably plugged in wrong, if not when your windows startes up press rather F2/delete or F12 (different for different motherboards) your looking for ''enter setup'' look in there to see if floppy has been picked up and if its enabled. might just be a dead floppy drive.

Acer Extensa supports two model of HDD installation 1) AHCI and 2) SATA.

Windows Vista get installs on both but for Windows XP you need to Enable SATA option.

For that go into Bios, Change option of Hard Disk from AHCI to SATA. After that you can install both XP as well as Vista.

Try it, and mail me update: [email protected]

i am using Windows XP on Acer Extensa-4220

See if this website fixes it.

http://www.seagate.com/ww/v/index.jsp?locale=en-US&name=install-troubleshoot-sata-non-mac&vgnextoid=2b089d2c3c90e010VgnVCM100000dd04090aRCRD

Hi, i have installed thousands of Internal Floppy drives and there aint no conflicts between win/95/98/me and xp. all discs should be compatible, unless you took it from a apple machine for example. did it work when you put in a new floppy drive? all the best John