Portégé Laptops

[#1]

Hi,

I aquired a Portege M400 with a dead HD. I have since replaced the drive but am having serious issues with installation.

1) When I try to install XP from CD, it says: "Setup did not find any hard disk installed in your computer."

2) Do I need to install a special Tablet version? If so, what is it called and where do I buy it?

After messing with various settings and installation disks, I somehow managed to install Vista. (whoopdi-doo) But maybe there is something I CAN do within Vista to help the problem of not recognizing the hard drive? Is there a BIOS update maybe that can help?

Thanks for any help.

[#2]

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SarahAndrews wrote:

Hi,

I aquired a Portege M400 with a dead HD. I have since replaced the drive but am having serious issues with installation.

1) When I try to install XP from CD, it says: "Setup did not find any hard disk installed in your computer."

2) Do I need to install a special Tablet version? If so, what is it called and where do I buy it?

After messing with various settings and installation disks, I somehow managed to install Vista. (whoopdi-doo) But maybe there is something I CAN do within Vista to help the problem of not recognizing the hard drive? Is there a BIOS update maybe that can help?

Thanks for any help.

---

The Windows XP CD doesn't have any support for SATA drives.  You will need to slipstream the SATA drivers or use the compatibility mode in the BIOS to install it.  No, there isn't a BIOS update to solve this - it's a Windows problem.

Tablet XP is not available except from the original equipment manufacturer.  Call Toshiba Support (800-457-7777) and see if they have a recovery disk set for your laptop.

If not, then learn to live with 'whoopdi-doo' until Windows 7 is released.

[#3]

--------------------8<------------------- <snip> ------------------

You need to make sure that your XP install disk is at least SP1 level or higher for it to recognize a hard drive larger than 137gb in size.  You can integrate SP1, 2, or 3 into your XP Instlal Disk by using nLite as per this guide.

Because Windows XP doesn't have native SATA support you'll need to do one of two things to install XP on your system.  You'll need to follow this guide to integrate your SATA drivers into your XP Install Disk.  DO yourself a huge favor and use the SATA drivers that they provide.  You can integrate your Service Packs during this proceedure as well.

The other option is as follows. 

--------------------8<------------------- <snip> ------------------

Enter your bios and change from AHCI Mode to Compatability Mode

Install XP like you normally would. 

Switching back to AHCI (Runs a little faster than ATA mode)

 - First step is to install the basic Motherboard Chipset Driver and ONLY this driver. Do

not install anything else prior to installing the Intel Matrix Storage Manager Driver as

outlined below.

- Download the Intel Matrix Storage Manager here:
http://downloadcenter.intel.com/Product_Filter.aspx?ProductID=2101

- Once you download the file, run it with the -a switch:
    iata89_enu.exe -a

This will NOT install the Matrix Storage Manager. What this will do is run the installer, and

ONLY EXTRACT the files to C:\Program Files\Intel\Intel Matrix Storage Manager. Again, this

does NOT install anything.

- Your drivers are now located in C:\Program Files\Intel\Intel Matrix Storage Manager. They

will be found in either \Driver, or \Driver64, depending on whether you're running a 32-bit

or 64-bit OS.

- Go to Device Manager --> IDE ATA/ATAPI controllers. Double-click on the Intel ICH8M 3-port

SATA Controller - 2828... remember, *ONLY* click on the device that ends with 2828.

- Go to Driver tab, and choose to Update Driver.

- Tell the Wizard prompts:
- No, not this time
- Install from a list or specific location (Advanced)
- Don't Search. I will choose the driver to install.
- Click the "Have Disk" button. Point it to C:\Program Files\Intel\Intel Matrix Storage

Manager\Driver (or Driver64).
- Choose the driver you want to install....
- After you install the driver and click OK out of every menu, reboot the laptop.

-) During reboot, go into BIOS and turn on AHCI mode
--------------------8<------------------- <snip> ------------------

Install your drivers in this order.
Restart after each driver and take the time to test between drivers.
Some will apply and some won't.

Chipset software
Display driver
Sound driver
Modem Driver
If your machine has the internal WiFi card, then install the WLAN and/or WiFi driver
ACPI Common Modules (required for Power management tools to function)
Toshiba Console
Display Hotkey utility
Touchpad Driver
Touchpad enable/disable utility
Toshiba Network Device Switch utility
Toshiba Power Saver Utility
Toshiba Controls
Toshiba Utilities

--------------------8<------------------- <snip> ------------------

[#4]

I don't have anything in my BIOS that says AHCI or Compatability Mode.  (ACPI BIOS version 1.50)

[#5]

Then you need to slipstream the drivers into the XP Install Disk via the first part of my post. 

[#6]

I had been having the same problem.  You need to download the Intel Storage Matrix 5.5 Driver. 

http://downloadcenter.intel.com/download.aspx?url=/15599/eng/f6flpy32.zip&DwnldId=15599&lang=eng

Select the ICH7 driver, I think it was the 3rd one down when you are loading them in XP.  I was banging my head against a wall over this problem for a week now.  I only registered to share this info.  Hope it helps everyone else with an M400.

[#7]

Sorry for being stupid, but what do I need to do with that file?

Is there a step by step tutorial out there?