How Install XP on GX755 With SATA Operation = ACHI ??

Hi I think I can help you here.

First of all, ACHI is best for XP64 and Vista (Linux etc) but not XP32 (which is what you have) due to the fact that certain SATA drivers are required.

The BSOD ended in the digits '7b' right? This is a well documented problem.

Basically you need to install the OS in ATA mode (this is an alternative to AHCI) and this can be done in a number of ways depending on the BIOS that you have.

First of all it's VERY important to reset your NVRAM (CMOS memory) before doing anything, by pressing 'Alt + F' followed by 'Alt + E'.

Then go into the SATA operation page of your BIOS. Some BIOS's give you the option to turn on 'ATA'. Some don't but they do give you the option to turn off 'RAID'. Do this if you can't select 'ATA' mode. When RAID is 'on' these motherboards work in AHCI mode. Just turn RAID off.

Should be ok after that.

You will probably find that the machine won't even recognise your windows disk if you reinstall OS without doing this.

If you reset your BIOS after the install, RAID will automatically, by default, be turned back on and you'll start getting the error messages again.

If you want AHCI to be on, you will need to create a floppy disk withe SATA drivers on it. Do this by booting to your DELL Drivers and Resources CD, and selecting 'create Sata driver diskette' (not sure of exact phrasing used). Remove Floppy when done.

While reinstalling OS, you will be given the option to 'press F6 to install third party drivers' - do this, put your floppy in and away you go.

Hope this helps.

Message Edited by dweebazoid on 10-10-2007 03:37 PM

Forgot to mention that I have the desktop version of the 755, which only has one hard drive. I dunno if that makes a difference. And I just upgraded my bios to A03. In my BIOS > Drives > SATA Operation I have the following three options: 1)RAID Autodetect/AHCI 2)RAID Autodetect/ATA 3)RAID On. Now since I only have 1 drive I obviously do not have RAID, but the description for the RAID Autodetect/AHCI = RAID if signed drives, otherwise AHCI. I don't know if any of this helps but I and just trying to give you the whole picture. I know I can probably just switch to the RIAD Autodetect/ATA setting and install the os fine but I read on Wikipedia that "Advanced Host Controller Interface (AHCI) is a hardware mechanism that allows software to communicate with Serial ATA (SATA) devices such as host bus adapters which are designed to offer features not offered by Parallel ATA (PATA) controllers besides higher speeds, such as hot-plugging and native command queuing". So I dunno if i want to sacrifice that just so I can easily install xp. Someone please help!

Message Edited by dweebazoid on 10-16-2007 10:53 AM

Message Edited by dweebazoid on 10-16-2007 02:05 PM

The fact that you can't turn raid off is very strange.

Can you try clearing the NVRAM in the bios on the machine you're doing the install on, (alt+F, alt+E, exit) and then rebooting a few times? In my experience this changes the SATA operation field.

If that doesn't work you have a few options.

Option 1) Easiest option first.

Does your image work on any 755's? If not, then try the following:
- Ditch your image.
- Ditch Sysprep completely
- Use the XP cd that came with the machine (important)
- Do install manually at the terminal

It's important to try it without using your image.
It's also important that you are at the terminal, not using any kind of preexecution software and not performing a network install.

If that doesn't help then the following should do it, but it's a little tricky at times

Option 2) Create a SATA drivers diskette (on a bootable floppy) and perform the legendary 'F6 driver install'. You can have your machine set to AHCI for this.


PS - a bootable SATA driver disk can be created using your Drivers and Resources CD. Earlier, I advised to to boot to the 'drivers and resources CD' (from outside the operating system) and someone else mentioned that that didn't work for them so maybe you will have that problem and might need to do it by running the 'drivers and resources' CD from within windows itselt You will get it working soon, hang in there

Message Edited by dweebazoid on 10-16-2007 02:45 PM

Message Edited by spoot on 10-16-2007 02:04 PM