Optiplex 3010 and 7010 - Sata driver for Installing XP

Hi coopern,

I would like to check if you are trying to install Windows XP on Dell OptiPlex 3010 and 7010; and you are able to find the hard drive while performing the operating system installation.

You will not be able to find the hard drive because of the SATA mode in the BIOS on your computer will be on ‘AHCI’ mode you will have to change it to ‘ATA’ mode and then perform the operating system installation as Windows XP does not support AHCI mode.

Please let me know if this helps

Okay. I forgot to say its a dual boot optiplex with preinsalled win7 and my own XP added on after.

1  Are you saying that I don't need a sata hdd driver to install XP?

2  Once the install is completed, can I then permanently switch bios back to AHCI and use win7 or XP without having to change it again?

N

To use XP and Win 7 in dual boot system I definitely need a Sata hdd driver for installing and running XP. Is there one for hte optiplex 3010 or 7010 systems please, or not ?

There are but you cant have your cake and eat it too.

You would have to use MBR partitions (LEGACY ATA) not GUID partitions.

www.dell.com/.../optiplex-7010

ATA_Driver_02PTJ_WN32_11.0.0.1032_A00.EXE

ATA not AHCI

Also you cannot have XP and 7 Reside on the same Volume you would need to split partitions.

Too many incompatible overlaps in C:\windows  and C:\windows\system32

Dual booting is Not supported.

11.0.0.1032, A00 6/4/2012 5:30:54 AM

Systems

Operating Systems

Microsoft Windows 7 32-bit

Microsoft Windows 7 64-bit

Microsoft Windows 8 32-bit

Microsoft Windows 8 64-bit

Microsoft Windows XP

Microsoft Windows XP x64

During the text-mode phase of the setup process, Windows pauses briefly and prompts you to press F6. This option is displayed in the status line and lets you use an OEM mass storage controller driver. The F6 option is provided strictly as a means to install OEM drivers for mass storage controllers only. This is required to let the installation of the operating system continue. Microsoft does not support using F6 to install any device driver other than mass storage controller drivers.

Note Mass storage controller drivers can be loaded only from floppy disks by using the F6 key. The F6 key cannot be used to load drivers that are stored on USB flash drives, on USB hard disks, or on other external storage devices.

Limited OEM driver support is available with F6 during Windows XP ...

Thanks for that.

The 3010/7010 is for home use. I want to make a streamlined XP install disk using a sata driver (like I did for my lenovo laptop which has win7 on it). Bios will be set to AHCI and left there. XP will be on its own partition. Which driver file should  use, It can't be that hard can it ??!!!

Should I use a 390/790 instead?

N

The 3010  I received via Outlet has MBR partition style. Intel provide f6 sata drivers for the 3010 chipset which can be slipstreamed into an XP installation. Thank you Intel.

Does this driver need to be installed?

ATA_Driver_02PTJ_WN32_11.0.0.1032_A00.EXE

I have the bios switched to ATA and when I try to install this driver it gives a "This computer does not meet the minimum requirements for installing the software." error message.

I was able to install all of the other updates. This is the only one that fails.

Thanks man really u saved me from buying another hd

thanks man it helped so much