Vista and XP: Some Clousure

Go back to the Toshiba website and download all the other Windows XP drivers so you can get the wireless, mouse pad etc. working just like in Vista.

f6flpy32.exe

f6flpy32.exe can also be found on Intel's website, I am assuming that Toshiba doesn't have Pty. drivers and uses Intel ones so I am hoping that if you don't have a Toshiba brand laptop you might still be able to use the same drivers provided your laptop is set up with the same hardware and set up.

Vista and XP: Attempt one

Attempt one: Download nLite which is an application that allows you to upgrade your Windows XP install disc. It allows you to integrate Service Packs, drivers and even set up settings so when it comes to recovery time you can just simply reinstall Win XP without much effort or many CDs, just integrate everything into one.

The part we are interested in is the drivers part.
I followed the nLite instructions but failed mainly because when i integrated the drivers i didn't unzip the file so it didn't integrate any drivers as nLite could only detect a .exe file and no .ini files which link to drivers and instructions.

The solution: open (in my case it was f6flpy32.exe) and extract it to a floppy disk as the file is a batch that can only do that. After the files have been moved to the floppy you can select the floppy (which now contains the drivers) and integrate your driver into the XP CD by nLite.

Burn and run!!! Done no floppy disks required and keep that CD too so in the future if you need to reinstall you need not have to look for a floppy drive :D

* All efforts were made to cover my event in detail but if you need more info or want to understand how i did something please feel free to contact me, I mean the only reason why i post this is so that others don't have to waste a CD like me to then to figure out that the drivers aren't on the CD and have to burn another one.

Vista and XP on Toshiba Satellite A200 (PSAF6A)

The Aim: To dual boot Windows XP with Windows Vista on my Toshiba Satellite A200/w00 laptop. Windows Vista was installed first but i wanted to go for Windows XP for when I am on the go in hope that the batteries will last a little longer.

The Problem: New laptops come with fast SATA hard drives with RAID and or ACHI set ups and usually don't come with a floppy drive. Windows XP installer CDs can only detect IDE hard drives so in XP's point of view you have no hard drive on your laptop to install XP on.

The Solution: Download SATA hard drive drivers and use F6 during XP installation to load the drivers from a floppy drive to make XP detect SATA hard drives. Problem is that most of use who have the latest SATA HDDs don't have a floppy drive and why would you want to carry it around???

Simple Solution: Download drivers from Toshiba's web site (Notebooks > Support > Drivers and BIOS> Select Model > Select HDD Driver from list / at least it is for Toshiba AU) NOW here is the TRICKY part, for some reason they can't call it SATA drivers but ACHI or RAID depending on what set up your laptop is in.

• After you download the drivers you can get a floppy disk and put all the files on a floppy.
• Turn on your laptop with Vista running and open Intel Storage Matrix Manager and then determine what controller for SATA you use.
• Reset the computer and start the Windows XP installation process
• Press F6
• Plug in a USB Floppy drive (before the Windows XP set up starts)
• Place floppy in floppy drive
• Select model/driver of HDD your using
• Continue on as normal

This option requires you to get a floppy drive from somewhere and hence i didn't use. It was going to be my back up option, maybe borrow one form a friend or school.