Bios problem?

brenm2 · 20-02-2012 4:40pm #1

Hi, i'm trying to fix a laptop for a friend of mine and i've come up against a major issue.
Basically any version of windows that i've tried to load doesn't think that there's a hard drive in the laptop. And therefore obviously i can't get windows onto the laptop.
I've tried a few of the programs on Ultimate Boot CD and some of them recognise and identify the hard drive, let me partition it etc but still windows doesn't see it.
I had the same problem a few weeks ago when i was working on a different laptop and it turned out to be a setting in the Bios which needed to be changed to IDE and then everything worked fine.

The thing is the BIOS on this laptop doesn't have the same setting.

The laptop is a Toshiba Sattelite A200-27Z

Thanks in advance.
Brenm2

yeppydeppy · 20-02-2012 4:43pm

Be sure you format it to NTFS using ultimate boot cd

yoyo · 20-02-2012 4:45pm

Its not a bios issue, its a issue with windows XP not "seeing" the SATA drives due to lack of a driver. Only XP SP3 install discs have these base drivers included. You will need to slipstream in the chipset drivers into a Windows disc, then re-burn it. Look here for instructions*
*These instructions should work in the majority of cases, if not go to the toshiba drivers download page for that machine and grab the SATA chipset drivers

Nick

fionny · 20-02-2012 4:46pm

Are you certain that the HD actually works?

I assume the setting you are reffering to is IDE or AHCI? This still shouldnt affect you.

Does the HD get seen on the BIOS post screen?

Nothingbetter2d · 20-02-2012 4:48pm

If you go into the bios, in the advanced section, and change the SATA controller mode from ACPI to Compatibility it should detect the hard drive.

kippy · 20-02-2012 4:48pm

Are you having this issue with any version of Windows or just XP?
Generally it is only windows XP which needs the hard drive operation changed in the BIOS but I could be wrong.

There should be somewhere in the BIOS that you can change the hard drive or Sata operation...... You may see the terms legacy/AHCI/ATA in those menus.
I amn't familiar with the BIOS on that machine so apologies for the lack of clarity.

bonzodog2 · 20-02-2012 4:50pm

If its Xp, earlier versions don't include SATA drivers. You might be able to include them from a USB stick or 'slipstream' them into a copy of a disc.

yoyo · 20-02-2012 4:53pm

kippy wrote: »

Are you having this issue with any version of Windows or just XP?
Generally it is only windows XP which needs the hard drive operation changed in the BIOS but I could be wrong.

There should be somewhere in the BIOS that you can change the hard drive or Sata operation...... You may see the terms legacy/AHCI/ATA in those menus.
I amn't familiar with the BIOS on that machine so apologies for the lack of clarity.

Some OEMs really lock the bios down so much your lucky to even have control over onboard devices config, It wouldn't suprise me if there is no Legacy/IDE mode settings on the machine. As stated above that should cause much issue anyways. If OP would confirm they are using an XP disc (I'm assuming due to the machine having been a Vista one/many downgraded) they'll need to make a slipstreamed install disc with sata drivers.
If op your trying to install Windows Vista or 7, and still having issues, post back and I'll assist further, its easier to load sata drivers in those two OS's during install (can put them on a USB Key :pac: )

Nick

kippy · 20-02-2012 4:55pm

yoyo wrote: »

Some OEMs really lock the bios down so much your lucky to even have control over onboard devices config, It wouldn't suprise me if there is no Legacy/IDE mode settings on the machine. As stated above that should cause much issue anyways. If OP would confirm they are using an XP disc (I'm assuming due to the machine having been a Vista one/many downgraded) they'll need to make a slipstreamed install disc with sata drivers.
If op your trying to install Windows Vista or 7, and still having issues, post back and I'll assist further, its easier to load sata drivers in those two OS's during install (can put them on a USB Key :pac: )

Nick

I've yet to see a machine that is that "locked down" tbh but no doubt they may be out there.

brenm2 · 20-02-2012 4:56pm

Thanks for the replies, i'll try to answer all your questions.

Yes the hard drive is identified on the BIOS post screen. I changed the hard drive and am still having the same problem.

The laptop had Vista on it so naturally i tried to put Vista on it first. But when that didn't work i tried XP and even Windows 2000 just to see if they would work.

The BIOS seems to be very basic and i can't see any options to change anything connected with this issue, but i'll have another look.

I'm going to checkout that article on slipstreaming

thanks again.

yoyo · 20-02-2012 5:03pm

brenm2 wrote: »

Thanks for the replies, i'll try to answer all your questions.

Yes the hard drive is identified on the BIOS post screen. I changed the hard drive and am still having the same problem.

The laptop had Vista on it so naturally i tried to put Vista on it first. But when that didn't work i tried XP and even Windows 2000 just to see if they would work.

The BIOS seems to be very basic and i can't see any options to change anything connected with this issue, but i'll have another look.

I'm going to checkout that article on slipstreaming

thanks again.

Seems a bit strange you had issues with Vista install, try slipstreaming and see how it goes

I've yet to see a machine that is that "locked down" tbh but no doubt they may be out there.

They exist alrite, most would have a SATA mode changer but it wouldn't suprise me if some didn't

Nick

fionny · 20-02-2012 5:11pm

For any locked down bios there is a custom unlocked bios out there

I installed a custom Acer one on an old laptop that opened up loads more options

Im sure there is similar for most BIOS's

brenm2 · 20-02-2012 6:36pm

Right I went through the slipstreaming process and still no joy.:(

XP went through its setup until it wanted to use the hard drive and then i got a "setup did not find any hard drives installed in your computer" message.

fyi when i tried to install vista earlier i got a "bootmgr is missing" error, don't know if that's important.

yoyo · 20-02-2012 6:44pm

brenm2 wrote: »

Right I went through the slipstreaming process and still no joy.:(

XP went through its setup until it wanted to use the hard drive and then i got a "setup did not find any hard drives installed in your computer" message.

fyi when i tried to install vista earlier i got a "bootmgr is missing" error, don't know if that's important.

Is that the same message you get when using the other XP disc out of interest? Tbh I'm not too sure, I think the issue is due to chipset drivers but I cannot find any on the toshiba page,

Nick

Edit: Take a look HERE

brenm2 · 20-02-2012 6:48pm

no xp tries to install until i get the message "couldn't find any hard drives" etc
vista does nothing, i just get the bootmgr is missing error

brenm2 · 20-02-2012 8:16pm

I have to confess i found that page (as per your edit) slightly confusing, i wasn't sure what to download but i did try the driver below with the same results.

VIA RAID v.550b (SATA) Driver

20-02-2012 8:33pm

brenm2 wrote: »

Hi, i'm trying to fix a laptop for a friend of mine and i've come up against a major issue.
Basically any version of windows that i've tried to load doesn't think that there's a hard drive in the laptop. And therefore obviously i can't get windows onto the laptop.
I've tried a few of the programs on Ultimate Boot CD and some of them recognise and identify the hard drive, let me partition it etc but still windows doesn't see it.
I had the same problem a few weeks ago when i was working on a different laptop and it turned out to be a setting in the Bios which needed to be changed to IDE and then everything worked fine.

The thing is the BIOS on this laptop doesn't have the same setting.

The laptop is a Toshiba Sattelite A200-27Z

Thanks in advance.
Brenm2

Have you tried rebooting the bios?

kippy · 20-02-2012 9:40pm

Alijah Dirty Stork wrote: »

Have you tried rebooting the bios?

Rebooting the BIOS?

yoyo · 20-02-2012 9:44pm

kippy wrote: »

Rebooting the BIOS?

I'd assume he means CMOS reset :P

Nick

kippy · 20-02-2012 9:49pm

yoyo wrote: »

I'd assume he means CMOS reset :P

Nick

Not for the faint hearted. If their aint much documentation on the BIOS settings needed to install XP on this machine, I doubt theres anything on how to reset the CMOS.

yoyo · 20-02-2012 9:58pm

kippy wrote: »

Not for the faint hearted. If their aint much documentation on the BIOS settings needed to install XP on this machine, I doubt theres anything on how to reset the CMOS.

True, for a laptop. Anyways loading "Fail Safe Defaults" should be fine as the machine is booting/will do the same job unless there are severe bugs with the bios. I still think its a sata specific driver that is needed, although the toshiba site isn't helping much!

Nick

kippy · 20-02-2012 10:07pm

yoyo wrote: »

True, for a laptop. Anyways loading "Fail Safe Defaults" should be fine as the machine is booting/will do the same job unless there are severe bugs with the bios. I still think its a sata specific driver that is needed, although the toshiba site isn't helping much!

Nick

http://aps2.toshiba-tro.de/kb0/TSB85017Z0000R01.htm
(That may have been linked to already)

I really think there should be a setting in the BIOS that covers this and if there isnt, Windows Vista (SP1 Slipstreamed) and Windows 7, should at least see the hard drive when installing, whatever about Win XP

Bios problem?

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