IBM ThinkPad: Not able to access HDD from outside

lnshukla · 02-15-2007, 09:13 PM

Hi All:

I have IBM Thinkpad z61t with 1.6 GHz Core 2 Duo Processor, 1.5 GB RAM, and 60 GB HDD. The Laptop came with Windows XP Home and I upgraded it to Windows XP Pro SP2. I also installed Win Vista (beta) in multi-boot.

My problem is when I try to install Windows 2000 from outside (as i can not install W2K from W XP or W Vista) the installation does not detect my 60 GB hard disk. I also have a W2K3 multi-boot CD through which I can boot into Partition Magic. I tried with that CD as well but I am not able to read my HDD. So basically i am not able to excess my HDD from outside (that is I am not able to access my HDD without booting into Windows)

Is there any option through which I can install W2K without formating my HDD?

crazijoe · 02-16-2007, 05:44 AM

Most newer laptops use SATA HDDs. You may need to load the SATA controller drivers during the F6 prompt.

lnshukla · 02-16-2007, 06:51 AM

Ya, You are right. My laptop has SATA drive. Will you please guide me how can i load its drivers on startup? I guess the W2K boot CD dont have SATA drivers so, how it will work?

crazijoe · 02-16-2007, 07:36 AM

You will need to go to the manufacturers website and download the controller drivers. You will then need to put them on a floppy disk. If your computer did not come with a floppy disk drive, you will need to get a USB floppy drive. During the install of Win2K, at the bottom of the screen, you will be prompted to press F6 to install SCSI or RAID drivers. At this point you will press F6. During the loading of the drivers it will ask for additional SCSI or RAID drivers. This is where the drivers will be loaded from the floppy drive.

http://www-307.ibm.com/pc/support/si...&validate=true

lnshukla · 02-16-2007, 07:52 AM

Thanks a lot Joe:

I've found the driver at the IBM support site. My laptop dont have floppy drive, so i guess USB pen drive should work, or is it like i have to have a floppy drive?

crazijoe · 02-16-2007, 09:03 AM

I have never tried it with a flash drive so I don't know how that will work for you. Let me know.

lnshukla · 02-19-2007, 07:22 PM

Ya, You are right. It doesn't work with flash drive. I found one option in my BIOS settings: Under Config --> Serial ATA--> There are two options: AHCI mode and Compatibility mode. If i select Compatibility mode, the W2K CD detects my HDD. BUT, under Compatibility mode my PC dont go further from Windows boot loader. It asks for the OS choice and when i choose either it restarts.

crazijoe · 02-20-2007, 06:31 AM

I found this. I don't know if it will help.

http://downloads.techrepublic.com.co...46&tag=nl.e103

02-15-2007, 09:13 PM	#1 (permalink)
lnshukla Registered User Join Date: Feb 2007 Location: Mumbai, India Posts: 17 OS: WinXP Pro, Win Vista Ultimate	IBM ThinkPad: Not able to access HDD from outside Hi All: I have IBM Thinkpad z61t with 1.6 GHz Core 2 Duo Processor, 1.5 GB RAM, and 60 GB HDD. The Laptop came with Windows XP Home and I upgraded it to Windows XP Pro SP2. I also installed Win Vista (beta) in multi-boot. My problem is when I try to install Windows 2000 from outside (as i can not install W2K from W XP or W Vista) the installation does not detect my 60 GB hard disk. I also have a W2K3 multi-boot CD through which I can boot into Partition Magic. I tried with that CD as well but I am not able to read my HDD. So basically i am not able to excess my HDD from outside (that is I am not able to access my HDD without booting into Windows) Is there any option through which I can install W2K without formating my HDD?

02-16-2007, 05:44 AM	#2 (permalink)
crazijoe Registered User Join Date: Oct 2004 Location: Omaha, The Center of the Universe Posts: 7,632 OS: WinXP, Win2K3 My System	Most newer laptops use SATA HDDs. You may need to load the SATA controller drivers during the F6 prompt. __________________ Microsoft MCSA + Messaging, MVP, A+, Network+ http://i16.photobucket.com/albums/b3...other/Help.jpg Do you want a real Republican? HDD diagnostic tools / HDD data recovery software

02-16-2007, 07:36 AM	#4 (permalink)
crazijoe Registered User Join Date: Oct 2004 Location: Omaha, The Center of the Universe Posts: 7,632 OS: WinXP, Win2K3 My System	You will need to go to the manufacturers website and download the controller drivers. You will then need to put them on a floppy disk. If your computer did not come with a floppy disk drive, you will need to get a USB floppy drive. During the install of Win2K, at the bottom of the screen, you will be prompted to press F6 to install SCSI or RAID drivers. At this point you will press F6. During the loading of the drivers it will ask for additional SCSI or RAID drivers. This is where the drivers will be loaded from the floppy drive. http://www-307.ibm.com/pc/support/si...&validate=true __________________ Microsoft MCSA + Messaging, MVP, A+, Network+ http://i16.photobucket.com/albums/b3...other/Help.jpg Do you want a real Republican? HDD diagnostic tools / HDD data recovery software

02-16-2007, 09:03 AM	#6 (permalink)
crazijoe Registered User Join Date: Oct 2004 Location: Omaha, The Center of the Universe Posts: 7,632 OS: WinXP, Win2K3 My System	I have never tried it with a flash drive so I don't know how that will work for you. Let me know. __________________ Microsoft MCSA + Messaging, MVP, A+, Network+ http://i16.photobucket.com/albums/b3...other/Help.jpg Do you want a real Republican? HDD diagnostic tools / HDD data recovery software

02-20-2007, 06:31 AM	#8 (permalink)
crazijoe Registered User Join Date: Oct 2004 Location: Omaha, The Center of the Universe Posts: 7,632 OS: WinXP, Win2K3 My System	I found this. I don't know if it will help. http://downloads.techrepublic.com.co...46&tag=nl.e103 __________________ Microsoft MCSA + Messaging, MVP, A+, Network+ http://i16.photobucket.com/albums/b3...other/Help.jpg Do you want a real Republican? HDD diagnostic tools / HDD data recovery software

02-16-2007, 06:51 AM	#3 (permalink)
lnshukla Registered User Join Date: Feb 2007 Location: Mumbai, India Posts: 17 OS: WinXP Pro, Win Vista Ultimate	Ya, You are right. My laptop has SATA drive. Will you please guide me how can i load its drivers on startup? I guess the W2K boot CD dont have SATA drivers so, how it will work?

02-16-2007, 07:52 AM	#5 (permalink)
lnshukla Registered User Join Date: Feb 2007 Location: Mumbai, India Posts: 17 OS: WinXP Pro, Win Vista Ultimate	Thanks a lot Joe: I've found the driver at the IBM support site. My laptop dont have floppy drive, so i guess USB pen drive should work, or is it like i have to have a floppy drive?

02-19-2007, 07:22 PM	#7 (permalink)
lnshukla Registered User Join Date: Feb 2007 Location: Mumbai, India Posts: 17 OS: WinXP Pro, Win Vista Ultimate	Ya, You are right. It doesn't work with flash drive. I found one option in my BIOS settings: Under Config --> Serial ATA--> There are two options: AHCI mode and Compatibility mode. If i select Compatibility mode, the W2K CD detects my HDD. BUT, under Compatibility mode my PC dont go further from Windows boot loader. It asks for the OS choice and when i choose either it restarts.