Another downgrade question

pengyou · 11-28-2009, 07:19 AM

I have a toshiba satellite l305 that I want to upgrade from Vista to XP (yes, I know most people call this a downgrade but I beg to differ) I am getting the blue screen of death when the computer finally goes to look for a hard drive. I have googled and found hundreds, if not thousands of posts that address this issue. I don't want to duplicate effort, but before I go off searching these posts I wanted to clarify a couple of things.

First of all, I am putting a Seagate 7200 rpm 200 GB HD in the computer - the original had a Hitachi 250 gb 5400 rpm HD in it. Is the faster HD going to be accepted?

Secondly, there is a jumper on the new hard drive but there was not on the original. Does this mean that the new HD is not compatible? What should it be set at? I cannot find any writing or help in this matter.

Third, the mfg of this hard drive is different from the earlier. Does this make a difference?

Thanks!

IT-Tech · 11-28-2009, 08:15 AM

Hello!

Could you please provide the complete model number for this laptop?

Yes, the new 200GB HDD will work in this system provided it is of the correct drive controller type - i.e. SATA for SATA systems & IDE for IDE systems.
The jumper on the drive could be for various things, one could be to step it down for older systems; if you will provide the drive make and model number it would help immensely.
No, the manufacturer of the drive doesn't really make a difference as far as compatibility is concerned; performance and warranty wise it will make a difference.

Thanks!

pengyou · 11-28-2009, 06:10 PM

Thanks! the notebook is a Toshiba Satellite l305-s5934 The hard drive is Seagate momentus 7200 2 ST9200420ASG I hope this is the right info on the drive.

**simpswr** · 11-28-2009, 06:20 PM

you are installing XP on a SATA drive, there is an additional step:

http://xphelpandsupport.mvps.org/how...ws_xp_on_a.htm

However, Most newer BIOS allow an Alternate method for SATA . . Go into the bios and check the "Sata Operation" setting,

change it to "Raid Autodetect/ATA if it is not already. Now try to install XP ( could be IDE Mode, Compatibility Mode or Legacy Mode - different BIOS use different terms )

some will say IDE instead of ATA)

If there are no such settings you'll need to slipstream the sata drivers on the XP CD, follow the instructions in this guide :

http://www.digitgeek.com/how-to-slip...rs-into-xp-cd/

You might consider Windows 7 versus XP

pengyou · 11-28-2009, 07:38 PM

Thanks! I tried the compatibility mode thing and still got the same results. That is why I decided to post my questions on the jumper switch, hd speed, etc. I am willing to spend time to resolve problems but I want to make sure that I have the necessary pieces on the table first to make it work.
I have heard a lot of hype about W7. People say it is better than Vista, that it is more stable, etc. Personally, I think 98SE, once IE5 was removed, is much better than Vista. Is it easier to install? Will my install problems disappear? Are all of my nice toys - printers, etc going to be compatible with it? Will it run as fast as xp? I have a dual core AMD with 3 gb of ram.

Soccomm · 11-29-2009, 05:30 AM

Most windows 7 discs has sata drivers slipped in

also try a live edition of a linuz distro as these can check memory diagnostics too

go for windows 7 and you should be totally fine with and install

oh also make sure AHCI is disabled in the bios aswell as sometimes this causes some issues on reinstalls with other Os's

**wrench97** · 11-29-2009, 06:20 AM

If the printer and other peripherals worked under Vista it will work with Win7, there is older hardware they was orphaned when Vista came out because the manufacturer of the hardware opted not to provide new drivers that will still be the case under Win 7.

Soccomm · 11-29-2009, 06:46 AM

Use the vista drivers as W7 hasnt got a great deal of peripheral support especially older things

I mean it has base drivers in for most things but somethings are not there

if all else fails you can download 7zip then download the driver you require for XP either 32bit or 64bit
extract the driver using the 7zip and then install through update driver and it should work fine

but you can get away with running drivers under compatibility mode with the OS the driver was instended for

but vista drivers do work on W7

11-28-2009, 07:19 AM	#1 (permalink)
pengyou Registered User Join Date: Feb 2007 Posts: 171 OS: xp & 98	Another downgrade question I have a toshiba satellite l305 that I want to upgrade from Vista to XP (yes, I know most people call this a downgrade but I beg to differ) I am getting the blue screen of death when the computer finally goes to look for a hard drive. I have googled and found hundreds, if not thousands of posts that address this issue. I don't want to duplicate effort, but before I go off searching these posts I wanted to clarify a couple of things. First of all, I am putting a Seagate 7200 rpm 200 GB HD in the computer - the original had a Hitachi 250 gb 5400 rpm HD in it. Is the faster HD going to be accepted? Secondly, there is a jumper on the new hard drive but there was not on the original. Does this mean that the new HD is not compatible? What should it be set at? I cannot find any writing or help in this matter. Third, the mfg of this hard drive is different from the earlier. Does this make a difference? Thanks!

11-28-2009, 08:15 AM	#2 (permalink)
IT-Tech Tech Hardware Team Join Date: Oct 2009 Location: Evansville, Indiana, USA Posts: 764 OS: All Microsoft Operating Systems My System	Re: Another downgrade question Hello! Could you please provide the complete model number for this laptop? Yes, the new 200GB HDD will work in this system provided it is of the correct drive controller type - i.e. SATA for SATA systems & IDE for IDE systems. The jumper on the drive could be for various things, one could be to step it down for older systems; if you will provide the drive make and model number it would help immensely. No, the manufacturer of the drive doesn't really make a difference as far as compatibility is concerned; performance and warranty wise it will make a difference. Thanks! __________________ - I remove all threads from my subscription after 4 days if they become stagnate. If you post in a stagnate thread and still need my help, please send me a PM so I can pick it back up.

11-28-2009, 06:10 PM	#3 (permalink)
pengyou Registered User Join Date: Feb 2007 Posts: 171 OS: xp & 98	Re: Another downgrade question Thanks! the notebook is a Toshiba Satellite l305-s5934 The hard drive is Seagate momentus 7200 2 ST9200420ASG I hope this is the right info on the drive.

11-28-2009, 06:20 PM	#4 (permalink)
simpswr Moderator Hardware Team Join Date: May 2007 Location: Houston, Texas Posts: 13,451 OS: XP, Win 7	Re: Another downgrade question you are installing XP on a SATA drive, there is an additional step: http://xphelpandsupport.mvps.org/how...ws_xp_on_a.htm However, Most newer BIOS allow an Alternate method for SATA . . Go into the bios and check the "*Sata Operation" setting, change it to "Raid Autodetect/ATA* if it is not already. Now try to install XP ( could be IDE Mode, Compatibility Mode or Legacy Mode - different BIOS use different terms ) some will say *IDE* instead of *ATA) If there are no such settings you'll need to slipstream the sata drivers on the XP CD, follow the instructions in this guide : http://www.digitgeek.com/how-to-slip...rs-into-xp-cd/ You might consider Windows 7 versus XP __________________ Rich* MemTest86 \| BenchTest \| Virus/Trojan/Spyware Help How to post a Screen Shot \| PC running slow?

11-28-2009, 07:38 PM	#5 (permalink)
pengyou Registered User Join Date: Feb 2007 Posts: 171 OS: xp & 98	Re: Another downgrade question Thanks! I tried the compatibility mode thing and still got the same results. That is why I decided to post my questions on the jumper switch, hd speed, etc. I am willing to spend time to resolve problems but I want to make sure that I have the necessary pieces on the table first to make it work. I have heard a lot of hype about W7. People say it is better than Vista, that it is more stable, etc. Personally, I think 98SE, once IE5 was removed, is much better than Vista. Is it easier to install? Will my install problems disappear? Are all of my nice toys - printers, etc going to be compatible with it? Will it run as fast as xp? I have a dual core AMD with 3 gb of ram.

11-29-2009, 05:30 AM	#6 (permalink)
Soccomm Registered User Join Date: Mar 2009 Location: UK Posts: 59 OS: Win 7 X64	Re: Another downgrade question Most windows 7 discs has sata drivers slipped in also try a live edition of a linuz distro as these can check memory diagnostics too go for windows 7 and you should be totally fine with and install oh also make sure AHCI is disabled in the bios aswell as sometimes this causes some issues on reinstalls with other Os's

11-29-2009, 06:20 AM	#7 (permalink)
wrench97 Moderator, Hardware Team Join Date: May 2008 Location: S.E. Pennsylvania Posts: 20,380 OS: Win7	Re: Another downgrade question If the printer and other peripherals worked under Vista it will work with Win7, there is older hardware they was orphaned when Vista came out because the manufacturer of the hardware opted not to provide new drivers that will still be the case under Win 7. __________________ Power Supply and Selection

11-29-2009, 06:46 AM	#8 (permalink)
Soccomm Registered User Join Date: Mar 2009 Location: UK Posts: 59 OS: Win 7 X64	Re: Another downgrade question Use the vista drivers as W7 hasnt got a great deal of peripheral support especially older things I mean it has base drivers in for most things but somethings are not there if all else fails you can download 7zip then download the driver you require for XP either 32bit or 64bit extract the driver using the 7zip and then install through update driver and it should work fine but you can get away with running drivers under compatibility mode with the OS the driver was instended for but vista drivers do work on W7