Dual Boot XP on Win 7 preinstall PROBLEMS!!

[Doc Rizk]

Here's my story and I am in desperate need of help ASAP!
I have an audio interface that doesn't "play" nice with Win 7 64-bit, but I'm almost positive it'll work well within XP. The problem is, randomly during using my M-Audio ProjectMix I/O (firewire), the signal to the board will drop out. First the audio and then the m-audio control interface will lock up. This happens at random intervals, sometime 10 min and sometimes 2 hours but hardly reliable and required a full system restart. I have come to realize, after many hours of research, that even though they said it is compatible with Win 7, it actually isnt. I tried every last suggestion from them and spent even more money beyond the $1200 i paid for the board in attempts to fix this issue. Not to mention M-Audio has not even replied to ONE of my inquiries on their forum because i believe they wont admit it isn't compatible. Anyway, I digress...



So now my new struggle is getting my PC to install XP. I have read literally every forum and tutorial on the web and I understand the process, i think. I've made a partition on C: but also have another drive available for the install. I load the XP start up with no problem and it installs all the drivers and when it goes to start Windows, i get a BSOD stating that there may be an issue with my hardware... to run chkdsk.... remove any new hardware... etc. I have tried removing the Firewire card i installed, the wireless card, the main hard drive (win 7) and the secondary drive (empty). From my research is seems to be that the proper SATA or RAID driver isnt being installed for XP. At least that's what i gather. I have tried slip streaming the sata drivers on HP Forum and choosing only the 32 bit and XP drivers. Ive tried including every driver in that bundle at once, leaving out the Intel drivers and inserting even only the AMD drivers. All of these lead me to a black screen before the setup even runs stating line 1xxxxx of the INF file \i386\txtsetup.sif is invalid. I CAN NOT find any driver that is specific to either my MB or my PC. Every day i go without this equipment working is another day im not making music or money. Someone please help!!!! I have also tried running XP in Virtual PC but that wont work considering you cant access any firewire devices or ports. Wondering if XP Mode is the same basis as a virtual computer or worth upgrading for????

Specs:
HP e9220y
Win 7 64-bit Home Premium (w/ hopefully XP Pro SP2)
AMD Phenom II X4 2.6 GHz
8 GB RAM
(2) Western Digital 1TB hard drives (WD10EADS)(one which holds Win 7 along with a XP Partition and another i just bought which only has my system backup)

ATI Radeon HD 4350 graphics card
Vantec FW 800/400 PCI-e card (Texas Instrument chipset)
M-Audio ProjectMix I/O (Firewire)


Motherboard specs:
Foxconn Aloe
H-RS780-uATX

Chipset: 785G
Socket: AM3
Product #: NY553AA-ABA
Build ID: 94NAV6PrA3
BIOS: AMI v. 5.05

As you can see from the screenshot, i have tried different formats and actually just activated L:. havent tried to install... need sleep!! Wondering if i need to activate XP Partition J:. Dont mind B: drive

 

[gregrocker]

If you're given the screen asking where you want to install XP, then it's unlikely you need the SATA controller drivers since XP clearly sees the HD.

You will save a lot of time and frustration if you make space for a Primary partition to install XP to DISK1 with DISK0 unplugged. Then boot via the BIOS which keeps the HD's independent to come and go as you please, whereas a Windows-managed Dual Boot interlocks them and requires a lot more work using Method Two Here: Dual Boot Installation with Windows 7 and XP

What I would do is boot free Partition Wizard bootable CD, Delete J, Move or Copy M to the space J held, confirm after restart data is now accessed from M on Disk0, then delete old M, power down to unplug Disk0, boot XP installer to create a Primary partition in that space to install XP.

Then after install, plug back in Disk0, set preferred HD to boot first in BIOS setup, use the one-time BIOS Boot Menu key given on first boot screen to choose the other HD to boot.

 

[Doc Rizk]

I'm not getting that far. not given a choice as to where to install XP which is why i thought i needed a different driver. im going to try removing the partitions on Disk 1 and unplugging Disk 0. I just tried installing with 0 unplugged and with L: set as Active. No luck. Same screen. ill let you know what happens.

Thanks

 

[gregrocker]

You'll then need the SATA controller driver for your model computer or Mobo:
SATA Drivers - Load in Windows XP Setup on Dual Boot
SATA Drivers - Slipstream into Windows XP CD

Use the XP CD to delete, create and full format a new partition wherever you want to install.

 

[Doc Rizk]

i tried what you said and come up with the same error. I cant find a driver for my mobo. If i could would i need an xp versio or does it not matter?

 

[Doc Rizk]

I did find this. Usefull to my problem?

 

[gregrocker]

You want the SATA controller driver. If there isn't one you can try the RAID driver which term is sometimes used generically for SATA.

If you don't have floppy to insert it at F6, slipstream it in text version into installer using NLite.

I would google XP SATA controller for your model mobo to make sure you're not missing it, unless those are all the mobo maker lists then work with them.

You can try adding S Bridge if RAID/SATA isn't enough. But it's best to keep it to bare minimum to get it installed, then deal with missing drivers after install.

If it can be found, our expert on this Theog will find it for you. Surprised he hasn't landed here yet.

 

[theog]

I would use the drivers that DominicP found for you.
Dual Booting XP on Win 7 pre-install: BSOD in XP setup

 

[Doc Rizk]

Thank you guys for your replies and help. Last night, after over a week of hardcore PC surgery, I stopped overlooking the SATA Controller Option in BIOS and switched it from RAID to IDE and got XP up and running. Installing all the driver i need to sound and countless other things. Only problem is WIN 7 only runs with this set to RAID and XP only on IDE. There is also the option for AHCI but i havent tried that yet. Think that will help?

 

[Bare Foot Kid]

Hello mate.


Though it's a PITA I used the BIOS to choose IDE_XP or AHCI_W7 to choose which OS to boot for quite some time once, at least it's working for now.

 

[gregrocker]

Thank you guys for your replies and help. Last night, after over a week of hardcore PC surgery, I stopped overlooking the SATA Controller Option in BIOS and switched it from RAID to IDE and got XP up and running. Installing all the driver i need to sound and countless other things. Only problem is WIN 7 only runs with this set to RAID and XP only on IDE. There is also the option for AHCI but i havent tried that yet. Think that will help?

Try starting Win7 with AHCI selected in BIOS to see if it will start. RAID here is likely used generically as multi-mode since you don't have mirrored drives, correct?

If Win7 won't start you can actually change it to AHCI mode using this tutorial IF XP will install in AHCI with the drivers you found or you can find XP AHCI drivers, so both OS's will be uniform: AHCI : Enable in Windows 7 / Vista

 

[Bare Foot Kid]

AHCI : Enable in Windows 7 / Vista


​

 

[Doc Rizk]

my pc wont boot at all on AHCI. And im sad to say that after all the countless hours of getting xp working, the m-audio projectmix still drops signal and locks up. even tried moving to another pci-e port... again. it seems like theres something interrupting the firewire signal. idk. might be time to return it.

 

[Doc Rizk]

talked to American Musical Supply 3 days ago and they sent me a replacement unit. Testing it out right now......
wish me luck

 

[theog]

WE wish you luck.

 

[Bare Foot Kid]

Be sure to post back with updates!

 

[Doc Rizk]

UPDATE:

I'm back in business!!! Turns out the unit was faulty and I may owe M-Audio an apology.... not sure my pride will allow that! LOL.

Thank you for all your help though. At least ive learned alot over the past few weeks about dual booting.

 

[theog]

That is good news.

 

[Bare Foot Kid]

At least you got it sorted and thanks for the update.