installing Win XP on a Veriton N

I recently bought a Veriton N desktop and it had the LINPUS operating system installed on it. I tired installing Win XP but it wouldn't cooperate so I installed Win 7 thinking it would format the drive to NTFS and allow me to install Win XP right afterwards. To my dismay, no.

So... I am looking for the correct RAID SATA driver for my computer that will be compatible with Win XP. And the procedure to install it. I found the driver on the Acer support download page but it doesn't like it or I don't have the correct BIOS settings.

Acer Veriton N, model VN281G-UA4251L

I do not want to keep Win 7 or go to Win 8. My business and machine programs run perfectly on XP and I'd like to keep it that way. I just want a computer with a little bit more speed and memory.

Timothy

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Joshua188

Hello demonspeed , you are seeing what allot of people have began to see. XP is no longer supported by MS and by allot of companies. you may look into 3rd parties but will be difficult. Allot of companies have started upgrading the OS to 7 so they still have support options.

tom85

Hello.

What version of BIOS you've got?

Trye go to BIOS and Load Default Settings.

download this one:

global-download.acer.com/GDFiles/Driver/AHCI/AHCI_Intel_8.9.2.1002_XPx86_A.zip?acerid=634208972749917320&Step1=Desktop,%20Workstation&Step2=Veriton&Step3=Veriton%20N281G&OS=X01&LC=en&BC=Acer&SC=EMEA_27

Extract it, inside you will find folder "F6 Install Floppy Create for 32 and 64 bit Windows" go there and extract archwie ("f6flpy32.zip" or "f6flpy64.zip" depende from Windows instalation 32 or 64 bit)somewhere on desktop.And follow this insturction

http://hexus.net/tech/tech-explained/software/1420-installing-windows-xp-3rd-party-sataraid-driver/

Sorry if its little bit messy.

demonspeed

BIOS is version P01-A3L, mfg date 04/06/2011.

SATA drive control is set to Native IDE. Should I change this to AHCI?

Timothy

tom85

Yes, change it on AHCI, if still doesnt work, change back on Native IDE. If stil doesnt work, trye downgrade BIOS to

P01.A3, from 2011/02/21

global-download.acer.com/GDFiles/BIOS/BIOS/BIOS_Acer_P01.A3_A_A.zip?acerid=634338521328517806&Step1=Desktop,%20Workstation&Step2=Veriton&Step3=Veriton%20N281G&OS=X01&LC=en&BC=Acer&SC=EMEA_27

If i good remember L on the end BIOS Version was dedicated for Linux Pc's.

demonspeed

Well, that makes alot of sense.

Explains why this computer was in the bargin bin.

I tried driver in both Native IDE and AHCI.

No go.

Guess I'm going to have to downgrade the BIOS.

I don't have a floppy drive in this computer.

Can I downgrade the BIOS with a USB traveldrive?

Timothy

tom85

Yep you can do it, make bootable usb and copy Bios file on usb drive, follow instruction in readme file.

Bootable usb - http://www.bootdisk.com/pendrive.htm

demonspeed

OK, reflashed BIOS with P01-A3.

Changed SATA driver in setting to AHCI.

Downloaded Acer SATA driver and had it plugged in and ready to go on a USB travel drive.

Still not installing Windows XP.

Gets stuck in the same place every time.

Am I missing something?

Timothy

tom85

Trye this one

If the customer wishes to disable EFI they should follow the steps below.

1) Enter BIOS Setup by pressing F2 during POST.
2) Select Boot.
3) Select Boot Device Priority.
4) You will see the following information:
    1st Boot Device [1st FLOPPY DRIVE]
   2nd Boot Device [CDROM Smiley Frustrated M-ATAPI CD-]
   3rd Boot Device [Network:IBA GE Slo]
   4th Boot Device [EFI Boot Manager]
5) Move the cursor to EFI Boot Manager and press Enter. Then, you can select Disabled.
6) Press F10 to save your setting before exit from BIOS Setupnizing more 3rd party PS/2 and USB devices.

demonspeed

No EFI listed in the boot manager.

I double checked all my settings and tried again.

It is seeing the USB travel drive with the drivers on it but it only lists the RAID drivers, not the ACHI ones.

Perhaps that's the problem....

Timothy

tom85

Ok maybe start from beigening Smiley Happy

Format your HDD to fat32 using for example acronis true image, or other software like partition manager on DOS mode.

This time trye setup Windows XP from Usb stick follow by that tutorial step by step

(http://myeeeguides.wordpress.com/2008/11/15/winsetupfromusb-install-windows-xp-from-usb-flash-drive/)

With this one you need to do this

( http://www.prime-expert.com/articles/b02/installing-windows-xp-with-f6-ahci-raid-drivers-from-usb-only.php)

in step 4:

4. How to integrate F6 AHCI/RAID drivers into Windows XP installation disk / ISO file?

I think it should be fine after that.. Its not possible to fail this time Smiley Tongue

demonspeed

Thanks for your help, but I gave up and installed Windows 7 instead.

I can no longer get support for my favorite WinXP based programs so I'm stuck anyway.

Oh well, end of an era.

Timothy

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