Charles wrote:
Hello, I am trying to convert a recently purchased Sony Vaio laptop
VGN-FZ140E from Vista to XP. Upon installation, xp will not recognize my
Toshiba MK2035GSS sata hard drive. Sony will not help and Toshiba techs are
unreachable. I need to have a controller or driver that will make xp
installation possible. I have already done a considerable amount of Internet
research, but since I do not know how controllers work and who is supposed to
manufacture the darn thing, I feel like I am feeling my way in the dark. Can
you help provide a clue as to where I might look? Thanks for your time,
Charles

It is not surprising that you would need to supply SATA drivers in XP.
Since this is a laptop, the drive controller is on the motherboard and
so you need motherboard drivers. It is unlikely that you will find them
anywhere except at Sony. Most OEMs like Sony, Dell, HP, etc. have
hardware manufactured just for them. You might be able to find out what
company actually made the motherboard and then see if you can use
reference drivers for it, but that is very unlikely.

I'm sorry to tell you this, but you should have checked *first* to see
if Sony had XP drivers for that model machine. If Sony doesn't provide
XP drivers, the smartest thing to do would be to return the machine or
sell it or leave Vista on it and live with it. You aren't going to be
able to put XP on it. As an alternative, you might want to see if anyone
has installed Linux on that model.


Malke
--
Elephant Boy Computers
www.elephantboycomputers.com
"Don't Panic!"
MS-MVP Windows - Shell/User