I formatted my T61 for the purpose of squeezing Vista down to a reasonable size, and so that I could ensure that I could get XP to install as C: (because (1) I will use it more, and (2) Vista will always show itself as residing on C:, even if it is really isn’t).
To install XP I had to convert my SATA controller to run under Compatibility-mode, which allows XP to recognize the drive without a 3rd party driver during installation. After installing XP, Vista, and Ubuntu Gutsy Gibbon on the drive in this mode I flipped the BIOS switch back to AHCI, and both versions of Windows crashed hard.
Here’s the path to recovery:
- Go to LenovoIBM’s site and lookup the driver-download page for your machine, this page is under Support.
- Find “Intel Storage Matrix” on the driver page and download it. Then run this file, which will extract other files.
- Open a command prompt, and go to C:DriversWinIMSMPrepare (created by the above step). Then run “Install.cmd” which will install the Intel drivers.
- Reboot, flip the BIOS switch to AHCI, and you should be all set.
This works for both XP and Vista; although Ubuntu was happy without any work 🙂
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