I want to replace my Vista OS with XP instead. I just want XP and not Vista so no dual boot is required. I booted up from the XP Home install CD to try and install XP but it said that there where no hard drives available to install onto. The drive is enabled and working so maybe I have to format the drive first to get rid of Vista? If so, I remember Windows setup used to give you this option to format but I did not get presented with an option to format this time. Any suggestions?

Ideally you should create a Slipstreamed CD containing XP Service Pack 3 and the SATA Controller Drivers, nLite can do this... http://www.nliteos.com/nlite.html May I ask why installing XP is in the Vista Forum ???

No need to slipstream sp3 if its already sp2 you should be able to format the drive. You need to delete the partitions and then format. Jesus Loves You! Keyboard not detected. Hit F1 to Continue. BREAKFAST.SYS HALTED Cerial port not Responding!!

If you have a floppy drive you can install SATA drivers from floppy disk, if not you will need to sliptream it onto the instalation disk as previously stated. XP can not be installed without the SATA driver, watch screen carefully and press F6 when instructed to insert driver disk. You can get the drivers from the motherboard maker, but make sure all XP drivers are available for your computer before proceding.

XP does not need a SATA driver disk to install XP if you have a version of XP with SP2. I build about 3 computers a month on the average and haven't used a separate sata driver disk in over 2 years. A diplomat is a man who always remembers a woman's birthday but never remembers her age. Robert Lee Frost

I installed XP HomeSP2 on my SATA drive and had no problems at all. I have seen problems with sp3 on some computers thats why I would not recremend slipstreaming sp3. Use a S[2 disk and then install sp3 if there are problems you can uninstall sp3 or make a backup with norton ghost or some imageing program before you install sp3. Jesus Loves You! Keyboard not detected. Hit F1 to Continue. BREAKFAST.SYS HALTED Cerial port not Responding!!

I wanted to delete the partition and format but the Windows XP setup disc did not present me with this option. I used to be able to delete partitions and format with Windows setup in the past. Is it not available now because Vista is already installed? Ps. Posted here as I thought the issue would require some Vista knowledge in addition to XP to resolve.