How do I reformat a Lenovo computer by using an original xp disc?

[caliphe]

I have a Lenovo R Series Thinkpad laptop computer R61i. Any help would be greatly appreciated.

[Midknyte]

Do you mean you want to revert it from Vista to XP?

Check the Lenovo site for XP drivers or at least get the device info BEFORE you delete Vista.

Make sure to use an XP disc slipstreamed with SP3.

[caliphe]

It has xp on it but the version that I own is a newer version. It is saying the no hard drive is found but the original version of xp in the laptop loads. I just want to put my new xp disk in it.

[Midknyte]

Please clarify what you mean by "older" and "newer". Do you mean it came with XP Gold (no service packs), but you have XP SP3?

Make sure that the SATA drive is set to IDE compatibility mode in the BIOS.

[caliphe]

The Version Of XP in the laptop is older than my version. I think mine is Service Pack 2. I want to replace the version installed with my newer one.

[caliphe]

I no longer have any of the original disc that came with the computer and there is a file missing is the reason for the new install. The file missing is: windows root>\system 32\hal.dll

[Midknyte]

The file missing is: windows root>\system 32\hal.dll

You said the new disc couldn't find the hard drive. Did you mean you were getting this error during startup?

Did you run a memtest and hard drive diag? I've seen that error caused by faulty hardware.

As I said in my first response, use a slipstreamed XP SP3 disc.
http://www.simplyguides.net/guides/u...streamer.shtml

[lito pospos]

press F1 during boot up , select config – serial ata ( sata ) and change the setting to compatability mode & save the new bios setting by going this your xp will be able to recognize your hard drive .

try to visit lenovo site for additional driver issue .