Gaming Trying to fix a laptop

[bnwchbammer]

Alright, here's the dealio, my parents think I know everything about computers.
Truth is, I know more than the average person, but not a whole lot.
So here's the situation:
My dad's laptop has had some issues.
Firstly that something weird happened to the audio driver or something
(Not entirely sure, I was in college at the time)
But I fixed it by reinstalling the audio driver and changing a few settings.
Wutever, I'm smart enough to know how to do that.
Then he had a virus of some sort.
Fixed it with Malwarebytes.
Looked to be fixed.
A day later the computer hangs on a black screen with a blinking cursor.
It's before the Windows logo pops up.
I was able to boot Ubuntu off of a disc and back up his documents, figured I'd reinstall Windows or something
(He has XP, I have the disc)
Gave me the error that:
Setup did not find any hard disk drives installed in your computer.
I've done some research with googling that error,
Most people were getting this error after reinstalling the hard drive or installing a new one.
Though it's not the hard drive... maybe.
Also been told that I need to disable the SATA or something?
This is something that I've not heard of...
Sooooooooo, any way to disable this in the BIOS or something else?
(Cuz I don't think this laptop can do it)
It's a Dell Vostro 1510.
Any help is appreciated.

 

[Bunie]

Remove and reinsert the hdd. does the hdd still attempt to boot and the disk just isnt detecting it?

You may need to enable some compatability setting in the bios to install XP.

Also, may i ask, what is the image in your footer from? Ive always wondered.

 

[murkurie]

XP can not use sata by default, so you turn sata off in the BIOS, or slipstream the laptops sata driver into a custom XP install cd, with nlite.

 

[bnwchbammer]

Remove and reinsert the hdd. does the hdd still attempt to boot and the disk just isnt detecting it?

You may need to enable some compatability setting in the bios to install XP.

Also, may i ask, what is the image in your footer from? Ive always wondered.
Well it's a laptop, and I'm assuming the hdd is working cuz I was able to access it in Ubuntu to back up some files.
I've messed around with a bunch of stuff in the BIOS and nothing seems to help.
Check this thread for some things that may interest you in terms of sig.

QUOTE(murkurie @ Nov 24 2010, 11:00 PM) XP can not use sata by default, so you turn sata off in the BIOS, or slipstream the laptops sata driver into a custom XP install cd, with nlite.

I don't think I can turn it off in the BIOS as I've not seen an option for it.
I'm almost afraid to use nLite cuz I figure it'd be relatively dangerous.
Though I suppose nothing worse could come out of it.

 

[Bunie]

I don't think I can turn it off in the BIOS as I've not seen an option for it.

You seem to have only two options then. Permanent ubuntu, or illegit Win7. Though i cant imagine being unable to install Windows XP. double check the bios. its often well hidden.

 

[cwstjdenobs]

Can't you just put the sata drivers on a USB stick and use the "load additional drivers" or whatever it's called option on the install disc?