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(SOLVED) F6 issue (Windows XP Setup on AHCI storage)

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First post, by ott

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I'm trying to install Windows XP using F6 method but it doesn't work as expected.
Here are my steps:

  • Boot from Windows XP CD-ROM and press F6 key.
  • Select and load "Intel(R) 7 Series/C216 Chipset Family SATA AHCI Controller - Windows XP" driver from the USB Floppy drive and then continue setup.
    The attachment sata-ahci-driver-list.jpg is no longer available
  • Select the partition and quick format it.
    The attachment partition-select.jpg is no longer available
  • After checking drive C:, a message appears: "Insert the disk labeled: Intel(R) Rapid Storage Technology Driver into drive A:". Pressing ENTER doesn't poll USB Floppy drive, F3 is stops installation.
    The attachment rapid-storage-driver.jpg is no longer available

I'm stuck at this point now. I have no idea why it asks for the storage driver again.
Any help would be appreciated!

Software:
CD-ROM: Windows XP Pro SP3 (32-bit)
F6 floppy disk: SATA Floppy Image ver:11.2.0.1006 (from ASRock's site)

Hardware:
FDD: NEC UF0002 (connected to USB2.0 port)
Mobo: ASRock Z77 Pro3 (AHCI mode selected in BIOS, CSM enabled)
CPU: Intel Core i7-3770K
GPU: ASUS GTX750Ti 2GB
RAM: 2x4GB DDR3-1600MHz
HDD: SATA, 120GB SSD (connected to SATA3_1 port), MBR with primary partitions
DVD: SATA, DVD-RW (connected to SATA3_2 port)

Last edited by ott on 2025-07-17, 08:18. Edited 1 time in total.

Reply 1 of 4, by konc

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I think I remember exactly this, the USB drive becomes unavailable later in the process when it actually tries to copy the files. My solution was to add the drivers using nLite and burning a dedicated cd for the machine.

Reply 2 of 4, by Horun

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Agree ! or You need a modified txtsetup.oem that give additional USB floppy support. Here is v11.1.0.1006 32bit XP/Win7 with modded txt file (from winraid?, was in my archives).
It needs be extracted to root of usb floppy iirc, good luck !

Hate posting a reply and then have to edit it because it made no sense 😁 First computer was an IBM 3270 workstation with CGA monitor. Stuff: https://archive.org/details/@horun

Reply 3 of 4, by ott

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Horun wrote on 2025-07-16, 13:33:

Agree ! or You need a modified txtsetup.oem that give additional USB floppy support. Here is v11.1.0.1006 32bit XP/Win7 with modded txt file (from winraid?, was in my archives).
It needs be extracted to root of usb floppy iirc, good luck !

Thank you so much! Pre-installed AHCI driver worked like a charm.

The attachment ahci-on-fresh-install.PNG is no longer available

UPD: I found bestemor's helpful explanation of modifying TXTSETUP.OEM to adding/fixing USB floppy drive support.

---
Some notes:

  • Surprisingly, my NEC UF0002 USB Floppy drive works in Windows 11. I copied extracted files as the Horun said.
    The attachment Screenshot 2025-07-16 160202.png is no longer available
  • There are many drivers in the F6 list (use ↑↓ keys to select), I only checked these two:
    "Intel(R) 7 Series Chipset Family SATA AHCI Controller" - causes blue screen (0x0000007B).
    "Intel(R) 7 Series/C216 Chipset Family SATA AHCI Controller" - no issues during installation, so it's the best choice.
    The attachment storage-driver-list.jpg is no longer available
  • I thought the selected driver is cached in RAM and is not requested again. Modified TXTSETUP.OEM fixes access to the USB floppy drive and the installation continues after copying iaStor.sys file from floppy disk.
    The attachment iaStor-copying-again.jpg is no longer available
  • Further installation process is no different from IDE mode.
    The attachment copying-files2.jpg is no longer available

Thanks again guys!

Reply 4 of 4, by Horun

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ott wrote on 2025-07-16, 17:18:
Thank you so much! Pre-installed AHCI driver worked like a charm. --- Some notes: […]
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Thank you so much! Pre-installed AHCI driver worked like a charm.
---
Some notes:

  • Surprisingly, my NEC UF0002 USB Floppy drive works in Windows 11. I copied extracted files as the Horun said.
    The attachment Screenshot 2025-07-16 160202.png is no longer available
  • There are many drivers in the F6 list (use ↑↓ keys to select), I only checked these two:
    "Intel(R) 7 Series Chipset Family SATA AHCI Controller" - causes blue screen (0x0000007B).
    "Intel(R) 7 Series/C216 Chipset Family SATA AHCI Controller" - no issues during installation, so it's the best choice.
    The attachment storage-driver-list.jpg is no longer available
  • I thought the selected driver is cached in RAM and is not requested again. Modified TXTSETUP.OEM fixes access to the USB floppy drive and the installation continues after copying iaStor.sys file from floppy disk.
    The attachment iaStor-copying-again.jpg is no longer available
  • Further installation process is no different from IDE mode.
    The attachment copying-files2.jpg is no longer available

Thanks again guys!

Good job and glad it worked.

Hate posting a reply and then have to edit it because it made no sense 😁 First computer was an IBM 3270 workstation with CGA monitor. Stuff: https://archive.org/details/@horun

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