Toshiba Qosmio Formated, trying to install XP

So my friend hates vista so much that he went out and bought xp, here we are going through the recovery options and command prompt and we format the hard drive, then we restart the computer with an nLite'd Xp Pro (with Sata raid controller added in for his Sata drive). And get the BOOTMGR missing screen.
Tried using the windows vista recovery CD that was put out with vista on it to get into the options, or boot from linux live cd (which i have no idea to use and confused me more). But still nothing other then BOOTMGR missing! What do I need to do?

Toshiba Qosmio x305-q705, Intel PM45 Chipset, Sata Hard drive, 4 gigs ram.

 

Turn on the laptop and put in your disc. When the initial start screen appears, press the F12 key to access the boot order menu and select DVD. It should start installing.

Here is a link for the owners manual, drivers, etc.(pdf):
http://www.csd.toshiba.com/cgi-bin/tais/support/jsp/modelContent.jsp?ct=DL&moid=2140528&src=EXPL

 

I've tried using both the Windows vista recovery disk that microsoft offers, and the nLite copy of Windows XP Prof (with the sata driver added). Prob didn't make it clear that I used the boot menu through the bios and set it to boot from the CD for both. Neither one will boot, both are completely ignored and the computer shows the BOOTMGR not found, hit CTRL+ALT+DEL to restart each time.

 

Are the install disks really bootable? Can you test it on an other computer?

 

Your friend would be well advised to make sure all the XP drivers for that particular Vista computer/system are available for download, otherwise someone will not be a very happy camper.

 

I agree. It is odd that 3 different bootable discs failed to do so, though.

 

The linux loaded, but I couldn't get past the what cd rom driver should we use screen, and I honestly have no idea how to use it. As for the others, I can try em on a different cpu and see whats up...I'll post results in case i'm baffeled again.

Update:

Ok the CD I found that was supposedly a Windows Vista Recovery Disk, designed to help you recover if boot manager is missing....is not bootable. Anyone have a good link to the place to get one? I was under the impression that this was avaliable (wont be the whole OS, but will allow you to get to the recovery menu).
Thanks for the help again folks

 

Anyone got a line on where i can get the Vista Recovery disk (a Bootable version, not the OEM recovery software) that i can use to get into the recovery console?

 

http://neosmart.net/blog/2008/windows-vista-recovery-disc-download/

 

With a lot of Toshiba's if you hold down the C button, when actually starting the laptop up, it will force a boot from cd/dvd-

 

I keep a usb floppy drive handy to load sata drivers............
I have known Toshiba's to play up with starting from cd/dvd, and it can be a a pain- the C button forces most to load.
For some reason, the system seems to be set against us, but it will skip past the rom prompt very quickly, too- so watch while holding down C key.. even carry on tapping it to force it.

 

Holding own the 0 (zero) key on your keyboard and then pressing the laptop power switch, when the computer is first turned on, could bring up the Toshiba HDD Recovery Utility to get it back to factory-
http://aps2.toshiba-tro.de/kb0/HTD7C02140000R01.htm

Toshiba's link
Otherwise, pressing F12 could give you the other option to change the boot to dvd/cd- I know that worked on some that I repaired. If you get this to recognise a disk, then you may still get your XP with the sata driver on it that you created to work.
With Vista, I know it sometimes messes up the mbr , because it works differently to Xp- so, you may find that you need to get into repair mode-if the disk starts setup, and then type inFIXBOOT, click enter, then type in FIXMBR, and click enter, then LET XP INSTALL.

Sometimes pressing F8 -- SELECT REPAIR YOUR COMPUTER, CLICK NEXT,WILL GIVE YOU AN ADVANCED OPTION AT THE BOTTOM TO RESTORE APPLICATIONS, then follow through until an option appears for full factory repair, or, possibly" Restore computer to out-of-box-state " click next, then next and if all is o.k it will repair to Vista as original.

 

I'll try a few of these, see if they work, the link to the vista recover disk provided by "Just Playing" is actually the same one that I was using, completely unaltered, just burned the iso.

Ill try holding down C, or pressing 0 and the power button, but the issue that im having is I can't get past BOOTMGR not found, even trying to get into recovery by pressing F8 isn't working. So hopefully one of these will let me get to the disks once i get into their setup it should be cake.

Thanks for the help, ill be back if i need more.