I don't have any experience of laptops, so I'll have to assume that they
are similar to desktops.

Are you saying that when you try to install XP from the CD it can't find
the SATA drive?

If it was a desk top you would go into the CMOS menu, and check that the
SATA drive is enabled, sometimes it's called a SCSSI drive. Then check
the boot order Floppy first (if you have one), then CDROM, then SCSSI
last.

Hope this helps, otherwise could you explain the symptoms of your problem.