DVOOR8
join:2001-12-24
USA
 ·Optimum Online
| Dell Inspiron w/ Vista - Install XP Pro
Ive got a new Inspiron 15001 w/ Vista Premium. I really dont like it and would like to blow it away and install XP Pro. Is there a checklist or method that has worked for others with regard to drivers and such?
I have had pretty good luck with XP Pro recognizing all hardware on the machines I have installed it on but figured Id check with you guys first.
Thanks!! |
|
MSeng
Premium,Ex-Mod 2001-08
join:2000-07-13
Ork
clubs:
 ·AT&T U-Verse
 ·AT&T Midwest
| Use the Dell Support page to retrieve any drivers specific to your hardware that are available for Windows XP. Download and either burn them to a CD or put them on some sort of removable media before you get started.
FWIW, will Dell honor your warranty if you change the original OS? You may want to check into that first.
--
If things get any worse, I'll have to ask you to stop helping me. |
|
dibbb
join:2003-09-19
 ·Time Warner VOIP
4 edits | reply to DVOOR8
said by DVOOR8  :I have had pretty good luck with XP Pro recognizing all hardware on the machines I have installed it on but figured Id check with you guys first. On every single of the five HP and Dell machine I've bought in the past 6 months that came with Vista that I installed XP on, I had to hunt and search for drivers. (this forum helped me find some)
So my guess is that when you install XP on your Vista machine, XP won't detect the NIC, audio driver, or video driver.
Edit: And from my experience with HP and Dell's site, they do not provide XP drivers for their Vista machines. I had to find the XP drivers from the actual mfg's site (like NVIDIA, etc)
I had to install nForce 430 NIC driver and GeForce 650SE drivers to get it to work. And, luckily, I think these same drivers worked on all the HP and Dell's I had.
These are the machines I've had this issue with:
Dell Inspiron 531
HP Pavilion s3000e
HP Pavilion a6050e
And no, Dell and HP will not honor warranties when you change OS's. But if you have a hardware issue, just tell them you still have Vista or whatever and they'll send you the part.
DSLR was a great help to me doing this, hope this helps you as well. |
|
DVOOR8
join:2001-12-24
USA | reply to DVOOR8
Thanks for the tips. I'm currently using the machine as is, and I'm liking Vista less and less with every day.
XP will be coming soon. |
|
Leathal
Premium
join:2002-02-09
Toronto, ON | support.dell.com will help you with the drivers, if you can't find any on there for your machine it's most likely because Dell doesn't offer XP what that model of machine.
Leathal |
|
MSeng
Premium,Ex-Mod 2001-08
join:2000-07-13
Ork
clubs:
·AT&T U-Verse
·AT&T Midwest
| reply to dibbb
said by dibbb :Edit: And from my experience with HP and Dell's site, they do not provide XP drivers for their Vista machines. I had to find the XP drivers from the actual mfg's site (like NVIDIA, etc) Assuming the OP post is a typo the Inspiron 1501 does in fact offer XP drivers for their hardware and software.
As long as Dell continues to be able to provide options with respect to the OS installed, they would have to provide driver support for both.
--
If things get any worse, I'll have to ask you to stop helping me. |
|
dibbb
join:2003-09-19
·Time Warner VOIP
| said by MSeng :said by dibbb :Edit: And from my experience with HP and Dell's site, they do not provide XP drivers for their Vista machines. I had to find the XP drivers from the actual mfg's site (like NVIDIA, etc) Assuming the OP post is a typo the Inspiron 1501 does in fact offer XP drivers for their hardware and software. As long as Dell continues to be able to provide options with respect to the OS installed, they would have to provide driver support for both. I stand "somewhat" corrected. 
I swear, and I had to look hard, I could not find XP drivers for my Dell machines I bought with Vista from Dell's website.
Looking now, I see they DO offer XP drivers!
My experience with this XP/Vista driver issue was back in September 2007, so I guess they have updated their website to supply these drivers directly.
I'll have to check HP.com now for the same thing. |
|
Mele20
Premium
join:2001-06-05
Hilo, HI
| reply to MSeng
said by MSeng :FWIW, will Dell honor your warranty if you change the original OS? You may want to check into that first. I think if the OP had bought Vista Business or Ultimate because that gives him OEM downgrade rights to XP Pro that Dell, in that case, would have to honor the warranty. But the wisest thing is just not tell Dell that you changed the OS. I had a Dell XPS tech (USA based and supposedly creme of the crop) tell me that because I bought a second hard drive that because I bought it here at Wal-Mart instead of from Dell (SAME drive exactly) that I had voided my warranty. That was BS. I also had a another XPS tech tell me that because mine came with RAID disabled that if I enabled it that would void my warranty. What a bunch of BS! Plus, supposedly because I enabled NCQ in the BIOS when it came disabled that also voided my warranty. Silly idiots. So, with Dell these days lying is the safest thing to do.
--
"The same ferocity that our founders devoted to protect the freedom and independence of the press is now appropriate for our defense of the freedom of the internet. The stakes are the same: the survival of our Republic". Al Gore, The Assault on Reason |
|
