G1S: Does Santa Rosa platform & 8600M GT supports Windows XP ?

Hi guys,

I'm presently looking to purchase a notebook. After looking at about 50 different models from different brands, my choice was the ASUS G1.

Now I've just seen that the G1S a newer version of the G1 has just came out. The price is just a little more and the video card is by far better.

Now, the thing that will make me choose either the G1 or the G1S, it's if the G1S will have drivers for Windows XP.

Please note, that I do know that DirectX 10 is only compatible with Vista, but I am not looking at the G1S for DirectX 10 support, but more for the better graphic card.

I've went to nVIDIA website, and it seems that the 8600M GT uses the current drivers, which supports Windows XP, so I guess this is ok. But the real question is, if Santa Rosa platform has drivers for Windows XP?

I havn't found anything about it on Intel website.

I am not going Vista, that's for sure, loosing performance and stability for a visualy "better" OS isn't my way of thinking.

 

I guess it will NVidia mod drivers website will have those drivers for XP.

Otherwise you can download drivers from third party site or from the Original G1. There won't be major hardware differences IMO . I think the only thing that is different is the Chipset, newer CPU, GPU , Other stuff is pretty much the same from the G1.

 

what about the santa rosa drivers, is there any for winxp ?

 

The "Santa Rosa" platform is just the 965 chipset (that has been in use on desktops for about a year) in mobile form. There are no drivers for it as such. You can download the latest Intel chipset .inf file from the Intel site. This will certainly work with XP. The other drivers needed would include stuff for wifi. Again, these drivers can be downloaded from the Intel site.

Actually, the harder problem is all the drivers for the Asus proprietary stuff like the Bluetooth set up, controlling screen brightness and sound volume from the keyboard, power management, etc. The drivers from the G1 may work, but I wouldn't absolutely count on it.

 

Ok, here's the answer I've gotten from nVIDIA:

I've also contacted ASUS, and they'll not make any drivers for Windows XP.

I'm now searching these two website mentionned above, to see if there's anything to help.

EDIT: I think I may have found the drivers for the 965PM chipset -> http://downloadcenter.intel.com/dow...All&OSFullName=All+Operating+Systems&lang=eng

Edit2: here's the drivers for the Network Gigabit Ethernet card and the Wireless a/b/g/n -> http://downloadcenter.intel.com/dow...All&OSFullName=All+Operating+Systems&lang=eng

Edit3: Here's the drivers for the intel storage interface -> http://downloadcenter.intel.com/dow...lName=Windows*%20XP Professional&lang=eng

 

So if i was to get a G1S(which i will be soon) with these drivers could i effectly downgrade to xp without a problem?

 

this is what i am trying to figure out.

technically, according to intel's website, YES. These drivers are for the storage controller, centrino duo technology, wireless, network ethernet interface and 965 PM chipset under Windows XP Pro. (Santa Rosa platform)

But the G1S requires a lot more drivers than this.

I assume that since all the other component are the same, the G1P drivers could be used, but nobody has tried this until now, so I can't confirm that to you. Drivers like ASUS Splendid technology, Audio drivers, webcam drivers, modem 56k, multimedia buttons, touchpad, seems to be the same.

The only actual problem that is left, is drivers for the video card. There's no drivers that will support the 8600M GT under windows XP at this time. nVIDIA won't be releasing any, so we'll have to wait for modded drivers form enthusiast like guru3d.com provides.

Let me e-mail ASUS to see if the G1 audio, touchpad, modem, splendid, multimedia button drivers can be used on the G1S.

 

Ok so, I've just received an answer from asus about the G1 drivers to be used on G1S for windows xp.

So as it is stated, you can use the G1 windows xp drivers for the devices such as the modem, marvel gigabit ethernet, asus splendid technology, mutimedia buttons, touchpad, audio.

But you cannot use the wireless, video nor the chipset drivers, since they are not the same.

On the previous reply, I've linked the drivers for the new wireless module and the new chipset, with also the storage controller (intel matrix manager ICH8M).

So basically we got 90% of the drivers required to get Windows XP Pro supported on the G1S, all we need, is a customized nVIDIA drivers, since nVIDIA won't be making any.

 

That Nvidia customer service rep's grammar is icky

 

i didn't notice, maybe it is because English is my secondary language.

 

Hi Guys,

I've just ordered a G1S in Canada ;-)

I plan to format my HD and install Windows XP Pro, since a lot of specialized software I'm using at University don't work with Vista. Then, I wish to thank you for this very instructive post...

On the other hand, I'm really concerned of the availability (or non-availability) of a 8600m GT Windows XP driver.

I made some research on the web and I found this link for some modified Forceware drivers 165.01 for windows XP supporting the 8600m : http://www.driverheaven.net/windows-xp-linux-nvidia-display-drivers/134673-forceware-165-01-xp-english-only.html

Anybody tried (or wanna try) these drivers?

Thanks!

 

Not only Nvidia customer rep has bad grammar, the Asus one, too.

 

I am not referring to you. I am referring to the Customer Service Representatives from Nvidia and Asus.

 

Ohyaaa which one better winfows XP professional or Vista home premium, to using in my G1s A1,,, ^_^,,, im scary many ppl say Xp more better than Vista home premium...
If this true i want to changes...
and if i change to XP thisis more good or no..??
Thank u

 

Intel states that Santa Rosa is supposed to use EFI, Not BIOS, Which I dont think XP supports.

 

Just tried Windows XP today, it will not work.
Got a message says there is no hard drive detected right after boot from Windows XP CD, my guess is, XP does not have the new Intel SATA controller driver.

 

Wouldnt that easily be solved by hitting F6 during the install and putting in the sata driver like we used to have to do in the old days?

 

Yes, but didn't XP will always ask for drive A: ?
Maybe slipstream a XP CD with drivers might help.

 

So essentially its just an overall PIA to get XP to run on the G1s, and presumably other Santa Rosa notebooks?

As for EFI, I don't think Vista supports it either, so I doubt thats what SR uses.

 

Very odd, In all the Santa Rosa information Ive read it specifies EFI,

 

If this guy did it with a HP Santa Rosa Laptop (DV6500t), why we could not do it with the G1S...?

Take a look: http://www.nogodforme.com/HPDV6500T.htm

 

Has anyone tried to use dual boot using a partition for xp while leaving the vista platform installed? I have seen numerous forums on that, but not sure if it would work with this situation. I hope someone has a successful installment and if so please post, i am receiving in this laptop today and would really like to run my work programs that only run off of xp

 

That may be just for the Macs; as far as I know, Vista doesn't support EFI (that was one of the things cut so that they could get it out earlier). I remember Apple making fun of that fact with Boot Camp being updated to support Vista.

 

Try this
VGA (Nvidia 8600m GT) : http://www.driverheaven.net:80/wind.../134673-forceware-165-01-xp-english-only.html

 

I think we finally have some 'almost' official XP drivers for the 8600m GT from ASUS:

http://www.laptopvideo2go.com/forum/index.php?showtopic=13408

 

I have successfully install XP in a dual boot configuration on a G2S - had to slipstream the SATA driver in using nlite.

I can confirm that the laptopvideo2go drivers do work! I got an error message when it tried to copy 3 files that it could not find - but I just hit cancel on each, and the continue without installing. I can get 1920x1200 with it - but have not done much testing (or any benchmarking) yet.

I have also got LAN, WLAN, and Camera working - but have no audio driver working yet - keep getting a 'Microsoft Bus driver should be loaded' - and none of the fixes I have found work yet.

Will be posting a how-to, along with list of drivers I used - as soon as I get it all working.

 

The problem to your audio drive can be found in another thread:

http://forum.notebookreview.com/showthread.php?t=128586

An How-to revert the G1S from Vista to Windows is also explained there...

 

Hey guys, I managed to get my G1S to dual boot XP Home and Vista Ultimate after some extensive research from various forums. The only hurdle I am facing now is to get my 8600MGT to work. I have tried various drivers, from ASUS, Nvidia, Laptogo ... but all could not work. the machine is fine but Vista Ultimate sulks big time.!

 

Hi there, I just did, installed XP Home on the second partition while leaving the original Vista Ultimate untouched. The common problem u face is that XP does not comes with SATA drivers so either u slipstream a CD urself or u borrow a floppy USB drive. The next problem kicks in after u successfully installed ue XP and u try dual boot. After the first time, u would not be able to boot in ur Vista again. U have to download Vistaboot pro of Easy Boot to get the problem fix. Then finally comes the biggest headache of getting all the drivers for it to work.\

cheers

 

the laptopvideo2go drivers linked by arctiK above work fine for me under XP on my G2S - did you use the modded inf file?

 

Hi guys,

sorry for this newbie question but what the hell is slipstreaming the CD and how do I do it? Should I not understand how can I do use the floppy disk solution and where can I get the SATA drivers

thanks

 

Hi, which sata driver is this? I am trying to get my hdd detected on a G1S at the xp setup with no luck. Please let me know what drivers you slipstreamed
Thanks!

Edit: oh im sorry, I missed the other thread.

 

Yeah it works, if you installing XP you will need SP2 to detect a sata hdd.

 

I can´t get my LAN working.. the wireless is working though.. anyone who can help me with the drivers for the ethernet controller for XP please?

 

Read this thread. It has all you should need to know before installing win XP.
Solution -=5=-, please read the linked info on the post carefully as it also describes which drivers to install first!
http://forum.notebookreview.com/showthread.php?t=146088