TOTAL GUIDE: 1420 With XP!!!

i got everything to work but i Can't get bluetooth installed. it keeps saying press fn + F2 to turn on blue tooth but the switch is on and wifi is on and so is bluetooth.

ideas?

 

should be working, download cpu-z and check in there.

It just doesn't seem to be going into deep state though.... In Vista, i could go to 1.2 ghz and and my temps were LOWWWW now it's 1.5 ghz...

any ideas

 

Thanks a lot to the guy who posted the original instructions for this. I had tried manually adding the drivers for an XP Pro installation on a Vostro 1700 last weekend and got as far as a sucessfull install followed by blue screening later. I was going to give up and put up with Vista, but thanks to this thread I have managed to track down all the drivers I needed for XP. They are on the Dell site, but just not listed under a Vostro 1700. So for the bluetooth for example you have to search for "355 Bluetooth Module" and sufficient hits will be returned;

http://search.dell.com/results.aspx?s=gen&c=us&l=en&cs=&k=Dell+Wireless+355+Bluetooth+Module+&cat=sup&x=9&y=8

There is also an FAQ about bluetooth modules getting turned off;

http://www.dellcommunity.com/supportforums/board/message?board.id=si_wireless&message.id=35393&c=us&l=en&cs=&s=gen

 

THANK YOU!

Have been putting off getting rid of Vista Ultimate, and finally bit the bullett last night. And I ran in to all the usual frustration with the audio drivers.

Found your guide post, and 10 minutes later (would've been < 5 min if I weren't at work) sound is working PERFECTLY!

 

Are both of these drivers contained in the same SATA download file from the Dell website, or is it two separate files you have to find?
Thanks!

 

Both (and many others) are contained in the same driver pack from the Dell website.

You just have to select these two inside nLite when you point the program to your SATA driver pack.

 

Awesome, got XP running on my 1700!!
Couple of notes:
1. I did include both the SATA and RAID drivers when making the nlite disk. Not sure if I needed to or not, I just decided to right from the start.
2. Once XP was installed, I ran all the windows updates before doing anything else, as my XP disk was only service pack 1.
2. To get wireless working for my 1390 wireless card, I needed to use the Latitude D630 XP drivers.
3. To get the sound working, I needed to use the kb888111.rar fix, posted here:
http://www.hydrogenaudio.org/forums/index.php?showtopic=47079
Note - this hotfix requires service pack 2, another reason to do updates if necessary before going forward.

Thanks for everyone's help!

Wow, this laptop runs fast now!!

 

There are several known issues of windows xp sp2 on a multiprocessor pc. One of them is listed as the item 896256 in the microsoft official knowledge base. http://support.microsoft.com/kb/896256/en And also there's a patch which aims to fix this issue.

 

hi
after i installed xp on dell 1420 can i change bios to ahci .
which is batter for xp SATA or AHCI
thanks

 

Like everyone else, I'm thankful for the guide that lightflux put up. I've printed and bookmarked it.

I've read through the entire thread, and I still have a question.

If I've got a brand new full version off-the-shelf copy of XP PRO SP2, is there some caveat that would not allow this to work? [I've also got a new OEM XP PRO SP2, as well, which I plan to use on the other laptop I'm about to order.]

I've just purchased a Vostro 1700
120 Gig HD (ugh...5400rpm couldn't get 7200rpm)
2 gig ram
T7500 2.2 ghz 4M L2 cache
256 MB Video card
DVD/RW
1505 N card
web cam
upgraded sound
etc etc...

Yes, I do have older Dell XP PRO disks from 2001 [w/no SP] and 2003 [with SP1a], too, that came with my other laptops. However, I'd rather use the newer release with SP2, if possible.

Anyway... I just figured I'd need to do a bit more work with compiling all the drivers for my CD... is that it? Or am I missing something?

TIA!


----------------------------------------

I hate to shop... unless it's for gadgets ... even then, I prefer to do that online.

 

Hi All,

Thanks for the guide. I've got everything working but using Function - Sleep to sleep the computer doesn't seem to work. Anyone know how to get this fixed using Windows XP SP2?

Cheers!

 

Is there a version of Notebook System Software that works with the 1420 in XP?

Dell seems to make a big deal about making sure this is installed.

Is it really necessary? What exactly does it do?

 

I hate it when people repeat what other people already said in the same thread (count how many times ppl wrote that the Dell OEM pro cd worked w/o slipstreaming), however to quote countless ppl "Great Job"

I hit MD by mistake and had to reformat (everytime I hit power it went straight to MD, couldn't boot to win) I tried stuff posted here, now I'm just waiting to reboot.

A question that was raised earlier, but I didn't notice an answer:
Can I just slip all the drivers into my XP CD? I plan on doing this for many computers, it would save time.

 

i just finished reinstalling xp cd.
here are the drivers that it could not detect.
can someone lend me a help for these drivers?
**all my usb ports no longer detectable. it worked even during xp installation and before i installed all the drivers.
**modem device on high def audio bus
**network controller.
i beleive the modem device on high def was working well not any more. i have a vostro 1400 , can someone pls help?

 

Slipping the drivers onto the CD won't really do anything. Most of the drivers from dell are .exe, so they have to be run manually.

 

To fix your usb ports, right click on my computer, go to the hardware tab, click device manager. Scroll down to Universal Serial Bus controllers. Right click on each of the Universal Host Controllers and click delete. Once they are all deleted, reboot. Windows will reload all of the drivers and all the USB ports will work.

For the modem device, you need to find the Conexant modem driver. Network controller is probably referring to the Ethernet device.

 

Awesome post!! really you have handholded the process of installing XP on 1420.

 

Very nice thread. I'm considering throwing XP on my 1400 when it arrives. Just wondering, I already have a slipstreamed XP w/ SP2. It's a couple years old and I don't think it has SATA drivers on it. Can I re-run the slipstream process on its contents and include SATA now? I'm not sure if you can slipstream an OS twice?

After using nLite to create the ISO, is anything else required to make the disc bootable or just burn disc from ISO image in Nero?

 

If your OEM CD is more that 6 months old, you'll need to provide the SATA ACHI driver. I slipstreamed the driver to a 2 year old WinXP OEM CD and it works well. I could not burn the bootable CD directly and ended up burned from iso. If you want to use Media Direct, make sure you boot with the MD CD to set up partitions before installing Windows. I keep the Vista on the original hard drive and got a new 120GB ($55 after rebate on Black Friday) to install WinXP. The installation process is very smooth. If you have a new OEM CD or if you put in the correct SATA driver, you don't need to change anything in the BIOS.

 

I can confirm that. A Dell Laptop XP Pro Install CD dated 2006 and received in early 2007 does not have the SATA drivers.

 

You don't really need to use the MD cd to partition your HD. At least not in my experience.

I just went through this process with one of my new Vostro 1700's and will do it again with my 2nd one.

I used the partition program on my slipstreamed xp sp2 CD. I kept the tiny partition and the MD partition but combined the other two. Reformatted. Then loaded the OS from scratch. After I got everything up and running, I put in my MD cd with XP running. ("everything up and running" being defined as loading all my apps and copying over my documents & personal files.) The MD install ran, recognized the partition and prepared files for it. No hiccups. Next time I fired up my laptop, I hit the MD button. I get in to my MD partition and access my files with no problem. Never needed to use the partition app on the MD cd.

Mine is not a solitary instance, either. I've found several others who did it the same way I did and had success.

Just thought I'd throw that in there.

mulletov,

Btw... nlite doesn't create an iso. At least, it didn't for me. It copied everything to a folder I created on my desktop. From there, I simply used NERO to make my cd. Booted up with no special requirements.

HTH.

 

Just wanted to say thanks for the Help with the 1420. I did a complete wipe the drive like any one should know about and by the way got the (extra partition) That seems to surprise some people. Your directions were flawless. I had the 1420 up in about a hour. I don't understand why dell makes it so hard to do something simple . People don't like Vista and will do anything to get what they want. I appreciate the time you have taken to inform me how to resolve the many problems with the 1420. Like having a Pilot help me land a 747..
Thanks Again !!
Goneflyn

 

I followed this guide with 100% success.

For anyone who may be wondering, it's totally worth it. XP runs SOOO MUCH FASTER on my 1420. Vista was laggy, buggy, and frustrating for me.

I didn't know how fast my laptop could be until I installed XP.

Dilly323

 

Flawless. I had to update XP to SP2 before installing the audio, and MD doesn't work (don't use it anyway), but otherwise everything worked perfectly.

 

Many thanks to the original poster...the guide worked out well for me. (Some fighting with the install, but generally painless).

One issue I'm having: Shutdown/Restart takes literally 5-10 minutes.

I'll select it, and walk away. It does eventually shutdown or restart, but takes a minimum of 5 minutes to do so.

Anyone else run into this sort of issue, or have any suggestions?

EDIT: Standby works just fine...it's only shutdown/restart.

Thanks.
I

 

Much like the Spanish ISO that was put up, does anyone have a fully slipped English version available?

I'm still fighting with this shutdown/restart issue. I've rebuilt the machine twice, and have attempted to do it on an entirely different 1420, and every time, the system takes 5-10 mins. minimum to shutdown or restart.

I've also tried pretty much everything in the list here: http://aumha.org/win5/a/shtdwnxp.htm

I'm at a loss...so I figure if someone has a fully working English image I can try....

 

Hey guys.
I have the same problem as lightflux.
I downgraded to XP pro , and now whenever i insert my SD card i get the BSOD, and it restarts.
Im sure there is no problem with my XP CD. It installed fine without any errors.

Please help me out.
Thanks.

 

OEM Dell make the installer very smooth

So all my driver are installed, but the only thing that isn't working is the display of the volume that i was using in Vista?

What application allow that? i want to know what scale of volume i am on by pressing the volume up and down button of the 1420?

thanks!

 

I believe you need QuickSet. It's linked somewhere in this thread, possibly by me.

 

Ah i finally found it on http://www.dellcommunity.com/suppor...thread.id=60788&view=by_date_ascending&page=2

Release Title: Application: Dell QuickSet, Application, Windows 2000, Windows XP, Multi Language, Latitude XT, v.8.3.16, A50
(R174191.exe)
http://support.us.dell.com/support/...eid=R174191&formatcnt=1&libid=0&fileid=236863
Release Date: 12/18/2007

It work with the Inspiron 1420 and Windows XP !

 

Hmmm my right-most headphone jack doesn't appear to work... the left one works find though. Guess I won't be sharing with anyone.

 

Can we slipstream the other DELL XP drivers into the installation disk, just as we did the SATA? Someone mentioned before that they are EXE files... but if we extract the EXE we can actually get access to some of the drivers.

Would it work to slipstream the drivers that are available without an exe (after extraction)?

"Now at this point, after installing all of the above, you should reinstall the computer. After your computer reboots, you WILL get an error saying that the sigmatel audio driver failed..."

Did you mean "you should reboot"? - sorry if it's obvious what you meant, I'm just confused.

 

I have a question.

Usually You boot the system with WINXP and setup automatically starts and xp is installed. Why do we need nliteos utility. If I dont use it won't my sata HDD be recognized.

I am yet to buy a 1420 soon.

 

Hello Everyone!

I just used this guide to put XP Pro on my fiancees new 1400, but I accidentally restarted the computer after I installed the Nvidia driver...Now the USB ports arent working...Any ideas?

Thanks,
Josh

EDIT: I just looked at device manager in XP and all the USB ports have "!" before them as well as the Other Devices: PCI Device.

 

Right click and do Uninstall. Reboot and see if they're detected properly?

 

I just read through the entire thread and found that right before your email! Thanks for the help! You all are great!

 

Awright I just Spent 3+ hours reading this entire thread as well as one called "1420 with XP (I nerved vista)" I bought a 1500 with XP last november but it got stolen from me in Seattle over the holidays, I'm going to buy another but this time I'm going to order it with vista and then Dual Boot it with XP Pro (which I get free from my univ.). I still have the XP recovery CD from my stolen 1500. Should I use this to install XP initally and then Upgrade to Pro afterward?
Also I've never dual booted anything before, Am I correct in assuming that vista will allow me to make a new partition and then I can just put XP on the new Partition and select the OS every time I reboot?

Any help would be greatly appreciated -Thanks

 

Help! Help! any advice?

 

Success!

Thanks OP for the guide. My Inspiron 1420 is up and running just fine with, as far as I can tell, all working properly....including bluetooth (downloaded driver for the Vostro 1400) and the modem (driver for 1400) and quickset (again from the Vostro). Why Dell does not include those on the Insprion 1420 download page is beyond me.

Other than the 3 Vostro downloads, I used all the XP drivers noted on the Insprion 1420 download page.

I did have to follow the instruction for installing the Sigmatel sound as noted 1st page of this thread.

I used nLite to create a new XP Pro installation disk - I used a standard full install copy of XP Pro SP2...not a Dell disk. Worked just fine. I did put both the SATA and the SATARaid drivers into the image just to be sure.

For my partition setup I left the MediaDirect partition in-place as well as partition 1 (Dell diagnostics I think). I deleted the Vista C: partition and the recovery partion and created 1 new partition.

I did note that my DVD drive is showing up as E:\ and when I look in Control Panel > Adminstrative Tools > Computer Management > Disk Management I see:

unnamed partition (FAT) = diagnostics
C: (NTFS) = XP partition
MediaDirect (FAT32) = Mediadirect
E: (CDFS) = DVD.

So I suspect the MediaDirect is "taking" the spot normally reserved for the DVD drive. I changed the drive letter for the DVD to D: and this seems to have worked fine.

Mediadirect works fine, both when shut down and in Windows (reinstalled windows portion from the Mediadirect cd that came with the notebook).
WiFi catcher works, both in an out of Windows. Fn keys work (once Quickset was installed).
Card reader slot works fine.
Cannot test express card slot or bluetooth at this time.

 

I have a new problem with the Vostro 1400 and XP Pro...Anytime the computer goes to standy(ithink it's standyby it's when the power light flashes very slowly)
the computer will turn itself back on and flash a Windows system message saying "Insufficient resources to complete the API." I don't know whats going on here it's got 2gb ram 160gb hd and 2.2ghz C2D. HELP!

 

I was stuggling with this for a while and then I found this:
http://support.us.dell.com/support/...eid=R159805&formatcnt=1&libid=0&fileid=213714

Once I d/l and installed, Bluetooth worked.

Thanks again to everyone for making this up, it really was a tremendous resource.

 

thinkamc already asked this but no one answered...

1.) Do I need to extract all the Dell .exe drivers into their unzipped state in a folder for Nlite to use them during the install? (I would have thought that would be neccessary in order to do an unattended install.)

2.) I unzipped the dell.exes into their folders and the amount adds up to 175mb or so without the video drivers. Can XP be stripped down enough to add in these drivers with Nlite?

I would have experimented but I am currently at work for 10 more hours and don't have admin rights on this computer!

 

Hey man,
I registered only to THANK YOU
I just received my Vostro 1500. Being working on reinstalling XP instead of Vista (which is a big joke imho). Sound card was impossible to install, Dell driver is completly wrong (but you know that)
Well ... you trick is perfectly working. You saved my week-end !!
Thanks

 

well i read few pages of thread.........lot of useful things
but i made the XP disk (SATA included) b4 reading this gr8 thread......i made XP SATA with nLite & removing the languages pack & some games to save space.....also i added the CD key/Time zone & computer Name using the nlite option button. then created the bootable image & burned it using the IMGburn (classic thing for burning images) @ 2X speed. I am sure that the disk is burnt properly. then booted from CD with success & then i chosen the 10GB recovery drive for installing XP, for trail purpose. i formatted the 10GB drive (with Vista still on C drive) using the qiuck format NTFS & after the reboot, i got error like some file is missing in I386 folder & it need to setup the XP. Is the Vista presence on the C drive causing this to happen? I think the disk is properly burnt. So what shud i do.

i have following partitions
unknown FAT 16 : diagnosis (78MB) (Dont wanna loose this in any condition)
[NTFS] Vista C : 40GB
[NTFS] D : 99 GB (Created this with Acronis Disk Director)
NTFS E : 10 GB

I deleted the Media Direct Partition with Paragon Partition Manager as twas consuming the 2GB space meaninglessly

Well now few questions :
1. I need to format the Vista drive?
2.Is Removing the Components (languages pack & games) with nLite cause some error (like i got some file missing during the installation)
3.If the diagnosis partition get deleted by accident, can i create it again
(Name of Diagnosis utility is : PRE-BOOT System Assessment Bulid 4106 )

 

First off, this thread has been a godsend. Thanks to everyone for the tips.

I'm having problems with the wifi (Intel PRO/Wireless 3945ABG). After I download and install (the supposedly) latest driver from http://tinyurl.com/4evoof, the Intel software just automatically shuts down after I reboot. I can still use wifi but via windows.

I've even tried the latest drivers from Intel and the same things happens.

Any suggestions?

Thanks!

 

Thanks for the guide, was a big help. I hate how dell doesn't even offer xp anymore.

Anyway, the only problem is my wifi not working. It gets stuck at authenticating and acquiring network address I'm pretty sure the problem is that I installed the intel drivers when I have a dell wireless 1505 minicard. So my question is now how do I go about uninstalling those drivers? I tried just installing the correct ones but it still doesn't work.

Thanks for any help.

 

Thanks so much!! This was exactly what I needed, your expertise has definitely helped me, and many more out.

 

i was wondering if the drivers on the main page will work with the Vostro 1700-????

 

my inspiron 1420 no detect any usb device after installing Xp. Cant anyone help me ??

 

jose install this http://ftp.us.dell.com/chipset/R153997.exe