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    how to change vista to xp ..help !!

    Discussion in 'Dell' started by FeeL_bLuE, Jan 4, 2008.

  1. FeeL_bLuE

    FeeL_bLuE Notebook Enthusiast

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    my labtop is inspiron 1420 serials.. it came with windows vista..
    but this windows make me so weird.. i wanna to change it to xp .. how to change..?
    bcos when i input windows xp cd(this cd not dell oem cd) and want to format it.. it keep so can;t detect hard disk drive....so after i format ..i have to format it back to vista... got any 1 can help me? or that format is need dell xp cd only can do it de?.... emergency
     
    FeeL_bLuE, Jan 4, 2008
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  2. M1530

    M1530 Notebook Evangelist

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    Back up your data completly erase your hard drive and start from scratch.
     
    M1530, Jan 4, 2008
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  3. Crimsonman

    Crimsonman Ex NBR member :cry:

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    Actually, back up your data, stick in the XP disk, reformat and then install.
     
    Crimsonman, Jan 4, 2008
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  4. FeeL_bLuE

    FeeL_bLuE Notebook Enthusiast

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    hm.. not so understand.. it means.. have to format all the drive C: and D: 1st? all the data i no want also nvm de..
    thx for help o...^^
     
    FeeL_bLuE, Jan 4, 2008
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  5. Han Bao Quan

    Han Bao Quan The Assassin

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    you don't have to format the D Partition, just the C.
     
    Han Bao Quan, Jan 4, 2008
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  6. Crimsonman

    Crimsonman Ex NBR member :cry:

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    Unless, of course, the OS is on a separate drive.
     
    Crimsonman, Jan 4, 2008
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  7. pixelot

    pixelot Notebook Acolyte

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    I think the D: drive is mounted as a drive in Windows, but is actually a partition...
     
    pixelot, Jan 4, 2008
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  8. 000111

    000111 Atari Master

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    the reason it says it can't detect the hard drive is because the ahci setting in your bios is enabled. boot your computer and press f2 repeatedly until you get to the bios screen. then find the ahci setting and disable it. let it boot up. restart it again with your xp cd- it will detect the hard drive with ahci disabled. you will then be able to install xp.

    word.
     
    000111, Jan 4, 2008
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  9. Jusl3laze

    Jusl3laze Notebook Enthusiast

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    Bad idea.. dont disable AHCI.. look around these forums there are many other topics dealing with this, use nlite and get the SATA drivers from dell. Then burn a new xp cd with the SATA drivers.
     
    Jusl3laze, Jan 4, 2008
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  10. 000111

    000111 Atari Master

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    i don't see why you think this is a bad idea. it is the easiest, fastest way for him to get his computer up and running with xp. besides, how much good does ahci really do? search around on that. not much... just because i suggest doing something you did not do does not make it a bad idea, now does it? pretty lippy for a noob. i like that.

    the ahci can be enabled later. he doesn't have to screw around with nlite and slipstreaming the drivers. it is up to the original poster, but i would go with the easy solution. disable ahci. install xp. if you want to enable ahci later, THEN look for a way to do it on the forums.

    or, spend a lot of time figuring out how to slipstream the ahci drivers on the xp disk. your choice, my man.
     
    000111, Jan 5, 2008
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  11. Jusl3laze

    Jusl3laze Notebook Enthusiast

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    If I remeber correctly It does make an impact. I'm not gona search the forums now to show you but performance does take a hit. I have been on the sidelines for over a while. Besides all it takes is maybe 30 mins using the direct burn feature; even if your a "noob" nlite's interface is easy to understand.
    I also tried to turn on AHCI using the drivers from dell after turning them off and installing XP, it didnt work. In the end like you said its up to him, sorry for saying your idea was bad but, I would take the time to make the cd.
     
    Jusl3laze, Jan 5, 2008
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  12. 000111

    000111 Atari Master

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    it's all good. just two different ways of solving the same problem... performance does take a slight hit from having ahci disabled- that is why i enabled ahci after installing xp ;)
     
    000111, Jan 5, 2008
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