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    XP over Vista

    Discussion in 'Gaming (Software and Graphics Cards)' started by Darkseven, Nov 29, 2007.

  1. Darkseven

    Darkseven Notebook Enthusiast

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    If I wanted to do a clean install of XP over a system with Vista, will I run into any issues? The notebook is very new(specs in sig) and came with Vista.

    You should know that the disc with XP does not have SP2 on it.

    edit: just realized this is in the wrong section. apologies.
     
    Darkseven, Nov 29, 2007
    #1
  2. Dragonpet

    Dragonpet Notebook Evangelist

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    You will be fine, I had just downgraded to Vista this passed weekend everything is working fine so far and I am enjoying the performance increase! A few things to watch out for:

    1) If the laptop is the only PC with internet access, make sure you get the network card driver off dell site before installing. Better yet, just get all the driver from the dell site for XP and burn it to a disk.
    2)If you want to use AHCI mode, you need to have the driver ready during XP installation and load it; otherwise, switch in BIOS the harddisk mode to ATA thus your harddrive would be recognized during installation.
    3)Backup all your information important to you, the worse thing that could possibly happen to you, is for you to discovered that your formated and erased something important that you did want to keep. IE. Browser Bookmark, Vacation Pictures, Documents, etc.
    4)Apply some of the performance patch for XP afterward, I am hinting at the XP dual core fix patch from Microsoft.

    Otherwise,if you had the above done, you are good to go!
     
    Dragonpet, Nov 29, 2007
    #2
  3. hyakku

    hyakku Notebook Geek

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    One question dragon, what is AHCI mode?
     
    hyakku, Nov 29, 2007
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  4. eleron911

    eleron911 HighSpeedFreak

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    Advanced Host Controller Interface basically lets you use SATA connection for USB drives and more, plugging/unplugging them without shutdown.It also serves for improving SATA disk read/write.

    Just disable SATA from BIOS, and you should install XP easily.
     
    eleron911, Nov 29, 2007
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  5. Darkseven

    Darkseven Notebook Enthusiast

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    Is it possible to re-enable this once XP is installed? The drivers I have don't have an installation file.
     
    Darkseven, Dec 2, 2007
    #5
  6. Voodoofreak

    Voodoofreak Notebook Deity

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    I believe you won't be able to, unless you install the drivers for it.
     
    Voodoofreak, Dec 2, 2007
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  7. dmacfour

    dmacfour Are you aware...

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    you have to install the drivers through device manager after you get windows up and running....
     
    dmacfour, Dec 2, 2007
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  8. eleron911

    eleron911 HighSpeedFreak

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    Re enable SATA? Of course, after installing XP go to BIOS and re-enable it!
     
    eleron911, Dec 2, 2007
    #8