HP dv9000t Tip: Deleting Vista-Installing XP

This is a Public Service Posting from a grateful forum user who has solved his own problem after much needless effort, and wishes to save some other poor soul(s) the pain and torture of my particular experience...(ie: I WISH I had had access to this message 2 weeks ago!)

In a separate thread here:

http://forum.notebookreview.com/showthread.php?t=112543

I described my ordeal in trying to have my 02/16/2007 purchased HP dv9000t dump the vista OS it came with, so I could use my own exisiting copy of xp home edition sp2-it is worth a read if you are trying to do the same thing.

If you wish to dump your vista and install xp, whether you already own the copy/flavor of xp in question or not, this is the quickest and most painless way I have found to do it after 12 days of intense study, consultation with HP, and net research:

1) Do not believe anything that HP tells you-I found them to be absolutely unhelpful, untruthful, incorrect, incompetent, and downright rude, (unless they wish to sell you something). For example-they will tell you flat out that what I am about to tell you absolutely will not work, (they did with me anyway).This applies to every single individual and dept. I contacted (=many+many+many), with the single exception of a high ranking support tech in BC, Canada named "Jessica"...whom you cannot contact directly in anyway, you just have to be lucky enough to get connected to her. She normally works 1:30-9:30pm pst, m-f...so if you call for technical support during those times, you have a chance of navigating your way to her desk if you try real hard and get verbally creative. Item (2) below makes that unnecessary however-unless you are an extreme novice.

Ignore this advice and you are in for a free ticket to OS change hell.

2) All you have to do is go here:

http://h10025.www1.hp.com/ewfrf/wc/s...24058&lang=en#

(note: scroll ~halfway down the page to the header saying "CD-ROM order page-Recovery Discs ", and then select your favorite flavor of windows xp-clik and follow the links...it's completely painless!)

...follow the links to purchase the recovery disk set for the flavor of windows xp you want to install...the cost is $19. plus reasonable shipping (cheap!). Note that this is a superduper deal (um, thanks HP!) if you don't already own a retail copy of the xp type you want to run with.

When you get them, be sure your system is set to boot from your dvd drive before your hard drive...then just load disc 1 and reboot....the rest is autopilot simple.

3) If you think you can install a retail version of xp you already own...be forewarned that you will need all sorts of drivers (about 226mb worth in my case) that likely will not be provided by the xp install...and which can be very very frustrating to locate and put into proper loading order, (read the URL'd pages provided at the outset of this post if you want to glean just how frustrating this actually was in my particular case).

Hope that helps someone save time and angst.

Meanwhile, you can order HP Case Manager Voodo dolls from me @ just $9.99 ea.-which includes rusty needles predipped in nonkosher chicken blood. (Such a deal!)

 

Well, not to be rude, but rarely should you "actually" (and I put that in quotes for a reason) expect a CSR to be helpful. They are merely stepping stones to case managers and REAL technicians that know what they are doing. But you see, it's too costly to train a CSR in what they need to know to be helpful, and there aren't enough technicians to go around to accept phone calls.

It's really just a game. They want your money and after you've bought their product to just disappear. It's a shame, but I can't really hold one company accountable since they ALL seem to do it.

Anyway, that's what forums are for! We know more than all of those CSRs combined!

 

Hey, I expected no less and no more haha....my expectations of tech support in general is nil, and the bureaucrats above them negative nil.

I just go thru the motions when I am building a case for redress in California small claims court.

I report on it here only to help others that haven't experienced the bs mill first hand.

Cheers!

 

I ordered the XP Pro resinstall disks, but never used em.

My only question is about the key. Is one needed or deos it just reinstall Xp and all with none?

 

On my dell machine I did not need the key but on my hp I did

 

Dell what? HP What?
(model number-time frame event occured)

On a HP dv8000t (CTO'd thru Costco) April 2006, I called HP support (several times) trying to get the install disc.... Like the OP it took several calls.... / After about $500 worth of my time... In the end I got HP to ship the discs out at no charge.

.

 

To the OP...

On the case managers./ Hp as a company in general/... getting parts (on a new model).... They need to re-vamp the system... The left hand doesn't know what the right is doing it seems.

Replaced the dv8000t with a "Business Class" machine, a nx6325 RB526UT#ABA.... back in Sep-2006...


Since then I've been trying to access a parts listing on HP PARTSURFER (to confirm /track down part numbers)

http://www.partsurfer.hp.com/cgi-bin/spi/main


I've contacted HP about 15 times.... and they STILL haven't updated Partsurfer....

Type RB526UT, or RB526UT#ABA into partsurfer and you will get this:

Try with these model number: RB544UT, Go to the page then in the second section under "Compaq nx6325 Notebook PC (RB544UT)" tick off /Select a parts list . . .
"for all parts"... compare the two.

Last response from HP, even after giving them the hot-links and describing the issue generated a sem-automated response telling me how to "use" partsurfer (i.e. insert model number)

Here is a copy of my last e-mail to them:


--- Original Message ---
From: "xxxxxxxxx-edited out"
Received: 3/8/2007 3:32:03 PM Central Standard Time (GMT - 6:00 )
To: [email protected]
Cc: [email protected]
Subject: Fw: Re: HP partsurfer feedback


Gentlemen / Ladies,

Since September-2006 I have been trying to access parts surfer.

(I have used partsurfer on other models I know how it works btw)

I have e-mailed via your internal messaging system several times, the below being anything beyond what I'd call a computer generated auto response. (reffering to a e-mail I received)

Following your instructions, using the link, then entering RB526UT,

(Or just typing in RB526UT from the main search link) I find this:

Your search for RB526UT failed to find any matching HP products in the main SPI database.The following POSSIBLE matches were found in our Unenhanced data source. Please select your product, OR read the hints for using PartSurfer at the bottom of this page

PRELIMINARY UNENHANCED DATA

PRELIMINARY UNENHANCED DATA

PRELIMINARY UNENHANCED DATA

Try this, go to : http://partsurfer.hp.com/cgi-bin/spi/main?sel_flg=modsrch&template=main&cpric=& ;prodsrch=NX6325

Search for RB526UT, or RB526UT#ABA will not pull up anything beyond PRELIMINARY UNENHANCED DATA.

Typing in RB544UT for example, you will note brings up a full listing., In second section CLICK "for all parts"... and it will display all the part numbers for "that" unit (RB544UT)

Doing the same for the RB526UT only gives PRELIMINARY UNENHANCED DATA for the RB526UT.

Click this link for the RB544UT and compare it to the PRELIMINARY UNENHANCED DATA showing for the RB526UT.

http://partsurfer.hp.com/cgi-bin/spi/main?sel_flg=modinfo&HP_model=RB544UT


Sep-Oct-Nov-Dec-Jan-Feb- and now March 2007...

Still showing PRELIMINARY UNENHANCED DATA
* * * * * * * *



And here is there response:


Hello Customer,
Thank you for contacting Hewlett-Packard's Commercial Solutions Center.



This is in response to your e-mail regarding the HP Compaq nx6325 Notebook PC.

Please be informed that the part number you have mentioned is for HP Compaq nx6325 Notebook PC.



Please click on the following link to get the information of the product that you are looking for (RB526UT)



http://h18000.www1.hp.com/products/quickspecs/12447_na/12447_na.HTML



Please e-mail us, if you need any further assistance and we will be glad to help.

Once again, thank you for contacting Hewlett-Packard's Commercial Solutions Center.


Thank you,

HP eServices.

.

 

albertoknox,

First of all Kudo's (many thanks) for taking the time to post back /create a totally new thread as I'm sure it will help someone.

On the link though.. just tried it... are you sure this is the correct link you used?: http://h10025.www1.hp.com/ewfrf/wc/s...24058&lang=en#

That link rolls goes to
HP Customer Care local language selection

and then when any lang is selected I get a:

oops!!!

Sorry, this page is not available
This page is currently not available, please try again later.


You sure that is the right link?


.

 

Uh why was this so hard to do? Not sure if there is a huge difference between the 9000t and 6000t. But I have a 6000t, and I installed XP with about a hour of research on the net. I either needed to slipstream the SATA drivers into the XP CD or turn off "Native SATA" in the bios and install the drivers afterwards. Was this your issue aswell?

 

On my machine (v6000t) if I installed XP with native SATA on, I could not later switch it off, or vice versa, or I'd get BSOD.

This meant that I could not install XP, *then* SATA drivers, then switch SATA native on.

For me, the only way to have native SATA on is to slipstream, which works perfectly if you have all the right drivers in there.

(nlite is a great tool for this)

 

If you re-read thru the issue, you will find the OP's problem was that the unit was pre-installed with Vista, him needing XP...

For $19 being able to order the XP install disc is a no-brainer. Going from XP Home to Xp Pro alone is worth $19 in my book...

Disc should already have the needed drivers slipstreamed in.. plus you "have" the disc that you didn't have before. Another plus is the HP install disc shouldn't ask you for the install key . Downside is though really the COA wouldn't be valid I would think. Vista pre-installed, COA isn't for XP.

.

 

Here's the corrected link for OS install /recovery discs for the dv9000 CTO, dv9xxxx

http://h10025.www1.hp.com/ewfrf/wc/softwareList?os=228&lc=en&cc=us&dlc=en&product=3224058&lang=en#

 

I'll trade a DV9000 32-bit Vista Restore for an XP Professional Restore or 64-bit Vista Restore ...

 

Can anyone confirm that the restore disks do not ask for a key? I have Vista dv6000t that was a replacement for a XP Media Center dv6000t a couple months ago due to issues. I still have the recovery disks that I made from the XP dv6000t when I got it. I am really getting fed up with Vista slow performance and lockups when moving files over network shares. Im going to load the hotfix for this but if that doesn't work I'm going to seriously consider restoreing the laptop with the XP recovery disks I made. I just hope it does not ask me for a key since I no longer have that laptop. The specs of the laptops are the same other then the fact one came with an analog TV tuner xpress card and this one has the digital TV tuner xpress card. Wonder if it will work under XP since it was labled TV tuner for windows Vista when I ordered it.

 

Check this out. A friend of mine in the computer repair business just told me that he was having Vista problems with his customers and called Microsoft about it. Microsoft told him that all you have to do is call with your valid Vista license and you can downgrade your key to the OS of your choice. The other thing is that you can call them back and have them upgrade the key back to your original Vista license once you have solved all your problems.

I hope this helps. My friend has been in business for a long time and does this everyday. You just have to call Microsoft and they'll do it.

Good luck

 

Windows Vista: The Best Case for Windows XP Ever

http://www.notebookreview.com/default.asp?newsID=3529


Windows Vista Content Protection - Twenty Questions (and Answers)

PS, The so-called content protection is bad news for ALL of us, maybe not now right now, but 5-10 , 20 years down the road.. Gee maybe we should go to subscription OS service/apps... each time you use it you pay a fee, forever, and ever, and ever.....

http://windowsvistablog.com/blogs/w...-protection-twenty-questions-and-answers.aspx

Before you dimiss the comments made by posters in that thread, In the next few years due to broadband, the distribution of musics/songs/movies/software, etc will be going more and more towards a downloadable format... One post I think in the thread above saying MS is putting in place the mechanisms (or helping to put in place) a way to get a "cut" of everything you download/access, etc..


Linux is looking better everyday..


http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=lawkc3jH3ws&mode=related&search=

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=GOQKpDbyFuE&mode=related&search=


http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=p0HLtNydndU&mode=related&search=

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=fUp0chPIteY&mode=related&search=
.

 

geeky music in those videos will scare any business person and he will run away form it.

 

To install any version of XP on the dv9000t without buying a disk, simply turn off SATA Native support in the bios. This will allow setup to see your hard drives again. Vista just doesnt cut it for me, so I wiped my drive the day it arrived.

Sorry I didn't get to you sooner

 

I think if your notebook came with Vista Bios, or you updated to the lastest Vista Bios, then XP will automatically activate when you install it with an HP OEM Key for XP. I think it's because if the notebook comes with Vista preinstalled, you are eligible for any MS OS below VISTA, so it is noted in your BIOS. It's call preactivation or something? I used some utility to scan my Bios and it said XP would automatically activate on my notebook. It did not automatically activate when I installed VISTA from scratch, which came preinstalled on the notebook, but I think it would preactivate if I installed XP.

You can download the SATA driver from Intel and use nlite & and XP CD to make a new XP CD which includes the SATA driver, which would then install XP perfectly on your notebook with the SATA turned on in the BIOS.

 

Interesting....thanks.

Well, in my case the recovery discs took care of the entire enchilada....and when it was all finished it's install routine-sata support had been turned on for me.

Moy simple.

Couldn't ask for more!

 

I was not asked for a key, a license #, my cat's name....nothing!

I loaded the discs (there were 2) in sequence as instructed-and it did everything for me without a hitch.

An untrained monkey could do this with his/her eyes closed.

It wipes the hard drive clean of course, and loads all of HP's crapware-but you can give the required attitude adjustment when it is finished-no problem.

The notebook is faster than my dual 266 xenon workstation-couldn't ask for more.

 

I was not asked for a key, a license #, my cat's name....nothing!

I loaded the discs (there were 2) in sequence as instructed-and it did everything for me without a hitch.

An untrained monkey could do this with his/her eyes closed.

It wipes the hard drive clean of course, and loads all of HP's crapware-but you can give the required attitude adjustment when it is finished-no problem.

The now nifty notebook is faster than my dual 266 xenon workstation-couldn't ask for more!

 

I had no problem loading XP....that was a piece of cake...you just load the sata driver at the prompt and away it goes-happy as can be.

The trouble I had was locating correct drivers for my unique hardware build....if you read the threads in question carefully-you will see that belabored endlessly.

Thanks.

 

In my case (read the original thread)-the restore disc asked for nothing at all.

Super simple.

 

Right you are.

The original (as edited) post version works as well.

Thanks.

 

I am so glad I found this thread. I want to get rid of Vista and install XP on my DV9207US laptop. Before I order the recovery disc, I hope an expert here would confirm a few things for me.

The recovery disc for the DV9000t CTO is good for my DV9207, right?

There are three versions of XP. I want the fastest and most stable one. Which one do you recommend: XP Home, XP Media Center, or XP Professional?

It won't ask me for a key, right?

I don't have to mess with the SATA thing, right?

Thank you for this thread, and thank you for helping.

 

The recovery set for dv9000 might work depending on the configuration of your system. Vista machines use a different audio chipset than XP machines so the drivers could be different. I don't think you'll have too much trouble using the dv9000t disks.

The recovery disks shouldn't ask you for a key.

The SATA thing you shouldn't need to mess with if you are using an HP recovery disk set, but you will need to change the setting if you are using a retail XP Disk.

 

Thanks, SBR. I tried to order the recovery disc for XP Professional and it asked for the serial number. What is that? And where do I get it? Thank you again.

https://warp2.external.hp.com/driver/dr_pricing_info.asp

 

The serial number they ask for is the notebook serial number on the bottom of your laptop. It should be where the Windows sticker and everything is and it should be shown as an alpha-numeric code of the format "s/n: ##########".

I haven't done this before but I would be wary if they ask for a s/n since they'll know that your system is a vista system and might try to ship vista recovery disks instead. Perhaps you should call and ask? Or many someone on this forum knows more about this.

 

HP told me you could not use any XP System Recovery DVD on a 9200 Series, that it wouldn't work since 9200's were preinstalled with Vista. I haven't tried it, although I have tried a 64-bit Recovery DVD on my originally 32-bit installed notebook. It wouldn't go. Several different HP techs told me the only way to get XP on the 9200 was to install a retail copy from scratch.

 

I would like to hear albertoknox respond to this. Anyway, I believe him.

 

I did a fresh XP pro install. I got it working after a few hours. Well, not exactly. I have no driver for the Ethernet controller, and I can't enable SATA in the bios. I disabled SATA to install XP. Now it won't go into windows if I enabled SATA. How important is this thing anyway? Everything seems to working fine without SATA enabled. Please help. Thank you.

 

I keep getting mail about this....as a public service, here is the latest:

"I looked all over HP's website for the disc and didnt find em. do you have a link? or do i have to call HP to purchase a disc? i really really REALLY want an XP Pro disc for my dv5020...... it came with home and thats what i have now, but id KILL for an HP restore disc that did what you did for my dv5020 with XP Pro on it......"

my answer:

hp's website search function is terrible-I find that using google on the web at large is better for finding stuff on hp's own site-go figure

hp's site is also very disorganized and chaotic

the discs are actually easy to find-and I and many others have posted the precise links for finding them in these forums....the links I posted are for dv9000t cto, but the methodology is the same:

you just log on to hp's site:

www.hpshopping.com

then select the "support and drivers" tab

then select "support and drivers download" from the drop down menu of said tab

then type in your model #

then choose your operating system (ie: XP)

then scroll down to the recovery discs order section (midway down the page that appears)

and follow the links to buy from there

be ready with your model's serial #, as you may be asked for it

very simple (really-I just did it for your unit to verify these instructions, if your unit is a us, and not a ca, then the link below is ready to sell you your set!)

https://warp2.external.hp.com
/driver/dr_pricing_info.asp

you may not be able to get XP pro for your particular machine (the above link is for the home version-which I have and use)-but you can get XP for sure....or, if you get creative (think outside the HP box) and poke around a bit, you may be able to find XP pro from a different model # search (though there is no guarantee that the recovery install will have the exact drivers your particular dv build demands if you go that route....though the more basic your unit, the more likely that you in fact will...and you can always try to snag the actual drivers you need off the same support site for your actual model number)

while I was typing this, I just went and bought XP pro for $16.10 delivered (had to give my unit's serial #)...such a deal!

and hey EVERYONE THAT KEEPS E-MAILING ME about this-please post these query's to the forum so everybody can get the benefit of the tips you are seeking....we aren't here for private consultations for free ya know! haha....and besides, that way you may get a response from someone that is a heck of a lot smarter than me (couldn't hurt)

thanks.

 

well gee, I get alot of mail.....

ok, here's yours:

"Hi albertoknox,

I have a DV9207 and I want to install XP. When I tried to buy the recovery disc, I was asked to enter the serial number of the laptop. Since I have a Vista laptop, another member here, SBR, is afraid HP might send a Vista recovery instead of a XP one. Do you think I have any thing to worry about? Thank you for helping me."

The response:

As long as you entered that page by first selecting your recovery disc set as "XP" (insert exact flavor of same here) you will get an XP disc set-I did....and I was in the exact same boat as you.

And hey-please post these query's to the forum so everybody can get the benefit of the tips you are seeking....we aren't here for private consultations for free ya know! haha....and besides, that way you may get a response from someone that is a heck of a lot smarter than me (couldn't hurt).

Thanks.

 

This post is correct-and albertoknox certified for veracity.

 

answers, in exact order of questions asked:

1) there are no guarantees, just probabilities-your probability is good...be brave my son....it will send you back $16.10 delivered for xp pro to find out for certain (then tell the world here and help some other poor schmo out haha!)

2) get XP professional

3) right-no key is likely to be required (see answer #1 above)

4) the recovery discs will handle the sata issue for you (if you got sata, it will enable same in bios)

don't worry-be happy!

 

I seem to be the reigning king of knowledge on this issue (that ought to give you pause, haha)

Read my posts made today above if you want detail:

I was in the same boat-I gave a serial # and got XP....simple.

You enter the ordering page by specifying XP in the first place-and the precise flavor you wish to receive...the serial number is probably used to support their licensing gestapo deal with billy at microshaft, etc etc.

My advice born of experience (the negative kind) is not to talk to hp at all-they caused me more time waste and told more untruths than satan could on sunday (no, I am not religious).

Ask no questions-and hp will tell you no lies....capiche?

 

This may or may not be true...keep reading:

1) Every hp person I spoke to either didn't know the answer for sure, or down right told me my situation would absolutely not work...yet work it did, perfectly too....and the net cost is all of $16.10 to have that result delivered onto your doorstep. Be brave-just order it and try-then post your results. Theory is theory (greek)-practice is actual (roman). The Romans beat the Greeks. You do the math. (Hey-anyone wanna buy my book "How to get what you want without having to beg-think outside of da'box!"???...just $9.99, way cheap!)

2) The people at hp don't want to answer the question-they aren't paid to be that helpful. They aren't paid for deselling vista. Think.

3) If you believe what hp techs that haven't actually tried it tell you....well, I have this great bridge in Brooklyn I'd like to sell you. . .(or just buy my book instead, and get the bridge for free...such a deal !)

Listen folks, I am an electrical engineer that has been designing equipment for over 30 years...vista and xp are SOFTWARE....not hardware. Your hardware is fairly (key word there) generic....NO HARDWARE IN AN EXISTING COMMERCIAL LAPTOP/NOTEBOOK IS DESIGNED TO RUN ON ONLY ONE PIECE OF SOFTWARE.

period.

The antithesis is pure idiot mythology intended to sell you something you don't want or need.

If ya wanna argue, get your EE degree first and write me in 30 years.

Now, go forth and install xp my son, and let the light of a half decent operating system smile upon thee.

Peace.

 

If you use the hp recovery disks, the driver will likely be there. Alternately go to the hp driver download site and snag the driver there. (Or let your lappy loose on the internet and see what it comes up with when it asks if it can use the net to find your quarry.)

The sata driver has to be loaded at the prompt during the xp install (watch dee leeetle text at the base of your monitor carefully during the install-it will prompt you for it, and you can get it off the hp driver download site-I did).

Sata is only important if you want the benefits of it's speed, (that's the short forum answer).

In my application the speed is quite critical-and so I made sure to get it and install it correctly...when I did an xp install from retail discs....but again, if you use the recovery discs for your unit...it will do all this nifty geeknoid stuff for you (ie: enable sata properly) and you can just be happy with the lappy.

Ok folks-my public service stint is over....anyone with other problems will find solutions IF THEY READ THESE THREADS CAREFULLY (ie: both this one-and the one that started it all that I posted originally-see da link at the start of this mess) AND THINK OUTSIDE OF THE HP BOX!

Now buy my book dammit!

 

I have figured out my notebook will instantly activate XP if an OEM disk is used to install it, since it verifies codes in your bios. Now if I can just find an OEM install CD for Media Center Edition 2005. I think the OEM version of MCE is only missing a codec or something that the Retail version includes.

 

Re post: http://forum.notebookreview.com/showpost.php?p=1890348&postcount=17


Yes I agree on the music, so far as a business person. Not much I can do about that, since I didn't create the videos.

Links to the various Linux distros posted to show how they compare to Vista.

I installed Vista on one machine (dual boot, Xp Pro, and Vista Ultimate)... and I'm not happy navigating thru it.

(It's much different from XP PRO)

Not happy with the direction MS is going with all the DRM crap... Seems to me MS has spent more time on "protecting" /partnering with the Hollywood types on digital content (i.e movies, music) than protecting the end-user (you and me) from hackers, viruses, and el-crap-ola along those lines.



Windows Vista Content Protection - Twenty Questions (and Answers)

PS: The so-called content protection in Vista is bad news for ALL of us, maybe not now right now, but 5-10 , 20 years down the road..

(Gee maybe we should go to subscription OS service/apps... each time you use it you pay a fee, forever, and ever, and ever.....)

http://windowsvistablog.com/blogs/w...-protection-twenty-questions-and-answers.aspx

Before you dimiss the comments made by posters in that thread, In the next few years due to broadband, the distribution of musics/songs/movies/software, etc will be going more and more towards a downloadable format... One post I think in the thread above saying MS is putting in place the mechanisms (or helping to put in place) a way to get a "cut" of everything you download/access, etc..

.

 

I agree with what you're saying....

Do think you were "lucky" getting a XP disc shipped out to you, since you had to enter the serial number.

Me thinks the page, the ordering system had a loophole...(at least in your case

.

 

I ordered and got the XP Pro recovery discs for dv6000t CTO. However the recovery process shows 10 hrs to complete and its slooow. I disabled/enabled native SATA support in bios but no luck. Any idea why this is happening and any workarounds?

Also where can I get the SATA drivers for dv6000t CTO with a nvidia card? Thanks.

 

I purchased the XP recovery cd's from HP. When I tried to install them I get an error message..."This recovery disk is not compatible with your system" and it will not let me run them. Any advise would be greatly appreciated. I have an HP dv9000. It is running Vista right now and I hate it!

Tigger