Installing XP on a DV7T?

I am awaiting the arrival of my new DV7T (configuration to follow) and would like to know if anyone has successfully installed XP on theirs and if so, what problems, if any, did you encounter?


Configuration is as follows:
--HP Pavilion dv7t Entertainment PC
- Genuine Windows Vista Home Premium with Service Pack 1 (64-bit)
- Intel(R) Core(TM)2 Duo Processor T9550 (2.66 GHz)
- 4GB DDR2 System Memory (2 Dimm)
- 500GB 7200RPM SATA Dual Hard Drive (250GB x 2) with HP ProtectSmart Hard Drive Protection
- 1GB ATI Mobility Radeon(TM) HD 4650
- 17.3" diagonal HD+ High-Definition HP BrightView Infinity Widescreen Display (1600 x 900)
- Blu-Ray ROM with SuperMulti DVD+/-R/RW Double Layer
- [For BrightView Infinity Display] Webcam + Fingerprint Reader
- Intel Next-Gen Wireless-N Mini-card with Bluetooth

 

ok friend first of all you need to devote a lot of energy and time into this thread http://forum.notebookreview.com/showthread.php?t=281286 pretty much everything you need is in that thread. You need to read all 41 pages...WHY? because there is certain stuff you need to know about the DV7 and only in that thread will you find the answers. Now on to what I did....

I have a HP DV7-1270
2.4GHZ core duo
9600 Nvidida 300GB HD
4GB Ram and had Windows Vista Home premium which is garbage.

I'm not gonna go into the installation procedures of Vista to XP because it's all in that forum that I linked you to.

But I will give you some great advice.

#1 create backup disks of Vista it will take you 3 discs DVD-R's Once you have those created put them aside you will probably never need them, ever again (hopefully)

#2 Now this is just what I did, and you can do the same, up to you.
The HP Dv-7 and probably most newer Hp Laptops have an extra Hard drive slot, keep this in mind. So I took a spare 80GB hard drive and made it my main, and then I wiped out the 300GB hard drive that the laptop came with and reformatted it to ntfs and now I have 380GB's in my laptop.

okay #3 This is very important, you ever install WINXP on a computer and it says can't find Hard drive? well if you don't use this next program called Nlite you will encounter this problem with your DV7 , google NLITE download and NLITE tutorial and you will see how easy it is. Basically you run Nlite and you just click on what you want on your ISO disk. #1 you want Windows Xp pro SP2 (if possible) and you want to add drivers to it, the proper driver (singular) is in that thread. Important note when you are adding the driver, just add ONE driver not all of them, this is the biggest problem with Nlite and new users, don't install all of them, some people will tell you to install of them, don't do it. It's causing a lot of blue screens and black screens and non boots, etc etc. besides you don't need all of them.

Once your done reading that thread you will realize that the biggest headache of converting your wonderful Hp laptop to Xp from Vista is not the boot up it's the SOUND big problem with the DV7's and sound, just follow the Devcon.exe hack and you should be fine. Basically you will write up a program, small on notepad and make it a batchfile, again it's in that thread just read through it, oh and don't think you can do this overnight, you better order a pizza and hammer away all weekend at this thing, in other words take your time, this is expensive equipment right? Good luck

My DV7 1270 is faster and way better now with XP, yah not everything works, like my IR remote don't work so what, never used it anyways, I can now run all my software without stupid Vista giving me roadblocks, its a thing of beauty, on and one more thing, in that thread they link another thread about the Dv5 series, I would look into that, very informative.


Mark

 

ouch, I didn't see your computer is coming with an ATI, you will need to search the forums, seems like ATI and Microsoft don't want to play nice, you will have to sniff that one out on your own.

 

Thanks for the info. Wow! A lot of trouble to go through.

Seems a clean install of Vista would be the way to go.

 

Actually!

Windows 7 makes XP look like a joke. Go get Windows 7 the RC and install that until release.

 

wrong...

Windows 7 still is not proven to be an effective OS not until all the kinks are ironed out, and then you have to pay for it. Most PC users have atleast one windows XP key laying around or they can purchase Windows XP for under 100 us dollars. Don't lead the poor man astray, WINXP is proven WIN7 is not.

and WIN XP is not a joke, I have it installed on my HP DV7 2.4 intel core duo CPU and its super fast and very reliable. Fine your a WIN7 fanboy just lets figure out next year #1 how much it costs and #2 is it really worth the upgrade, many of these things were said about Vista and look where were at....

 

Sorry susanto, but I'm one of the most outspoken Vista bashers and XP promoters on this site, and I have to disagree with you.

Windows7 is more reliable for the dozen installs i've done with it already, than Vista.

As much as I do love and still run XP on some machines, I have to give credit where it is due. Windows 7 is what Vista should have been, and they are basically doing this free trial period, just to show everyone that they got it right.

XP is definitely not a joke, and in my opinion Vista is, but the future is Windows 7.

As far as Scormodo is concerned, if you have a day to sit down and really spend the time to get your drivers, make a slipstreamed XP disc and give it a go, then you should install XP instead of Vista. But if you don't want to spend a day, (or less, depends on your savvy-ness), then you should install Windows 7.

 

Remember Windows Millennium and how everyone disliked it? Then XP came out and everyone was happy.

Vista is the modern Windows Millennium and 7 is the modern XP.

I rescind the XP is a joke statement, but when 7 is out fully XP will become obsolete.

Windows 7 is fantastic. I've used practically all of the Windows operating systems ranging from the Windows Server series to the businesses series and finally the home editions. XP performs great and you guys are used to it. The lack of Superfetch and all of the added abilities makes XP much more efficient on older PCs, but all modern PCs are either dual core or quad-core now. In addition, these newer HP notebooks are made for Vista and Windows 7 uses the same structure of Vista. In return, upgrading to 7 will provide way less frustration and ease of use. XP requires sata drivers to install and run, various audio mods to get sound working, and manually researching all of the drivers that are compatible with XP. Windows 7 automatically detects your internet connection and all of the drivers in your SWSetup folder work with 7.

I personally own a DV7T and I have installed Lunix, Vista, XP, 7 and even Windows Server 2003 (for fun). Windows 7 was by far the easiest of all to install. So for ease of use and less frustration get the 7 RC. Just be sure to backup your data in March of 2010 and find a copy of 7. I believe HP was going to offer some kind of "Upgrade Anytime" disc for Windows 7 so maybe you'll be in luck.