How to Set Up Windows XP on a Studio XPS 16 Laptop

Ninja,

Could you please update the link list shown above?

We get redirected to wrong website when selecting-- Someone must have hack'd the links.

Thanks!

It works fine for me.  I just copied and pasted it into the browser location, and wholah!  I'll repost it as a link here.  Give that a try.

http://en.community.dell.com/forums/p/19264032/19448681.aspx#19448681

I am new to this forum. I have succeded in setting up Win XP 64 bit on my xps 1645. I cannot get audio to work. The PIDT001 posted above installs the audio service but it cannot start. Any ideas?

Were you able to finally get the audio to work? I also would prefer x64 but I have labored for 2 weeks with no audio. So I finally gave up and switched to 32 bit.

If you had the audio drivers could you post the link. Thanks.

Big K ,

Audio works on my current 32 bit XP install but I don't recall which driver file I used or where I found the driver and or fix. My DELL 1640 has BluRay and High Def Audio. Here are some clues:

DELL 1640 w/ BluRay and High Def Audio: - 32bit XP Audio Driver Details: ATI Function Driver For High Def Audio - ATI > Location: 65535 Internal High Def Audio Bus > DRIVER: ATI version 5.0.40001.9  7/13/2007 > ATIHDMI.SYS (in windows 32 system folder)

Since this is ATI, I am guessing that when I used this site: http://www.driverheaven.net/modtool.php to modify the ATI drivers for XP video, that it may have also installed the necessary high def audio driver for ATI Radeon HD 3670 device <<< I can't confirm that this statement is 100% correct.

My current XP 32 bit install also shows IDT Audio for High Def - you can try to search web for more info

Win7 64 bit Driver Details (6 driver files each for device Location 0 (Internal High Definition Audio Bus)): ATI High Def version 5.0.7000.4  6/5/2009 and Microsoft High Def 7/13/2009 version 6.1.7600.16385

Try uninstalling all audio drivers > reboot > then re-install with the best driver match you can find. I hope this was at least helpful or gives you a few clues on how to get it working.

Wanderer2010

Thanks for your (and everyone else's) contribution to this forum.  I am lining up all the drivers to install XP 32bit.  Do you have the Dell Wireless 370 Card (2.0 + EDR)? Have you had any subsequent BSOD either in XP 32bit or Vista 64bit?  Did flashing the firmware create any problems? Do you know the original Bluetooth driver file number that came with your XPS 16?  I am unable to track mine down from the "utilities disk" ( dated Nov 2008) that came with my Aug 2009 delivery. Thanks in advance for your response.

FYI ALL - When I first installed XP32bit and got blue screen, I noticed that if I go into setup and manually switch SATA MODE to ATA for XP and switch back SATA MODE to AHCI for Win 7, I can dual boot without making any BIOS changes. The down side is that I must do this every time I want to boot to XP and must remember to change it back when booting to Win7 - otherwise it will "bluescreen".

HardDriveWhiner - Sorry - I don't have answers - just questions for you - Any luck with these devices on XP32:

1. 1394 Net Adaptor on OHCI Compliant IEEE Host Controller (Ricoh 1394 OHCI in Win7)

2. ACPI\ITE8708 (Intel Chip) on Intel ICH9M LPC Interface Controller-2919

3. ACPI\PNP0C32 on Microsoft ACPI - Compliant System (is this for the thermal CD eject button?)

NinjaRunningWild - I saw a thread but cant find it now: Did you say you are familiar with OpenGL? Did you find another driver modifier better than DriverHeaven? (Sorry if this is old news, I can't seem to find the correct thread in all of these postings.) Anyway:

When Booting to XP, I seem to get this ERROR message each time "EXT_frame_buffer_object not found". I am assuming that the  driver modifyer, http://www.driverheaven.net/modtool.php may have modified the ATI Radeon driver to get it working but also causes this error. Do you have any clues?

Also - Thanks for posting the WebCam link! - and please don't "Ninja Kick Me" if you have already posted some of these answers - and many pardons for not being able to navigate these many forum reply threads...

Another aside for ALL: I have found that Win7 is much better than XP and I use it most often. Although I originally installed XP to allow full and "familiar" compatability with old AutoCAD software, I also found that I can ignore the Win7 Message "known compatability issues - with Old AutoCAD Software-" without very much trouble.

Yes, I'm certified and somewhat experienced in OpenGL.  The link to all the drivers is in one of my posts above.  Take a look and it will answer all your questions.  Please post replies there.

Links to a working audio driver can be found here:- http://en.community.dell.com/forums/p/19268752/19489755.aspx#19489755

Thanks to everyone.

Wanderer: I have set up XP on my xps 1645. I used the following drivers without much of a problem.

1.       Ricoh ---
          http://support.us.dell.com/support/downloads/download.aspx?c=us&l=en&s=gen&releaseid=R234107&formatcnt=1&libid=0&typeid=-1&dateid=-1&formatid=-1&fileid=336870

2.       ITECIR --- Lenovo driver here:   http://consumersupport.lenovo.com/en/DriversDownloads/drivers_show_710.html 

3.       Chipset --- I presume you have the PM55 chipset? Download the chipset drivers from Intel
           (INF Update Utility - Primarily for Intel® 5, 4, 3, 900 Series Chipsets). This worked for me. 

            http://downloadcenter.intel.com/download.aspx?url=/18494/a08/infinst911autol.exe&DwnldId=18494&lang=eng

4.      ACPI errors usually relate to system or ACPI Bios settings. I suggest the following for your errors:

         a.       Install Chipset drivers (above). Worked for me

         b.       Flash the Bios. I used the latest A03 for xps 1645 from Dell below: 

   http://support.dell.com/support/downloads/driverslist.aspx?os=W764&catid=-1&dateid=-1&impid=-1&osl=EN&typeid=-1&formatid=-1&servicetag=&SystemID=STUDIOXPS1645&hidos=WV64&hidlang=en&TabIndex=

         c.        Load Bios default  settings

         d.       You may have to reinstall XP if the above don’t work

5.       Video.  Wanderer, did you use the latest desktop ATI equivalents driver for your video card in the modder?

 6.      HardDriveWhiner: Bluetooth.  I have the  the Dell Wireless 370 Card (2.0 + EDR). This driver worked well on XP:

http://support.us.dell.com/support/downloads/download.aspx?c=us&l=en&s=gen&releaseid=R216460&formatcnt=1&libid=0&typeid=-1&dateid=-1&formatid=-1&fileid=307412

By the way what is the use for the infrared? I don't seem to find what to use it for.

Thank you once again

Big K,

I see Archway I posted a reply for Audio Driver.

This following is for XP32 installed on multi boot system (XP, VISTA & WIN7). Manuualy set SATA MODE Bios Setting "ATA" before boot to XP and Manually set to "AHCI" before boot to Win7. (I'm not in the mood right now to re-install XP to get AHCI mode working for XP)

REF:    2.       ITECIR --- Lenovo driver here...........I believe that driver is for vista only and did not work.

I used this driver from this page: http://forum.notebookreview.com/showthread.php?t=376052 and it corrected device ACPI\ITE8708 on INTEL ICH9 LPC INTERFACE CONTROLLER-2919:

ITE IT8512 CIR Receiver
Version: 5.0.0004.6, A07

REF:     3.       Chipset --- I presume you have the PM55 chipset? Download the chipset drivers from Intel
           (INF Update Utility - Primarily for Intel® 5, 4, 3, 900 Series Chipsets). This worked for me. 

            http://downloadcenter.intel.com/download.aspx?url=/18494/a08/infinst911autol.exe&DwnldId=18494&lang=eng

NO - DELL Studio XPS 1640-026B has INTEL Chipset PM45. I'm not aware of any problems but did try several times to install several different chipset drivers without problem.

REF: 5.       Video.  Wanderer, did you use the latest desktop ATI equivalents driver for your video card in the modder?

YES - as far as I can remember because I tried several times with several different ATI drivers. It modded without problem. The video seems to be fine.

PROBLEM: I sometimes get error "EXT_frame_buffer_object extension not found" during logon. I believe this error has to do with Open_GL. Sometimes, while viewing animated  web content like flash or something, the display blinks rapidly during refres of the content - it seems. Please post help here for this issue: http://en.community.dell.com/forums/p/19314298/19626339.aspx#19626339

NinjaRunningWild - can you elaborate on this above problem?

Thanks to All

The ITECIR is for the Dell Mobile infrared remote control, annoying not supplied with the 1640 but only a few £££. Watch the postage - I wanted 2 remotes but ended up with 5 (!) as postage+++ was charged with 2 but waived with 5. I installed the Lenovo ITECIR driver a while ago and it installs correctly and appears to work. However, it doesnt seem to do anything in XP. The remote works well in Win7 (my systems are dual boot) and I dont know why they do nothing in XP. However, in Win7 installing the ITECIR driver causes a whole bunch of other hardware - infrared keyboards and mice etc. to be installed as well as the "Microsoft eHome Infrared Transceiver". I assume that the infrared "talks" to these virtual devices which then operate the software and that without the eHome transceiver nothing happens. These devices do exit in Windows XP Media Centre and it might be possible to obtain the necessary drivers but I dont have time to try - if I want to use the infrared remote, I boot Win7 !

Hope that helps.

Wanderer2010 - I also took the easy way for installing XP and changed my BIOS to ATA to allow me to boot without going the nlite path. When all was up and running, however, I found this link that allows you to retrofit the whole SATA / AHCI shebang:

http://saysprasad.wordpress.com/2009/02/01/installing-sata-drivers-for-enabling-sata-native-mode-after-installing-windows-xp/

I followed the steps to a T and it worked like a charm. What I did was install my Windows 7 drive and obtain the hard drive controller ID from the device manager (mine was a "PCHM SATA AHCI Controller 6 port"). You'll need to know that when you follow the steps in the link above. Right after I installed it, I think my computer immediately did what seemed like a quick BSOD but it restarted, I right away went into the BIOS, changed it to AHCI, and low-and-behold: SATA is working. This should save you from going into the BIOS so often.

A few questions of my own:

1. So has anyone found a definitively solid solution for the sound card and microphone? I've tried every driver anyone has mentioned here without success. But I've been trying one right after the other...should I be completely uninstalling the one that doesn't work and restarting before trying the next one? If someone has a good sequence of steps that worked, can you please post it?

2.  Was wondering if it might improve things overall by upgrading to SP3? (SP2 was the last supported OS for their oldest software version that I need access to for clients, but the software is SP3 tolerant).  Yes I have the latest and greatest XPS 1645, 16" RGB, series 5 chipset, core i7 820QM, 4GB, ATI HD4670, and yes, sadly, I run WinXP SP2 (on a separate HDD) due to legacy apps that the software company has no plans of making Vista-compatible, let alone Windows 7-compatible.

Kudos, btw, to NinjaRunningWild, Archway1, HardDriveWhiner, and others who've contributed...this PC would have otherwise been RMA'd a week ago.

A further note on the Webcam Driver - this has caused both my 1640's to hang on shutdown such that they have to be turned off at the power switch. Unistalling the webcam via device manager causes windows to reinstall it as a "USB imaging device" or thereabouts with windows drivers. This actually works correctly in windows explorer and with the Dell Webcam application. However, a driver update using Windows update is available which updates to version 1.7.1.901 dated 1/9/9. The application software can be installed from those available from the "My Dell Downloads" version which at present (version 1.2) still supports XP.

I also got hold of a couple of after market mobile broadband 5530 cards to play with. Installing these in XP was a bit messy because the broadband wireless manager software, the drivers and a thing called the WMCore service have to be installed. I suggest using R251268 from the Dell site for the drivers and WMCore. It is labelled as for the 5540 card but will install 5530 correctly and has a fairly recent wmcore.exe. Then install R242753 which is just the management software (i.e. the stuff you can interact with for settings and connection on/off etc.). This all works well for me. Both the version of wmcore.exe in R251268 and from other sources such as R242754 fault on windows shutdown producing an error message. I havent been able to fix this but it doesnt slow down or prevent shutdown and seems to be just aesthetically displeasing.

So having tried a modded desktop version of the HD 4670 graphics driver, and then a simply a straight desktop version (non-modded) version that I downloaded from ATI (included in Catalyst version 9.10) and installed via device manager, I felt I had sub-standard video performance. Just as bad, I wasn't getting an signal through the VGA port on the side (I need to use a projector for work presentations). I instead found best video performance with a driver download from MSI's website. Their EX625 had a Radeon Mobility HD4670, although I think it had the 512MB memory instead of the 1GB of DDR3. What's even better, the download is for Win XP:

http://www.msi.com/index.php?func=downloaddetail&type=driver&maincat_no=135&prod_no=1678

It's a big download (~140+MB), but worth not having to mod a desktop driver, IMO. I won't know if the VGA port works until I go into work on Monday, so I'll post an update then. Follow-up: After a ton of digging and multiple Dell Quickset downloads for other laptops, I decided to just cut to the chase and install the ATI Catalyst software that came with the above-mentioned MSI driver download. Within Catalyst is the means to either "extend" or "clone" your desktop to an external video source (among other options). It worked for the XGA projector I connect to at work and is the route I will be taking in the future...enough with all the experimentation - I have actual work to do!! Sure wish I could make use of that LCD/Monitor toggle button, though.

The other thing I downloaded was the RivaTuner GPU OC utility...yes an overclocking utility for a laptop (and yes I know the heat risks associated with OC-ing an already-hot laptop environment). Everything worked exactly as described in the link below except for where to download the GPU-z utility. Here's the link to the article, along with the correct link to the GPU-z utility mentioned in the article:

http://twisted-reviews.com/overclocking-ati-mobility-radeon-hd4570-hd4650-hd4670/

http://www.techpowerup.com/gpuz/

I didn't do the whole FurMark test/observation part, but I haven't had any problems with the OC settings in the article (when you change settings with RivaTuner, don't forget to hit the 'Save' button or they won't actually take effect.) And I still only have the factory 90W AC adapter.

Good luck...