How to downgrade to XP?

Question

After a really troublesome week with my new Dell laptop, I decided I've had enough of Vista. So I installed XP Pro.. only to find out that MediaDirect and other Dell-specific things won't work. So I'm back to Vista again.

Is there ANY way I can downgrade to XP and use Dell software too? Can I download some specific drivers for that or should I just sacrifice the software for the op.system I like (and the one that doesn't eat up all battery power)?

Noxo · Answer

What model laptop do you have?

kerli · Answer

Well, as I got it with Vista Basic, all the software was only Vista-compatible. So when I tried to install it on XP, I did not succeed, got a message saying that I have a wrong op.system.

How can I use the software? Do I have to install XP, then this & this, then the software from CD-s and it would all be OK? Sorry, if that sounds silly, but how can these two applications help?

One more thing - bluetooth did not work with Xp either.

Noxo · Answer

All the drivers you need can be found here:   http://support.dell.com/support/downloads/driverslist.aspx?c=us&l=en&s=gen&ServiceTag=&SystemID=INS_PNT_E1405&os=WW1&osl=en&catid=&impid=   That system looks like it used to ship with XP so I don't see any reason why it shouldn't work perfectly with it.

kerli · Answer

Inspiron 640m (applies to E1405 in US).

GioAguilar · Answer

First, you have to boot to the Media Direct disc, so it can create the partition for it and for the OS, then install XP, when it finishes the installation (drivers as well), install Media Direct.

Windows General

How to downgrade to XP?

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