CANNOT Install Windows XP on XPS 410 !! HELP

Question

I just got my new Dell XPS today! The system came with Windows VISTA Home Premium and the VISTA Home Premium DVD Install. I took out the old HD and put in 2 X 74GB Western Digital Raptor Drives. Install was easy and upon bootup the BIOS recognized both drives (they are installed on SATA 0 & SATA 1... DVD/CDRW is installed on SATA 4).   I pop in my DELL Windows XP Professional CD SP2 and press 'any key' to start the XP Pro install. The process starts normally and various drivers are loaded, however just before the EULA F8 stuff comes up I get a BSOD (Blue Screen of Death) with some various error codes on it. Hmm...   I figured I should formart the drives. So I install my Western Digital Data Lifeguard Tools 11.2 Floppy and format both drives. I re-start and install the Dell XP CD again and attempt to install XP. AGAIN.. at the SAME POINT as last time the install halts and a BSOD appears.   I start to get a little nervous so I take out the VISTA DVD and install Vista and it installs just fine, no errors or nothing! I'm actually in VISTA right now typing this on the XPS 410.   SOMEONE PLEASE HELP to figure out WHY XP Pro is NOT installing and why I get the BSOD when trying to install XP!!!

dcgtls · Answer

You need to download the raid drivers from Dell and put them on a floppy disk. At the very begining of the XP install it will ask you if you have drivers and if you do to press 'F6' do this and point it to the floppy (it may work from a 2nd CD) and you will be all set. DRIVER

ex0dus · Answer

I need the RAID drivers even though I don't have a RAID setup? Message Edited by ex0dus on 02-26-2007 09:34 PM

dcgtls · Answer

The default setting in the Bios is RAID ON. You can turn it to AUTO/ATA if you want and you will not need to use the floppy with the raid drivers and you will not get the BSOD any longer. But there has been much talk on the boards about the performance between the two settings. I have run it both ways on my XPS 410 and have configured mine so that I can change it on the fly and have really not seen any ill effects as a result. You need to decide before you do the installation of XP if there is a chance that you may want to migrate to a RAID later on down the road. If you do not think that you will then go ahead and change the Bios setting to Auto/ATA and you will be fine. You may want to do a search on this to help you make your decision.   Dave

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CANNOT Install Windows XP on XPS 410 !! HELP

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