Downgrade from Vista to XP

Question

Hi  all I just bought an Inspiron 1720 and I am trying to downgrade from Vista to XP.  I boot with installation XP CD and after a while a blue screen comes up that says that either I dont have enough disk or BIOS needs update or I have a problem with the driver pci.sys.    To overcome this I tried dual booting solution.  But I tried to install XP (run setup) from Windows VISTA but the option 'Install Windows XP' is disabled.   Any recommendations?  Thank you in advance

mombodog · Answer

That is not a good candidate for downgrading to XP, you will have to slipstream any XP hardware drivers you can find for that model into your XP cd, before trying to install XP.   http://www.dellcommunity.com/supportforums/board/message?board.id=vista&message.id=39856&query.id=27969#M39856  only thread I can find on this task.

ktme9300 · Answer

I have Vista Premium on my 1520. During that time I dual booted XP and Vista. I also installed XP soley on the 1520. This week I decided that I wanted to go back to Vista Premium. So far Vista runs as fast as XP does. I have spent time tweaking settings and getting the most performance out of Vista. It's starting to grow on me. If it wasn't for game compatibility issues, I'd probably install Vista back on my XPS 410.   The other problem with XP on the 1720 is lack of driver support. It was more of a headache when Vista can be as good or better than XP with a little tweaking.

mombodog · Answer

If you still want to downgrade that Inspiron 1720, here are the drivers you will need. Install XP then Install drivers in this order only.

Notebook System Software , If anyone knows what version of NSS for XP what will work on this model please post it.

http://support.dell.com/support/downloads/download.aspx?c=us&l=en&s=gen&releaseid=R153997&SystemID=INS_PNT_PM_1720&servicetag= &os=WW1&osl=en&deviceid=1134&devlib=0&typecnt=0&vercnt=1&catid=-1&impid=-1&formatcnt=1&libid=27&fileid=205326 chipset

http://support.us.dell.com/support/downloads/download.aspx?c=us&l=en&s=gen&releaseid=R160738&formatcnt=1&libid=0&fileid=215217 Video,

Nvidia 8400m or 8600m

http://support.dell.com/support/downloads/download.aspx?c=us&l=en&s=gen&releaseid=R149798&SystemID=INS_PNT_PM_1720&servicetag= &os=WW1&osl=en&deviceid=2966&devlib=0&typecnt=0&vercnt=1&catid=-1&impid=-1&formatcnt=1&libid=5&fileid=198980 Network (wired)

http://support.dell.com/support/downloads/download.aspx?c=us&l=en&s=gen&releaseid=R164255&SystemID=INS_PNT_PM_1720&servicetag= &os=WW1&osl=en&deviceid=13576&devlib=0&typecnt=0&vercnt=1&catid=-1&impid=-1&formatcnt=1&libid=5&fileid=220545 Network (wireless)

http://support.dell.com/support/downloads/download.aspx?c=us&l=en&s=gen&releaseid=R153908&SystemID=LATITUDE%20D830&servicetag=&os=WW1&osl=en&deviceid=8907&devlib=0&typecnt=0&vercnt=1&catid=-1&impid=-1&formatcnt=1&libid=3&fileid=205136 Audio, this is the audio driver for the Latitude D830, but work for the Ins. 1720

http://support.dell.com/support/downloads/download.aspx?c=us&l=en&s=gen&releaseid=R141246&SystemID=INS_PNT_PM_1720&servicetag= &os=WW1&osl=en&deviceid=13405&devlib=0&typecnt=0&vercnt=1&catid=-1&impid=-1&formatcnt=1&libid=27&fileid=188377 card reader

http://support.dell.com/support/downloads/download.aspx?c=us&l=en&s=gen&releaseid=R154200&SystemID=INS_PNT_PM_1720&servicetag= &os=WW1&osl=en&deviceid=11530&devlib=0&typecnt=0&vercnt=1&catid=-1&impid=-1&formatcnt=1&libid=41&fileid=205611 Sata drivers, you will need these slipstreamed into the XPsp2 cd to install XP on that Notebook. Not to be installed after XP is installed. You will have to extract the Rxxxx file using winzip or equivalent, before slipstreaming the driver contents.

Slipstreaming software

http://www.nliteos.com/nlite.html

Message Edited by mombodog on 10-02-2007 04:07 PM

Zetan1 · Answer

Thanks mate you really helped me!!!!!

mombodog · Answer

You may want to remove the Dell hard drive and install a new one, you will lose the built in Dell partitions that enable PC restore, media direct, and the Dell diagnostics if you install XP on the Dell drive.

Save the Dell drive for later when you wish to try Vista again or sell the Laptop. These partitions are extremely difficult to restore if you wish to revert back to Vista.

Please be sure to post any problems or success with the NSS software, have fun.

Message Edited by mombodog on 09-29-2007 12:48 PM

Zetan1 · Answer

The work has been done successfully. The first Driver you told me does not work. Also the nvidia drivers must be installed. Audio drivers doesnt work also. Now can I change BIOS settings for SATA (from ATA to the factory settings, I think DHCMI)? Thanks you very very much

Zetan1 · Answer

Sigmatel cannot be installed. Installation shuts down immediatelly without message. No audio drivers has been found. For example I cannot adjust speaker volume. Any recommendation?

mombodog · Answer

Zetan1 wrote:
The work has been done successfully. The first Driver you told me does not work. Also the nvidia drivers must be installed. Audio drivers doesnt work also. Now can I change BIOS settings for SATA (from ATA to the factory settings, I think DHCMI)? Thanks you very very much

Thanks for the info.

No you cannot change the bios setting, a bsod will result if you do, it is OK to leave as is.

"Audio drivers doesnt work also"

What went wrong? Did they install, just no audio? or an installation failure? what was the exact error?

"nvidia drivers"

For Video? What model card?

mombodog · Answer

Right click on the Rxxx sigmatel driver and select properties, is there a 'unblock' button available? If so click it. Hit OK   Now right click the file again and choose 'run as administrator' hit OK Try to install it now.

Zetan1 · Answer

Still nothing and no audio drivers I ll try again tommorow. thanks again

Zetan1 · Answer

I finally did it with the driver R153908 (which is for Latitude D830 and not for Inspiron 1720). The only problematic driver I have is for Modem Device which is not working. Thanks again

mombodog · Answer

Thanks, I will edit my earlier post to reflect driver changes.   What nvidia drivers did you install??   If you find a dial up modem driver post that works post that also.

Zetan1 · Answer

R160738 Nvidia Drivers

mombodog · Answer

Much appreciated, this will help many others in the future.

djcoma1200 · Answer

Zetan1 wrote: I finally did it with the driver R153908 (which is for Latitude D830 and not for Inspiron 1720). The only problematic driver I have is for Modem Device which is not working. Thanks again How did you get the audio working with that specific driver? I'm in the same boat you were and can't seem to get it working. Everything else is running pretty good.

Windows General

Downgrade from Vista to XP

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