If Dell does not support XP you may have problems finding all the needed XP drivers. It will require XP specific hardware drivers for some items, e.g. Sound and we have found that non-Dell sound drivers either do not work or do not work properly.
Have you tried running whatever program you need to run? or just assume it needs XP. Many XP programs run without problems in Windows 7 native mode or if it won't run in the native mode in a compatibility mode.
It may even be better to buy an old used XP machine just for that application. Trying to find XP drivers for the new technology hardware may end up being impossible (this is one reason Dell does not have XP drivers).
As firebird said, it may not work at all, as modern technology just is not supported by XP (TurboBoost, etc.). If you want to try it, the best way will be to get drivers from the individual device manufacturers' websites (Intel, Broadcom, Realtek, etc.).
I agree that there is very little that won't run in Windows 7. Also, if you are using Professional or higher, you can try and run your software in "XP Mode" on Windows 7 - one of the many compatability modes that Windows 7 offers ... if it is even needed at all.
XP can no longer be sold on new PC's. There are still a few Dell PC's that "support" XP, but they can be rather spendy - the Precision lineup of business PC's.
If you are up to the challenge (and it will be a challenge), try putting XP on it - it might work acceptably for its planned use, but experience says this will be a somewhat time-consuming - and possibly frustrating - process.
Thanks firebred for your reply. This is actually for my parents who have been using windows xp for years. I want to upgrade their old PC. But they have difficulty to adopt to windows 7. I guess I will have to find an older generation PC for them. I wish Dell offer a search option for Windows XP. Their search option only have windows 7, freedos/linux, and 64 bit os.
I don't know how old the 260s is, and I don't know when the cutoff was for XP to be pre-installed, but I would assume that maybe originally that was an option, which they discontinued (Dell does not update product intro pages as the system evolves). That said, it may run XP at at least a basic level ... or maybe they stopped or never actually offered it because of sub-par performance/reliability.
Windows 7 is not drastically different than XP. I'm in Florida and in an area that I support a lot of Retirees (I'm one myself) and NONE of my clients have any problems using Vista/Windows 7. There is some learning curve, and they will have to learn a different e-mail program as Outlook Express is not available for Vista or Win 7, but otherwise browsing is bascially the same. Games are the same, etc.
July 12, 2012 is "end of life" for Windows XP. The date Microsoft stops support XP with security updates. This is not that far off, so another reason for your parents to accept Windows 7.
If your parents are dead set on Windows XP, I'd buy a back from corporate lease Dell PC with Core 2 Duo CPU and 4 GB of RAM. Dell sells these through www.dfsdirectsales.com. I personally have had good luck buying used laptops on eBay. You just have to be careful about the seller.
When it is not supported by the manufacturer, yes you usually need to be creative in finding your drivers ... usually going to the manufacturer of each individual device.
fireberd
9 Legend
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33.4K Posts
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October 9th, 2011 04:00
If Dell does not support XP you may have problems finding all the needed XP drivers. It will require XP specific hardware drivers for some items, e.g. Sound and we have found that non-Dell sound drivers either do not work or do not work properly.
Have you tried running whatever program you need to run? or just assume it needs XP. Many XP programs run without problems in Windows 7 native mode or if it won't run in the native mode in a compatibility mode.
It may even be better to buy an old used XP machine just for that application. Trying to find XP drivers for the new technology hardware may end up being impossible (this is one reason Dell does not have XP drivers).
theflash1932
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16.3K Posts
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October 9th, 2011 09:00
As firebird said, it may not work at all, as modern technology just is not supported by XP (TurboBoost, etc.). If you want to try it, the best way will be to get drivers from the individual device manufacturers' websites (Intel, Broadcom, Realtek, etc.).
I agree that there is very little that won't run in Windows 7. Also, if you are using Professional or higher, you can try and run your software in "XP Mode" on Windows 7 - one of the many compatability modes that Windows 7 offers ... if it is even needed at all.
theflash1932
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16.3K Posts
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October 9th, 2011 09:00
XP can no longer be sold on new PC's. There are still a few Dell PC's that "support" XP, but they can be rather spendy - the Precision lineup of business PC's.
If you are up to the challenge (and it will be a challenge), try putting XP on it - it might work acceptably for its planned use, but experience says this will be a somewhat time-consuming - and possibly frustrating - process.
tsowen
1 Rookie
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3 Posts
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October 9th, 2011 09:00
Thanks firebred for your reply. This is actually for my parents who have been using windows xp for years. I want to upgrade their old PC. But they have difficulty to adopt to windows 7. I guess I will have to find an older generation PC for them. I wish Dell offer a search option for Windows XP. Their search option only have windows 7, freedos/linux, and 64 bit os.
tsowen
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3 Posts
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October 9th, 2011 10:00
On Vostro 260s product page, I see the following:
Genuine Windows® 7 SP1 Professional with Downgrade rights to Windows XP Professional pre-installed 32-Bit
What does this mean? I try to configure Vostro 260s but don't see any option for this.
theflash1932
9 Legend
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16.3K Posts
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October 9th, 2011 10:00
I don't know how old the 260s is, and I don't know when the cutoff was for XP to be pre-installed, but I would assume that maybe originally that was an option, which they discontinued (Dell does not update product intro pages as the system evolves). That said, it may run XP at at least a basic level ... or maybe they stopped or never actually offered it because of sub-par performance/reliability.
fireberd
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33.4K Posts
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October 9th, 2011 13:00
Windows 7 is not drastically different than XP. I'm in Florida and in an area that I support a lot of Retirees (I'm one myself) and NONE of my clients have any problems using Vista/Windows 7. There is some learning curve, and they will have to learn a different e-mail program as Outlook Express is not available for Vista or Win 7, but otherwise browsing is bascially the same. Games are the same, etc.
July 12, 2012 is "end of life" for Windows XP. The date Microsoft stops support XP with security updates. This is not that far off, so another reason for your parents to accept Windows 7.
ieee488
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11.1K Posts
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October 9th, 2011 20:00
End of support for Windows XP is 2014. http://support.microsoft.com/lifecycle/?LN=en-gb&C2=1173
If your parents are dead set on Windows XP, I'd buy a back from corporate lease Dell PC with Core 2 Duo CPU and 4 GB of RAM. Dell sells these through www.dfsdirectsales.com. I personally have had good luck buying used laptops on eBay. You just have to be careful about the seller.
Mcchoss
3 Posts
1
January 26th, 2012 05:00
You have to gate all those drivers from so many places?
Mcchoss
3 Posts
0
January 26th, 2012 05:00
search Google, you can find them
Mcchoss
3 Posts
0
January 26th, 2012 05:00
I installed windowsxp professional on my dell vastro 260s slim tower desktop few days back and drivers too, my pc is running very good
theflash1932
9 Legend
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16.3K Posts
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January 26th, 2012 06:00
When it is not supported by the manufacturer, yes you usually need to be creative in finding your drivers ... usually going to the manufacturer of each individual device.
easepk1
2 Posts
0
June 7th, 2012 00:00
hi, i am facing same problem i have vosto 260s and i installed xp.i am also searching drivers and found Lan driver from net it is working ok.
WinXP, Win2K, Win2003 Auto Installation Program (SID:1497610) 5.794 2012/5/22 5641k
link:
http://www.realtek.com.tw/downloads/downloadsView.aspx?Langid=1&PNid=13&PFid=5&Level=5&Conn=4&DownTypeID=3&GetDown=false
easepk1
2 Posts
0
June 7th, 2012 01:00
hi,
In my case xp is software requierment because when software design only xp available.