problem removing vista and installing xp on laptop.

RoyalMarine

ive got an inspiron 1525 with vista on it.

want to remove it to put xp on it, but when i put in my xp cd, restart and go into installation, it says there is no harddrive detected.

Karoma

Presumably, it's SATA HDD?
As such, the XP install/CD will need the drivers for the HDD., The best way forward (but involves a little effort) is to download the SATA HDD drivers, and then create a 'slipstreamed' install disc.
ex:
http://www.theeldergeek.com/slipstreamed_xpsp1_cd.htm


(Alternatively, it may or may not work: Access the BIOS setup utility (F2) and disable 'Native SATA mode' or whatever the option appears to be in there, if it's there at all) - hastily typed because it's most likely a waste of time mentioning it

Croc

You probably have SATA hard drive, you will need to download the XP drivers for them and when XP CD loads at the point it asks you to load drivers I think it says "Press F6" you do that and point it to a floppy or where ever you have the drivers located. You can put them on The HD as Xp can't see it.

Theses drivers are on the Vista Installation CD but Not XP hence the problem.

Croc

Sorry Karoma got there before me, but i think my solution might be easier as you need a bit of technical knowledge to slipstream

greglo23

Its more than likely a sata drive which xp cant see. You need to install drivers when xp asks for scsi or raid drivers if i remember correctly.


Beaten to it !!

AlmightyCushion

There is a setting in the bios you need to change. I think it's called disk mode or something like that. It is currently at AHCI change it to IDE or ATA. That should fix it for you.

Croc

Go to this Page

http://support.euro.dell.com/support/topics/global.aspx/support/dsn/en/document?c=ie&dl=false&l=en&s=gen&docid=E6480205F57CFE57E030030ABD627EAC&doclang=en&cs=

Scroll down to this Heading
Setting Up Windows on a Serial ATA, RAID or SCSI Hard Drive

This explains it, Try almightycushions solution if that works then thats the easier solution, but i have my doubts it will.

I am looking for the driver you need to load as soon as i find it i will post a link.

RoyalMarine

thanks. ive changed from AHCI to ATA but it did no good. still same problem.

slimstreaming looks complicated! :x

RoyalMarine

woohoo. i got it

for some reason the bios wasnt saving the changes from AHCI TO ATA.

working fine now and xp is installing away. thanks cushion!

AlmightyCushion

RoyalMarineComm wrote: »

thanks. ive changed from AHCI to ATA but it did no good. still same problem.

slimstreaming looks complicated! :x

Is it xp sp2?

Edit: Just seen you got it. Glad to see it worked.

RoyalMarine

ugh just realised i need the drivers for everything else now.!

kippy

I was just gonna say that there are no drivers on the dell site that support XP for that model.
Let us know if you manage to track down drivers for the hardware on XP as there's a colleague interested in sticking XP on the same model laptop but we didnt go ahead due to the driver support issue.
Kippy

greglo23

http://www.laptops-drivers.com/dell-laptop/how-to-install-windows-xp-on-dell-inspiron-1525-or-downgrading-vista.html. This guy seems to have it all worked out.:D