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Unable to remove vista and install xp on laptop

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mateare4

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Posted July 27, 2010 at 10:53PM

I have a Dell Studio 1440 Model Number PP40L which came with Vista preinstalled. I have followed all instructions in every forum only to be completely stymied. This laptop does not have a built-in CDROM, but I have attached a CD/DVD external drive via the USB port.

Despite reconfiguring the BIOS to startup from either the USB port or the CD drive, the computer constantly defaults to the hard drive, which I then cannot reformat because it is in use. Of course, the XP CD will not let me install XP over the Vista. I understand that I must reformat the hard drive before installing XP, but the damnable machine refuses to boot from the XP CD or from a bootable flash drive that I made.

I sincerely hope that somebody has the answer to this question. I have now spent two entire days trying to resolve this problem.

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Ashrich

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Posted July 27, 2010 at 11:00PM

I always find the best thing to do in these cases is to remove the hard drive , put it in a caddy and format it using a different PC , usually through either Windows Explorer , or in Disk Management .

Ashley

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kristain

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Posted August 2, 2010 at 9:04AM

yes,
Ashrich is right. this is the easiest way to fix this problem otherwise you need a technician.

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heepster

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Posted August 2, 2010 at 9:41AM

click here


How typical of microsoft to make an apparently simple job SO difficult. Its a nightmare!

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Woolwell

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Posted August 5, 2010 at 1:28PM

Personally I would stick with Vista.

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shallyd

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Posted August 9, 2010 at 11:37AM

well Stick to vista as when your needs are being solved by vista then why formating the pc and installing XP

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mateare4

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Posted August 14, 2010 at 8:59PM

I was successfully able to remove Vista and install XP on my Dell 1440 Studio laptop, however I now have no sound. I have spent days looking online for the proper sound driver to download that will work with XP to restore my sound.

If anyone knows where to find the correct sound driver, please let me know.

Thank you

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Ashrich

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Posted August 15, 2010 at 12:12AM

click here for XP driver for IDT 92HD8XX sound card

Ashley

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shallyd

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Posted August 16, 2010 at 8:15AM

follow the steps below that might help you to downgrade Vista with XP

Step 1
Make sure the new HP notebook has driver for Windows XP Pro. I checked with HP website and yes, there is driver for Windows Xp Pro. So I download and keep the driver in my external Hard Disk.

Step 2
Put the Windows XP CD inside the DVD drive, I restart the notebook.

Step 3

Keep tapping the F10 key when the Compaq logo appears. This will take me to BIOS Setup Utility.

Step 4
Using arrow key I go to "System Configuration tab".

Step 5
Under that select you will see SATA Native support. The default value is enable, so I disable it

Step 6
Press F10 to "Save and Exit" the BIOS & click on OK/Yes to confirm the changes.

Step 7
Restart the notebook and the notebook boot up from Windows XP CD.

Step 8
As normal, I reach to the screen where I have to select weather to install, repair or quit. I hit the enter key than I get the screen that show the partition. After that I just do as normal and I manage to install Windows XP Pro. :-)


click here

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mateare4

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Posted August 17, 2010 at 7:40PM

All is working well except that I now have no sound. I downloaded the recommended driver and that did not work.

So I need a sound driver for Dell Studio 1440 Model Number PP40L with XP Home installed.

Hopefully someone knows the correct driver to download and install.

Anne Lamb

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Ashrich

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Posted August 17, 2010 at 11:47PM

You did download and use the 5.10.0.6147 XP driver didn't you ? Your PC , according to Dell uses the IDT 92HD8XX sound chip , for which these are the drivers .


Ashley

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