Format Dell Computers - Downgrade to XP from Vista

I don't know if this is helpful or if I'm just retarded. I've been trying to format a Dell Dimension E520 for about a month now and I just figured it out. Everytime I tried to format from the XP CD it'd stop a few mins after it started with a blue screen error.

It turns out this has someting to do with the RAID setting in the BIOS (F2 at startup).

GO TO:
- F2 at startup
- Drives
- SATA Operation

in this option it is set at RAID: On
the only other option is RAID: Autodetect / ATA
set it to RAID: Autodetect / ATA and save and exit now restart with the XP CD in the drive and boot from CD.

everything should run smooth and normal now. it worked first shot for me and I haven't had a problem. the Dimension E520 is a decent machine with XP on it. does everything it needs to do for my GF who is an occasional Comp user. it was a paper weight with Vista on it

hope this helps crappy dell users out there.

(This worked for DELL computers (PC's) I have encountered. I have no idea if this will work on any other machine)

Comments

[LkArio]

it seems lawyers are noobs who love writing in caps and screaming.\ Nice job! I'm gonna do it :) Is it possible to do this with linux too? I'd love to learn linux

[ViperSniper]

its an old post but i just want to say i installed Lubuntu (lightweight Ubuntu) un a DELL C840 (it came out with XP) and it works like a charm

[chaoscampbell]

Linux isn't that big of a transition anymore......check out Ubuntu or Simply Mepis there two excellent versions of Linux....... Ubuntu is easily downloadable from there site and you can load a live session so you can try it out before you format with it....... or dual boot with it

[sachin lendave]

its very advantegable

[alltootechnical]

LOL, I always wait for the Windows welcome song to start! ROFLOLMAO

[TheOneAndOnlyMissingNo.]

Don't you mean, "UPGRADE to XP from Vista"? Vista is a bunch of crud. It's slow and requires really good hardware to run smoothly.

[phroghollow]

Just did this but on the Studio 1555 model Dell laptop, Its under the SATA options : Change AHCI to IDE. Thanks for this, it helped alot

[balstoff]

"Autodetect / ATA " where do you see that cuuz i cant see that on my computer

[sanjay15453]

hi friends vista to xp downgrade done perfectly thanks.

[BISCOCHITO]

HEY..THANKS A MILLION.. YOU'RE THE TRUTH!>....

[chaoscampbell]

glad it worked!!

[wieggi]

Thank you so much for this posting! I have been messing with a Dell that had Vista on it and wanted to upgrade to XP Pro but kept getting the error page and this fix worked like a charm!!

[chaoscampbell]

NP. glad it helped

[ll.13]

"Format Dell Computers - Downgrade to XP from Vista"

Correction: "Format Dell Computers - Upgrade to XP from Vista"

;-)

[VIPER2475]

Yeah you got it! Check out my Vista to XP guide

http://www.instructables.com/id/Upgrade-your-new-laptop-from-Vista-to-XP/

[Yerboogieman]

then check out my XP SP2 to XP SP3

[ll.13]

I don't need to.

[chaoscampbell]

lol, very true upgrade indeed. I put XP on the Dell E520 because I had to to make it worth something. I run XP on my Dual core because I want to. they really screwed up Vista..... and they already have "Windows 7" or "Windows Vienna" in the works. I hope they atleast take the time and effort to design it as a Dual core or higher specific OS. we already have XP for our single cores and it works awesome. if your gonna sell me something new then make sure its awesome and serves a purpose. Vista makes single core comps into $1000.00 paper weights. it could been a great 64 bit dual-core specific OS but Microsoft just had to make there millions 6 month sooner and the squeezed out a poop nugget.

[cormac3050]

No, it dosent make paperweights out of good pcs! i have a dell inspiron 1525 I got for 530 euro which has vista home preium on it and it runs like LIGHTNING!!

[chaoscampbell]

the lightning must strike really really slow in Europe.

[cormac3050]

nope, very fast lightning here!

[cormac3050]

O ye it has an intel celeron 1.86 ghz processor (single core) and 2gb of ram

[zackman]

What brings you to the conclusion that Vista isn't a Dual core or higher specific OS? maybe I just misunderstood you. Even if I did, its the consumers choice as to what hardware they buy, so if it doesn't run fast, either the consumer didn't do their homework, or they are tight wads. Vista is certainly designed for a dual core processor, although the business versions are the only that can support multiple processors. BTW, all versions except for Vista Starter are available as 64 bit. 64 bit processor and OS aren't really a viable choice for anyone right now anyway. 64 bit drivers are very hard to come by and are not backwards compatible. Secondly you would have to have software that was also designed to run on a 64 bit processor (not likely to come across either). It will still be years before 64 bit processors are useful. I personaly think MS could have waited 6 more years and still had a crap OS.

[chaoscampbell]

it is sold as at least 5 different OS's home basic 32bit is offered with lower end dells........ my point is that they should have never offered it in anything other then a 64 bit OS and only sold seperatly or as a softload on systems that can handle it. unfortunatly there are alot of people who purchase computers with very little knowledge about them. thats who DELL markets these low end computers with vista home basic 32 bit too

[zackman]

The problem is the adaptation of the 64 bit applications and drivers. Vista Ultimate ships with the 32 & 64 bit versions, each on separate DVDs. I agree that 64 it would be nice, more secure, more stable, and more productive. My only rant is that most 64 bit apps we see are "patched up" 32 bit coded versions.

[chaoscampbell]

thats kinda also my point..... they have this 64-bit OS that nothing will run on it......... they should have announced vista and offered it limitedly and gave it to software producers......... wait 6 months on it for the official release and get everyone up to speed. XP with SP2 is excellent.......we don't need a new half working OS...... make it good and run smooth and have all the stuff they promised but left out. we spend a lot of money on these things....... I'd really like it to work smoothly right off the bat

[Biohaz]

Apparently there is an XP SP3
And weirdly a patch to make Xp look like vista =/

[Yerboogieman]

i posted an instructable about it :-D

[Xellers]

Actually, Vista to Xp is an UPGRADE.

[LinuxH4x0r]

Actually by a loophole in the system you can return vista, xp or any other windows product and get around $200 back. Then you can us a real OS like linux. if you think winblows is the greatest thing ever then got to youtube and search for ubuntu beryl. After you see that YOU WILL CONVERT The box said Vista or BETTER, so I installed LINUX!

[ermockler]

How exactly do you return it? Running compiz on Suse btw

[LinuxH4x0r]

In the eula it says that if you don't agree you haveto not use it and return it.
YOU AGREE TO BE BOUND BY THE TERMS OF THIS EULA BY INSTALLING, COPYING, OR OTHERWISE USING THE SOFTWARE. IF YOU DO NOT AGREE, DO NOT INSTALL, COPY, OR USE THE SOFTWARE; YOU MAY RETURN IT TO YOUR PLACE OF PURCHASE FOR A FULL REFUND, IF APPLICABLE.

also look at http://linux.vandeplas.com/acer/winrefund.long.htm
and http://www.microsoft.com/windowsxp/home/eula.mspx
http://linuxmafia.com/refund/faq/

Its hard, but its worth it.

Or just build your own computer.

Btw I'm still using Fedora Core 5