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Replacing Vista With XP On New Inspiron 531?
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Seclusive
Suspended due to non-functional email address
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12. January 2008 @ 15:29 |
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Hey guys. I just recently bought a new Dell Inspiron 531, and it came installed with Vista. I really don't like it at all and feel very unsatisfied with it and want to revert back to XP.
Now, Dell and Microsoft both say it isn't possible, but I've read forums of people who accomplished it, and their steps, but I couldn't understand them somehow.
Now, I downloaded the drivers needed to run XP on my Inspiron(Didn't install them yet), but I can't get the actual XP to install.
I have two XP Install discs. One is XP Media Center 2005 With Rollup 2, and the other is XP Home Edition With Service Pack 1. Both of these came with my previous PC's. One was a Dell laptop, and the other a Dell PC.
I place the discs in the drive, and it boots up the setup, but the install screen won't let me click on "Install XP". It's faded out. What do I do?
What steps must I take to install XP and get rid of Vista? Do I have the right disks? (They say can be used only for Dell PC's, and this is a Dell after all). Someone please help me, and thanks for any and all replied.
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Member
2 product reviews
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12. January 2008 @ 19:37 |
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hi i would start active kill disk and wipe the hard drive clean to remove all the files then try to install xp and it you are using dell disc form other machines. see if you get hold of retail copy of xp. i had the same problem with my old dell pc witch was a d2350 old i know lol. A retail copy of xp sorted it tho.
This message has been edited since posting. Last time this message was edited on 12. January 2008 @ 19:37
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Senior Member
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18. January 2008 @ 09:51 |
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Seclusive - My understanding is that The copy of Windows that comes with or used to come with most computers is geared pretty much to the motherboard/Chipset ect... used in that particular computer ! and model - unless it came with a Retail Version or Oem version of XP, Xp pro, Vista ect... like you would use for a straight up new install or build of a new computer ! This does'nt normally happen as it is more expensive and cuts into the profit margins ! You may see a genuine retail or OEM windows disc coming with a High end Gaming /Boutique /( Read as Expensive ) computer but otherwise that's about it !Other than not being a big Vista fan how do you like your 531???? and do you know whether the Optical drives? DVD/CD ect... are Pata or Sata ? like the Hard drive ? Hope you sort it out & Good luck !!!!!!!!
FeetZ Up ! Head Down !
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Seclusive
Suspended due to non-functional email address
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20. January 2008 @ 00:22 |
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Originally posted by BIGTOXY69:
Seclusive - My understanding is that The copy of Windows that comes with or used to come with most computers is geared pretty much to the motherboard/Chipset ect... used in that particular computer ! and model - unless it came with a Retail Version or Oem version of XP, Xp pro, Vista ect... like you would use for a straight up new install or build of a new computer ! This does'nt normally happen as it is more expensive and cuts into the profit margins ! You may see a genuine retail or OEM windows disc coming with a High end Gaming /Boutique /( Read as Expensive ) computer but otherwise that's about it !Other than not being a big Vista fan how do you like your 531???? and do you know whether the Optical drives? DVD/CD ect... are Pata or Sata ? like the Hard drive ? Hope you sort it out & Good luck !!!!!!!!
Hey, Bigtoxy. Thanks for replying. I actually had to download a torrented version of an original XP rip, but for some reason, only the Pro version is compatible. Beats me as to why.
Unfortunately, the drivers I had didn't seem to work though, but everyone else I've heard from had success. I can't get my Realtek audio working, and can't get my Internet connection, so I reverted back to Vista and decided to downgrade later on until I learn more. Seems the graphics driver didn't work so well either. I would have discolored dashes along images and such. I guess i'll do some driver searching and try a different XP Pro.
Well, the thing is, I didn't get enough RAM for Vista to work properly, and according to rumor, and how fast it performed for the short time I had the XP, I understood how different it was! With XP on this Inspiron 531, it FLEW beautifully. Vista is too bulky. I do love it's security and maintainence capabilities, and I like the look, but this computer is definitely meant to work with XP, so I am a slight fan of Vista... just not on this PC. If I knew how to add more than my 2GB RAM, I'd be happy, but i'm so clueless that it hurts. In order for the Inspiron to work well with Vista, you need 4GB's or so, which is an optional upgrade, otherwise, if you push the RAM above 70% power, it performs a RAM dump. The only method to fix it is if you restart in Safe Mode and restart it normally, then boot back in Normal.
As for the Inspiron 531 itself... it's simply amazing. By default, it comes with a 6150 NVidia card with a max resolution of 1680x1050, which works perfectly with my 22" Monitor, but I previously bought a Geforce 6200 OC, and changed it to that for the S-video plug to my TV, and it's even better, but still, the 6150 is nearly the same quality.
The fan doesn't make a sound at all. you barely even know that it's on unless all sound is off in the room, and even then it's faint.
I have the AMD Athlon 64 X2 Dual Core Processor 4000+ with 2.10 GHz and can be upgraded to 5000+ or 6000+, though according to research, it barely makes much of a difference, but I can't vouche for that.
It has 10 USB ports. 4 in front, 4 in back, and 2 internal.
It has support for every type of Graphics Card except AGP, and has multiple slots for all other types except PCI Express X1, which there's only one slot for.
The audio card supports up to 7.1 surround sound, and you can hook up dual speakers. I have my PC speakers in one slot, and my 5.1 SRS connected also, and have dual amps. Two amps plus 7.1 SRS basically. Sound is WAY better than my old PC, and i'm using the same speakers.
Now, i'm not sure how to explain this. I have an above-average ability with PC's, but am still unadvanced in a lot of stuff, but somehow my speed increased? I usually download weekly episodes of an Anime called Naruto Shippuuden, and on my old PC with the same connection, it would take 45 minutes to an hour in a half to download, and there were always the same amount of seeds and leechers for each episode. With this Inpsiron 531, it took me 8 minutes to download, and I adjusted my utorrent settings the same exact way I did my old PC. This goes for every torrent I download, too. I can't explain it, but it must be this Inspiron jacking up my speeds, and all I know is I LOVE IT.
Generally, the PC itself is just incredibly fast, even with vista installed as the OS. I'm sure it's the lack of RAM I have, but once in a while, it freezes up and takes a while to load some things, so if anyone buys this, they should definitely upgrade to 4GB of RAM. That's my only complaint about it.
It also has space for a second HDD, and can hold up to a max of 1TB. I personally just have my one drive with 250GB's(239 to be literal) because I use a 260GB External drive anyway. I'm happy with 510GB's.
For your question, it comes with 4 SATA connections, and apparently doesn't support PATA. I don't know the difference to be honest, but that's what my specs say lol.
Generally, for 300 dollars, this is the greatest PC I've ever owned, and easily surpasses more expensive machines friends have.
I can play all emulaters up to the Gamecube perfectly. Gamecube works on about half of the games, and others sometimes are laggy and slow, but still operable. I'm not a PC gamer much anyway, mostly MAME, which is a pain in the ass to work on Vista though, especially with Online play, but still manageable.
Are you looking in to this PC? I'd highly suggest it. It's good for the typical above-average user, and for graphic design and such. Handles a lot of multiple programs running and everything, though like I said about the RAM, 4GB's is the only way to go. 2GB's works, but causes some issues you don't need time and again, unless you downgrade to XP and are successful with drivers.
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bryguy12
Junior Member
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20. January 2008 @ 00:59 |
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Above average user? You live in a town of simpletons? Anyway, without looking at your PC everything we could suggest is just a SWAG, but I presume any of the other attempts AfterDawn users have made at this would be helpful, specifically: http://forums.afterdawn.com/thread_view.cfm/601159
The primary explanation (found halfway down the replies) is that XP installs look for IDE drives, not SATA like what's in your current PC. Just kick your bios around and you can install any regular XP install disc.
Also, from another thread, quite often the missing drivers can be simply updated via Windows Update.
... And suggestion (but from the number of times we all see this we know it's rarely taken): use the search function at the top of the page and read other threads that have covered your problem long before you discovered yours. I'm amazed at the number of people that don't use Google worth a hoot -- do they call information and ask for the number to 911?
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