Vostro - Vista downgrade

I thought I share my experience with downgrading my Vostro1310 from Vista to XP:

1. Dell has two BIOS versions for their Vostro notebooks (Vista + XP). The BIOS update for XP is absolutely required to get the Realtek ALC268 HD Audio to work and can also be used to get around the SATA issues druring the XP installation. After the BIOS install the SATA setting in the BIOS needs to be changed to 'IDE mode' (or something similar) so that the XP install can recognise the SATA HDD. Alternatively, use nLite to implement SATA drivers into your XP installation without changing BIOS settings.

2. I had a few issues getting my integrated webcam to work as well; however, found that installing all drivers in a certain order, solved the issue. Here the order of my driver install:
- Dell Notebook System Software (NSS)
- Chipset
- Video
- Media Card Reader
- Network Controller
- Wireless Card
- Audio
- MDC
- Bluetooth
- Touchpad
- Quickset Utility
- Drivers for other peripherals (i.e. integrated webcam)

Enjoy downgrading

Google keywords:
Realtek ALC268 Audio
Realtek ALC268 Audio win XP
Dell Vostro 1310 no sound
Dell Vostro 1310 integrated webcam not working

 

Hi,
I had the same problem with my vostro 1310 laptop.
So i upgraded my bios with the A09 version.
Now i am able to install windows xp by changing the sata mode into "ATA".

But i steel get a problem.
In fact my Realtek ALC268 HD Audio device is not present into the device manager (No yellow circle, not present at all). So i can't expect install the audio driver.

That is why i am asking you the version of the BIOS you are using.(A10?)

For my part, when i try to upgrade the BIOS with the Phoenix A10 version, my computer alert me that i can't do so.(Maybe not compatible).

If you have any idea to resolve my problem, ...

By advance, thanks a lot.

Snoop

 

Hmm thats wierd my 1700 downgraded just fine, all I had to do was disable ahci and it was perfect. Granted I have different sound hardware but that is wierd that you have to flash the BIOS to get XP working.

 

Hi,
The reason of upgrading the BIOS is first of all to get the "ata" option
for the sata device in BIOS options.

Because, if we don't do so, we have to use a software like Nlite,
to make a windows install CDROM with the sata drivers.
(Otherwise there is a there is a hard drive detection problem during windows XP installation).

So i installed windows XP SP2 instead of winLSD (french Windows XP morph version).
Steel no audio device.

I have update the SP2 to SP3, no change, ...

All i know is that with VISTA and Ubuntu 8.04 it's work,
but not with XP. Quite weird!!

If any advices, feel free to answer me.
(Answers like : Use Linux OS are not accepted, because there is an other problem with ubuntu, kubuntu, mandriva : ethernet one)

But the most strange is that we can find vostro 1310 sold with Windows XP OS (Not available when i bought it). If someone can give me a link to a restore image CD of a dell vostro 1310 with windows XP...

Snoop

 

Hey Snoop,

I updated my BIOS to A10 without a problem. You can get the latest version from the dell website.

Cheers,
sessus

 

Hi,
I am sending a new post.

In fact now i have my sound card working!

Due to my new Bios Version A10, i can install a windows XP system.
But this one (BIOS) sound to disable audio device.
So i just had to set the default configuration in the bios.

I think the management of audio device (enable/disable) is present in the BIOS.But not visible.
So a simple reload on default configuration re-enable audio device.

I hope that will help someone.

Thank you.

Snoop