XP Quest for Vostro 1400

Hey killer23d, I tried the link on th 1st page but it says error request forbidden when I click on the link. Do you know where else I could get the driver. Thanks again

 

Prez,

http://support.dell.com/support/top...plash?c=us&l=en&s=gen&~mode=popup&file=211242

Try this link here, but if it doesn't work you can goto the Dell Driver Page and search for the Vostro 1500. The 1500 has a Windows XP install option and so the 1500 driver page has the Windows XP driver for the Nvidia chipset. Hope this helps.

 

All,

Just wanted to post some information incase someone may need it if they wish to install Media Direct, Windows, and another operating system. When you boot from the Media Direct CD there is an option to determine the C: partition size. Once you do that a C: partition will be created and also a spare data partition. After installing Windows, you can go into the Windows Logical Disk Manager and use that tool to partition the space from the spare data partition to install Linux or another operating system. Also, I installed my Linux boot loader to the Master Boot Record. I am unsure if Media Direct uses the actively marked partition as its indicator for the Windows partition, or if it uses the partition number itself. I didn't experiment to find out, so using the MBR should be a safe place to put Grub or Lilo so you won't need to change the bootable partition flag.

 

Awesome, I followed your instructions and it worked like a charm. Now I can say that XP is working 100% on my computer.

 

Hey Griff,

Yes the linked driver works, and it is an easy and elegant solution. Thank you very much.

Feng

 

Killer23,

I didn't install media direct either, and i also wiped out the internal hard drive. Things were fine, until I pressed the media direct home button.

I pressed the media direct button as the computer was in standby mode. I thought it would not do anything because I had wiped out the internal hard drive. Unfortunately, the computer went into media direct set up screen. I restarted the computer, it still got into the same screen. Now I cannot start my computer into XP.

I might have to install Media Direct after all.

Killer23, do you have the same problem? Have you tried pressing the home button in standby mode?

The audio driver you suggested worked for me, but I had to follow the procedure posted for Inspiron 1420.

I tried the video driver suggested by Griff because it didn't require extra steps to remove the bad driver. It worked.

May I suggest that you update your initial post to address some of these issues? I know you have no obligation to provide a step by step guide, but you extra work will help other users tremendously. I am sure we will all appreciate it, especially when Dell support is just so freaking abysmal.

In fact, if I am finally 100% sure how to seet up this computer, I will email a complete installation guide to Dell Technical Support, and ask them to add it to their data base. That will end the misery for all.

Cheers,
Feng

 

For those who didn't install MD,

This is interesting. After pressing the Media Direct Home button and exiting it:

1. If I press the power button, it will still get back to the MD screen.

2. If I press the MD Home button, the computer will boot back into Windows XP. And things will resume normal after that.

At least I am no longer stuck at Media Direct screen. I need to decide if I want to repeat the whole installation process and install MD after all.

Feng

 

Wow that's interesting.

When I pressed the button, it messed around my partitions and I had to boot off a linux recovery CD to revert the partitions back to what they were.

 

I gave my gf the 1400, and I told her explicitly not to touch the MD button because it may screw up the booting.

I've updated the information on the 1st post to reflect suggestions given to me by various members. Thanks!

 

Does Dell have any recovery software installed on the computer. I want to backup the entire HD including the OS just in case XP doesn't work on it or I want to return the laptop. Anyone know if they will still take it back if you formatted the HD and installed another OS such as XP?