M15x And Windows XP

Is anyone load windows XP SP3 in there M15x?
maybe with duel boot.

 

I guess no one!!! ok ill try.

 

i7 isn't so good with XP apparently, i didn't try it on the M15x yet though. Personally I'd recommend Virtual machines cos XP performs pretty okay on a decent system when running on modern VM software. Try Virtualbox.org it's free and good enough to hardware accelerate XP for the most part.

Is there a reason for XP?

 

I have some games for XP, most of those games don't run on W7.
Anyway, decide to use Virtualbox.org, Many Thank for ur info.

 

m15x and XP runs great.

 

Can u tell us the procedures, like how so u manage to boot XP setup disk without blue screen, how do u manage the apps, etc etc. Pls.

 

I'm also interested in this gents. I've an M15x on the way, and am hoping I won't have to format my HDD should some XP programs (dongle locked) not run under the pre-installed operating system (Windows 7 pro)!

 

prob just pm rensey for a faster response. another option is running a xp vm. been using it that way and works great.

 

I'll just wait for Rengsey R. H. Jr. to reply here as I'm not in a rush and figured others may want to see the reply. I'll definitely try XP VM in the first instance.

 

This is the secret that Alienware didn't tell anyone. I had to PROBE them to get this process revealed to me. J/k I figured it out by myself.

1) Change Bios from AHIC to...the other one.. lol ( Too lazy to look in bios, yes I am getting old )

2) Unplugg your BD,DVD Drive from the motherboard.

3) Find any External Drive

4) Boot with XP in external Drive

5) Enjoy the installation

And believe me, XP ran really smooth with the i7 setup. I was running an OEM Windows XP Pro x64. It was realllllllly fast.

 

Thanks Rengsey, Nice Work. Pls tell us is it possible to have alienware tools like AlienFX, Fusion etc..?

 

Use either Vista x64 or windows 7 x64 Drivers. The Alienfx works.

 

Hi Changing AHIC --------> ATA The boot doesn't pass the Alien Screen logo ( System seems to be locked )


Can you explain how to unplug DVD from motherboard

Do you mean booting with USB port having the XP .iso

I have the AlienWare 15MX

Windows7 64 bites with the ie7 & Nvidia GTX 460M

I want to put XP instead

Anyhelp ?

 

Here you can find the service manual which describes the whole disassembly: Alienware: Online Documentation

And also the official teardown videos may be helpful:
Part 1
Part 2
Part 3 (here's the optical drive part)

 

HELLO

What I need is to install XP upon the laptop
I got a freezing screen if I change in the BIOS
AHIC --> ATA


; I don't want to open the laptop

 

According to Rengsey R. H. Jr that's the only way... I have never tried to install XP on my M15x so I don't know of any other way... but it seems to work.

Otherwise try calling Dell, they might be able to help. I don't know of any user on this forum who has installed XP on the M15x, afaik most people use VMs in case they need to run XP.

 

I have called Dell ; They want 149 euros to help me

(very nice)

So I will try this way Open the laptop and disconnect the

optical drive : Is that right ? ; I will probably S.... the laptop but that's the only way

Will start after your answer : Disconnect the Optical Drive

According to Rengsey
Unplugg your BD,DVD Drive from the motherboard

 

Well, it's not a great solution at all, especially if you haven't disassembled your M15x before... getting to the optical drive is quite some work.

Maybe someone knows a different solution.
Or try calling the free Alienware nr and tell them that you get a Blue Screen when trying to install XP... otherwise they will try to charge you for software support, like you mentioned.

 

I just watch the Video Part 3 ;
How to unPlug the Optical Driver from the Mother Board Opening The Computer
It's almost impossible to do this for an average human being .

If somebody have another solution please post it ....

EDIT : I'm almost sure there must be another solution ; else they wouldn't ask 149 euros to help me
Maybe removing the Optical drivers ( ....)

 

hello!

i installed XP x64 on my M15x but i can't find drivers
can someone tell me, who already done this, where can i find working
audio
wifi
bleutooth
chipset
OSD
CC
drivers pls?

thanks

 

You'll get it via Dells site... download Vista 64-bit drivers and install it using compatibilty mode for XP-SP2. Worked for me. But I was running WinXP virtually via VMWare Player and didn't install CC and OSD. I wanted to play Quake3 in XP and downloaded the video drivers from nVidia's site and it worked pretty good.

 

thx Sgt. but i have problem in windows xp 64 not in virtualized windows xp, so if anyone have some idea where can i get winxp drivers for alienware M15x pls tell me.

thanks

 

1) I know for the drivers version 86 XP ; ( not for 64 bits) ... if that interest you ( ... ).

2) The Nvidia drivers for the M15X Video/Audio card exist for Windows XP 64 bits .... that is if you have Nvidia graphic card .... ((I think the American version of the M15X is with an ATI Radeon )) (in Europe Nvidia)

let me know if you need any of these ...

How did you manage to install XP ??? I have tried with the XP ( non 64 bits) with no luck .
At install I have the Stop error screen ( Blue Screen ) ; that prevent me from installation .

If I switch in the BIOS ACHI to ATA , than my optical device is automatically disconnected ... So I am very interested about knowing how you did pass the Blue Death Screen

 

yes its interest me, so pls share it with me, thanks

i didn't had any problem with my NVidia GTX 260M driver, its on the official site

well i had bluescreen too untill i disconnected my optical drive

1. i disconnected the cd/dvd drive from the motherboard
2. i turned the HDD in BIOS from AHCI to ATA
3. install xp from an USB thumbdrive

and thats it

 

connect with me , please

 

Ya.. Disabling the Optical Drive does the trick in installing WinXP. And Vista64 bit drivers found in the Dells site works for XP too. Just run it in compatibility mode for XP SP2, that's it.

 

true

well i don't have "XP SP2" compatibility mode in my "Windows XP 64 bit" only "XP" mode and it's not working with vista drivers

i don't have problem with: LAN and GPU drivers
but: audio; wifi; bluetooth

thx

 

May I ask ; How do you disable the Optical drive ?

I have tried it in many ways ( of course not opening the laptop)

Anyway , if you switch AHCI to ATA the optical drive neither the USB work anymore ; so how do you manage ?

 

You'll have to disable the DVD by opening the laptop...but it's quite tricky to get to it. If you haven't opened up your system before, I suggest you leave this one alone because an Optical Drive is below the palmrest and you'll have to open up the entire system before you can get to it.

 

Is there any other option than opening the laptop ?

I mean ; this is a really unusual process in order to install an OS : unplug the Optical drive from the motherboard by opening the laptop ....

Maybe there is a flashing BIOS possibilities ? or a Driver process to install so the AHCI would accept the XP installation .

Else : I have the W7 Ultimate upon the MX15 ; I heard it's possible to downgrade ? How can this be done .... if the Windows.old folder must contains XP ??

 

Try disabling the optical drive in the BIOS, maybe it works...

 

lol, basicly true

 

Yeah ! I mean not necessarily an Alien
- Disabling the optical drive from the BIOS , doesn't make any difference , the system is locked .
What I don't understand is why setting the HDD to ATA disconnect all the external drives ( DVD + USB )....
my only hope is installing ( ??? where to find it ) somekind of drivers that will allowed me from being kicked from the XP installation .

 

I'm still getting a blue screen when trying to install.
I have discconected the cable from the DVD drive to mother board (didn't do the full take out thing).
Changed BIOS to ATA
Changed BIOS to version A02
Installing SP2 + SATA drivers from usb key.

The install loads all the drivers in but as soon as this is done it blue screens.

Any ideas
I want to load XP on to try this
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