Not that it matters...

 

I accidently found the posting about the old forum being live and read only until November 14th. Tomorrow. and only for a week? Not very helpful for periodic users like me...

 

But its not working anyway so I can't find what I needed. :emotion-6:

 

 Not finding the help I need is a big prolem with this new 'comunity' - I'm trying to narrow a search, but I keep getting THOUSANDS of results. I dont have the time to look through all that.

The actual threads from the old forum are being migrated over (with the exception of anything created in the last week or so before the forum switched over)  but the original subscriptions and links will no longer work.

 

You may be able to find it with the Search function at the top here.   Or if you hurry you can still access the old forum here to see if you can find it.

 

http://old.dellcommunity.com/supportforums/

 

I noticed too that links to the forum Dell Support search aren't working - I suspect that will be fixed in time. 

 

EDIT:  Yeah, the search function could use some work...

I hope this is what you're looking for! :emotion-5:

 

 

Downgrading Inspiron 1501

 

Yes, you can install XP on it.  Search these forums for posts from others about how to do it.  The drivers should be available from the support.dell.com website.  Look here:  http://support.dell.com/support/downloads/driverslist.aspx?c=us&l=en&s=gen&ServiceTag=&SystemID=INS_PNT_1501&os=WW1&osl=en&catid=&impid=

 

Need either

XP Home Retail, OEM

XP Professional Retail, OEM, Corporate

XP Media Centre OEM

 

UPGRADE DISC WILL NOT DO.

 

NOTE ALL DATA WILL BE DELETED BACK UP BEFORE PROCEEDING.

 

 

Must do a clean install from BIOs though, insert disc press F12 at the dell BIOs Screen (simular to below):

 

 

Need to select partition C: or the largest partition there. Then press enter. (Similar to screen below)

Note if you have a few smaller partitons leave them alone.

 

A screen like below will then show:

 

 

 

Select Format using the NTFS file system.

 

Then just follow the set-up it will ask you a few questions such as regional settings, keyboard settings and your name.

 

Next you will need to configure your drivers and updates, download the following and save them on a usb flash stick external harddrive dvd or cd. External harddrive or flashstick will be better.

Copy the following to a CD or DVD or external hard drive.

 

1. Download XP Service Pack 3:

http://www.microsoft.com/downloads/details.aspx?FamilyID=5b33b5a8-5e76-401f-be08-1e1555d4f3d4&DisplayLang=en

 

If you need service Pack 2 installed before service pack 3:

 

http://www.microsoft.com/downloads/details.aspx?FamilyId=049C9DBE-3B8E-4F30-8245-9E368D3CDB5A&displaylang=en

 

Download the following drivers from here:

 

http://support.euro.dell.com/support/downloads/driverslist.aspx?c=uk&l=en&s=gen&os=WW1&osl=en&catid=&impid=&SystemID=INS_PNT_1501

 

2. Dell System Notebook Software Under System Utilities

 

3.  The Chipset drivers

 

4. Then the ATI Video Driver (Can also download newer version from ATI Website) 

 

5. Then the two Conexant Drivers Under Communications

 

6. Then the two Broadcom Drivers Under Network

 

7. Then depending what you have Dell Wireless Card

 

8. Then the Sigmatel Driver under Audio

 

9. Then Synaptics Touchpad under Input Devices

 

10. Then the Dell Quickset under Applications Later Revision here: http://support.euro.dell.com/support/downloads/download.aspx?c=uk&l=en&s=gen&releaseid=R180759&formatcnt=1&libid=0&fileid=246458 

 

11. Install the two Dell Diagnostic Drivers (Will not work if you delete diagnostic partition - Not too important)

 

12. Go here: http://www.istartedsomething.com/20061029/royale-noir/ and you can download a Black XP and XP Media Centre Edition Colours.

 

13. If using msn messenger download from here: http://www.softpedia.com/get/Internet/Chat/Instant-Messaging/MSN-Messenger-8.shtml and download this http://www.apatch.org/ to customise the messenger and get rid of adverts.

 

14. Download and install windows media player 11 and the Klite Codec Pack:

http://www.microsoft.com/downloads/details.aspx?FamilyID=1d224714-e238-4e45-8668-5166114010ca&DisplayLang=en

http://www.softpedia.com/progDownload/KLite-Codec-Pack-Download-16475.html

 

15. Also recommend you download and install Adobe Reader 9 and PDF Creator here in order to read and print PDFs:

http://www.adobe.com/

http://sourceforge.net/project/showfiles.php?group_id=57796

 

Ok now install all the drivers in the order I specified. (12. - 15. Optional) 

 

Then go to xp and install all other such as antivirus and office programs copy music and documents over etc. Be sure to go to windows update to get internet explorer 7 aswell.

 

 

Thank you both very much! And for that very detailed list!

 

You are welcome.  Good luck. 

 

 

actually i did think of a question. For the amd ati driver, which one would i need for xp? I can find it under vista 32 bit but there isn't a version under XP that I could find.

 

Currently have  Radeon Xpress 1150

 

 

If you follow the link I had posted earlier, I see only one driver listed under "video" which is the ATI driver for XP.  Or are you saying it is a vista driver and not an XP driver?

 

 

^^^ Longest post ever :emotion-3:

 

Very impressive response that PudgyOne.  "Above and beyond the call of duty" 'n' all that :emotion-4:

Have a virtual :emotion-22: :emotion-21: