Downgrade to XP failure!!

I just got my first job after graduating from college and looking for a job for the past year. After my long job search I just started last week and have run into a major problem I hope you can help me with.

They have given me a brand new Dell Precision T3500 desktop computer loaded with Windows 7 Unltimate. I have to downgrade this computer to XP Professional.

They have licenses to downgrade the software through the Microsoft Volume Licensing program. I created a boot-up CD from an image that microsoft provides for XP installation disc. Thinking I can use the CD as a boot-up disc I restart the computer and it boots from CD, XP files start to load and then all of a sudden I get the blue screen of death.

Any idea why the bootup XP cd may be getting the blue screen of death while loading?

I have been struggling with this problem all day today and really would appreciate some of your comments.

Brand new member by the way!

It would be of better help to post your BSOD error code. Also, is this only once that you get a BSOD or every time you try to install windows xp? I can't really help you right now. I'd advise you to head over to this forum board which specializes in BSODs. Also, make sure you read the posting instructions first.

First check for all the Win XP drivers for your hardware on the manufacturer's web site.
If your Win XP CD, does not support your Sata Controller, you will need to load drivers to uses at F6.
Load Sata Controller drivers with a floppy disk is the best way.

SATA Drivers - Load in Windows XP Setup on Dual Boot
OR
SATA Drivers - Slipstream into Windows XP CD

My desktop at work is a T3500, running XP.

The good news is that XP can be installed on such a box. The bad news is that I don't know what's required to do it, as it was done by my employer's IT department.

In addition to the drivers mentioned by other posters, you may need to remove some RAM from it. It uses an Intel X58 chipset, which supports triple channel memory. (I'd expect such a machine to come form Dell with 6GB of RAM, 3 X 2GB, installed.)I'm not sure how happily XP would install if more than 4GB of RAM is present.

Incidentally, the IT department now installs XP X64 on new workstations. Mine was leased roughly 18 months ago.

Thanks for the the responses

The BSOD error code is 0x0000007B

The drivers I need to install for the SATA setup of my hard drive, how can I do it without a floppy disc? Any idea how I can find out exactly where to get the right driver for my motherboard?

I have found one particular solution but I dont know what I am sacrificing as a result of doing this. I checked the BIOS settings for hard drive an there are 3 choices:

Choice1 : Run SATA on ATA mode

Choice 2 : Run SATA on AHCI mode

Choice 3 : Run SATA0

Choice 3 was chosen as the default, when I changed to Choice 1 the bootup CD works properly. The XP install cd works now after changing the bios setting to ATA

0x0000007B: INACCESSIBLE_BOOT_DEVICE
Windows lost access to the system partition or boot volume during the startup process. Typical causes: Installing incorrect device drivers when installing or upgrading storage adapter hardware, or a virus.

soodjunk said:

Thanks for the the responses

The BSOD error code is 0x0000007B

The drivers I need to install for the SATA setup of my hard drive, how can I do it without a floppy disc? Any idea how I can find out exactly where to get the right driver for my motherboard?

I have found one particular solution but I dont know what I am sacrificing as a result of doing this. I checked the BIOS settings for hard drive an there are 3 choices:

Choice1 : Run SATA on ATA mode

Choice 2 : Run SATA on AHCI mode

Choice 3 : Run SATA0

Choice 3 was chosen as the default, when I changed to Choice 1 the bootup CD works properly. The XP install cd works now after changing the bios setting to ATA

Set the BIOS to default.

Intel Sata Controller drivers can be download from here:

F6 Intel Sata Controller