How to install windows XP on Windows 7 Laptop

ValorCity · 26 Oct 2013

Hello,
I'm trying to install windows XP on my laptop that was pre-installed with windows 7. I know there's other posts on this topic, but i can't seem to follow those tips since it does not correlate with my laptop. Every time i do try installing via booting from CD, i get a blue screen. Tried with 3 different windows XP discs and same result. I've tried looking for the option to change something (I don't understand what exactly) from AHCI but that option is not on my BIOS and neither is PCI.
I have an HP Pavillion DV6 2117Ax, Cpu- AMD Athlon II M340, motherboard- Hewlett-Packard 3637 (Socket S1G3) Hardrive- 466GB Hitachi HTS725050A9A364 ATA Device (SATA).
Just to make it clear, I want to completely remove windows 7 and install a fresh copy of windows XP. I do not wish to dual boot.
Would appreciate any help or just an indication to if its possible or not on my laptop
Cheers

Yard Dog · 26 Oct 2013

Hello ValorCity , Welcome to the Forums, I do not post an answer , but , am curious as why you would do that as support for XP runs out in 2014 , to the best of my knowledge and Window Sevens kicks butt.. a very good OS.. IMO .

ValorCity · 26 Oct 2013

It's cool. I don't really mind Without support since I don't use it. I've had to reinstall windows so many times cause explorer crashes and can't transfer files etc. Basically the laptop's getting old so after something very simplistic for a change. Otherwise windows 7 has served me well and is Awesome in my opinion too xDD

strollin · 26 Oct 2013

The plain and simple fact is that XP does not include a driver for the SATA controller in your laptop. You'll either need to find the setting in the BIOS to change the controller to IDE mode or you'll need to find the XP compatible driver for the SATA controller. Once you have the driver, you need to either install it from a floppy drive (the XP installer will only look on a floppy in drive A: when installing drivers) OR you need to "slipstream" the driver onto the XP install disk.

gregrocker · 26 Oct 2013

Have you ever done a Clean Reinstall - Factory OEM Windows 7 like most tech enthusiasts do to avoid HP's worst load of crapware in the industry? If not you've never experienced native Win7 performance.

I would try that because that model should run Win7 fine with a perfect install following the steps in tutorial.

But since you need to wipe the HD anyway if you want to try an XP install, you'll need to search for XP SATA drivers for your chipset. First determine the chipset make/model, then search for XP drivers for it. Sometimes the driver is in the HP chipset, but I'm not finding that model online so you may need to search the HP Support Downloads site for where you bought it.

These drivers must be slipstreamed into the XP w/SP3 installer as shown in SATA Drivers - Slipstream into Windows XP CD.

If this is too much trouble then I'd try the perfect reinstall since I've never seen a DV6 that doesn't run well after a Clean Reinstall - Factory OEM Windows 7

ValorCity · 27 Oct 2013

@strollin - Where can I find what SATA controller I have and where would be a good site to download driver from??
There is no setting in the BIOS, most things are greyed out so that's out of the question
@gregrocker - Ive always done a fresh instal every time my laptop started to show problems and its helped before. Below is the Laptop motherboard details and HP doesnt seem to recognise my laptop. Any ideas where to download from?

Manufacturer Hewlett-Packard
Model 3637 (Socket S1G3)
Version 049D210000241210000020000
Chipset Vendor AMD
Chipset Model 785G
Chipset Revision 00
Southbridge Vendor AMD
Southbridge Model SB700
Southbridge Revision 00

Thanks alot, kinda makes more sense to me now since ive only been retrying to install many times.

theog · 27 Oct 2013

First check for all the Win XP drivers for your hardware.

Warning

You can check your HP/compaq PC here:
General XP Downgrade Guide for HP Laptops - HP Support Forum - 83267

NOTE: Please read this thread fully.
As some HP/compaq PC have a BIOS problem with Win XP

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
Dual Boot Installation with Windows 7 and XP

strollin · 27 Oct 2013

Are you sure the model number you posted is correct? I can't find a dv6-211ax on the HP website. Could you have left off a digit? Could it be a dv6-2110ax?

Regardless, I wasn't able to locate an XP compatible SATA driver since HP seems to only support 32 oor 64 bit Win 7 for any similar model laptop that I looked at.

I did find these instructions that may help you in determining if it's possible to disable SATA in your BIOS:

Disable the native-SATA setting

To determine if you can disable the native SATA configuration in the BIOS, do the following steps.

Open the CD/DVD optical drive or remove the XP installation disc.
Turn off the computer.
Press the power button and press f10 to open the BIOS Setup.
Use the keyboard to navigate the Configuration options to locate the Native-SATA setting.
- If there is a SATA setting, select the Disable option, and then press F10 to save the change and restart the computer.
- If there is no SATA setting, you will have to find a third-party tool to change the settings.

After changing the SATA setting, insert the XP Installation disc, restart the computer, and then follow the Microsoft installation instructions.

Hope this helps. As others have said, you would be better off sticking with Win 7 for your machine but good luck in finding a way to get XP installed if you still want to go forward with it.

ValorCity · 27 Oct 2013

2117Ax... My bad, sorry.
Thank yu very much though,I reinstalled windows 7 again :)