| Description |
Windows XP Home SP3 + IE7 + USB Install/boot support + AMD AHCI SATA RAID drivers
32-bit
Tested and working on Dell Inspiron 1721
IMPORTANT! PLEASE READ THIS WHOLE FILE. IT WILL MAKE YOUR LIFE EASIER IF YOU DO.
So, after a few days of research and many hours of epic fail, I have finally succeeded.
Dell provides no support for any of their customers wanting to "downgrade" to Windows XP
on their Inspiron 1721 laptops. The main problem most people have is that they cannot
find working SATA RAID controller drivers, meaning there is no way to perform data
recovery on an existing Windows Vista installation, and there is no way to install XP
without disabling the RAID and having 2 separate volumes.
This torrent contains working drivers for all the hardware on the Inspiron 1721, although
only the smaller essential drivers have been slipstreamed into the XP install .iso
I've also included some changes to allow installation onto an external USB HDD, so that
you will be able to install and boot without destroying your existing installation. This
is useful if you want to perform data recovery, or if you want to simply test that this
.iso works for you before committing to a full re-install.
PROBLEMS WITH USB INSTALLATION:
If during the USB installation you get an error about "missing hal.dll" file, there is a
simple fix. You will need to plug the USB HDD into another computer, and edit the
C:\boot.ini file as follows:
[boot loader]
timeout=30
default=multi(0)disk(0)rdisk(0)partition(1)\WINDOWS
[operating systems]
multi(0)disk(0)rdisk(0)partition(1)\WINDOWS="Microsoft Windows XP Home Edition" /noexecute=optin /fastdetect
All you need to do is change "rdisk(1)" to "rdisk(0)" in both lines above.
GENERAL PROBLEMS WITH INSTALLATION:
I've slipstreamed the modem drivers into the installation. If Windows Setup asks you for area or
country dialling codes, just enter "0" in those fields. Nobody uses dialup anymore do they?
Happy installing!
Lots of love,
ANONYMOUS
xoxo
A quick shout out to Dell:
Stop being such dicks to your customers. You've caused them a lot of pain.
And to Microsoft:
Accept it. Vista simply SUCKS. I'm sorry you spent so many years developing this piece of shit.
DISCLAIMER:
If you lose data or destroy anything as a result of using this, don't blame me. We're operating
outside of the boundaries here, with no support or help from Microsoft or Dell. Don't undertake
installing this unless you have some patience, or unless you have no other choice. And finally,
PLEASE ATTEMPT TO USE A VALID XP LICENSE when installing. I'm not trying to help anybody pirate
software or do anything illegal. You should only be doing this if you have absolutely no other
choice.
CREDITS:
This would not have been possible without help from:
http://www.ngine.de/article/id/8/
http://www.alex.ricobon.ro/2008/04/25/dell-inspiron-1721-xp-drivers/
http://www.nliteos.com/
WPA Kill
The drivers I eventually located are from IBM, at this site:
http://www-307.ibm.com/pc/support/site.wss/MIGR-68363.html
Password: No password specified
RapidShare
This file may be available on RapidShare for direct
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