Its OFFICIAL! Windows XP works perfectly on the XPS m1330!

[snowbro]

Most Recent Update: Jan.31, 2008...

Sorry I haven't updated this link in awhile (almost 6 months now!)... I've switched to Vista (tweaked its actually not bad)...Feel free to look for newer versions of all the software linked to below....

UPDATED! I have included direct links to all the drivers, including a better order to install them in...

I figured I'd write a little step-by-step on how to get Windows XP SP2 installed on our new little baby

I have nothing against Vista, and it actually is a pretty nice OS when properly tweaked, however, I still think it'll be much better once SP-1 is released...

For your info, my machine was ordered on July 4 and received Aug 7 in to Montreal, Canada. It has the following specs:

XPS M1330, MATTE BLACK
C2D T7300 (2.0GHZ)
2GB, DDR2, 667 MHZ
LED display with camera
GEFORCE 8400M 128MB
200GB 7200rpm HARD DRIVE
8X DVD+/-RW SLOT DRV
Bluetooth
Dell 1505 Wireless N
(No fingerprint reader)


OK, so now for the Windows XP walkthrough...

Step 1... You need a version of Windows XP SP2 with built-in SATA drivers... I personally used LastXP (feel free to go find this on a torrent site somewhere, you have the option to install one of your own valid XP keys as part of its setup). (The other way is to put SATA drivers on a USB stick and hit F6 during initial Windows setup...). If this all seems like too much work for you, then you can avoid the whole SATA issue by going into your BIOS, and changing the hard drive mode from SATA to IDE mode.

Step 2... Start the computer with the Windows XP disk in the drive, and hit F12 to load the boot menu.... Pick CD/DVD drive...

Step 3... Windows setup will now boot (blue screens, etc). Here you will have the option to format your harddrive...

Dell likes to partition their drive into 4 partitions... 2 of them hidden partitions... (Boot partition, Recovery partition, OS partition, Mediadirect partition) I deleted them all and started from scratch (I burned the recovery partition to a DVD beforehand anyways, just in case). One of the partitions is for MediaDirect, but this is such a useless program, I would much rather have those 4 GB it eats up...

I'd recommend partitioning the harddrive into 2 partitions, one for the OS, and one for everything else... I chose 40 GB for C: and 160 GB for D: (NTFS of course)

Ok, now windows installs...

Step 4... DRIVERS! DRIVERS! DRIVERS!


FIRST, I'd recommend installing the Intel Mobile Chipset drivers from the Dell website:
http://support.dell.com/support/down...&fileid=205326

SECOND, I'd recommend installing the latest nVidia drivers v169.09 from here:
http://www.laptopvideo2go.com/forum/...howtopic=16154
Don't forget to download and copy over the modded file nv4_disp.inf BEFORE running the driver installation!

THIRD, you should go download and install the following from the Dell Support website for the m1330 and Windows XP:

Ricoh Memory Card Drivers:
http://support.dell.com/support/down...&fileid=188377

Broadcom 59XX 10100 Ethernet Controller Driver:
http://support.dell.com/support/down...&fileid=207055

Broadcom 59XX 10100 Ethernet Controller Utility:
http://support.dell.com/support/down...&fileid=201425

Creative Labs Laptop Integrated Webcam: (only if you have it of course)
http://support.dell.com/support/down...&fileid=235336

Dell Touchpad - Pointing Stick:
http://support.dell.com/support/down...&fileid=207655

SIGMATEL STAC 92XX C-Major HD Audio:
http://support.dell.com/support/down...&fileid=235761

Dell Wireless 1505 Draft 802.11n WLAN Mini-Card:
http://support.dell.com/support/down...&fileid=236819

UPEK Fingerprint Reader: (only if you have it of course)
http://support.dell.com/support/down...&fileid=209514

FOURTH, it gets a little tricky now, because Dell hasn't updated their m1330 drivers site very well...

Here are links to working drivers for the following parts:

Dell Wireless 355 Bluetooth Module (Bluetooth 2.0 + EDR): (only if you have it of course)
http://support.dell.com/support/down...&fileid=216131

Dell Quickset Drivers v3.4:
http://support.dell.com/support/down...&fileid=222116

FIFTH, download and install the latest Directx runtimes:
http://www.microsoft.com/downloads/d...displaylang=en

VOILA! That's it...you now have a perfectly running XPS m1330 in Windows XP! Of course, this is for my configuration. If you have a different wireless card for example, obviously I'd recommend installing the appropriate driver instead...


This machine flies in Windows XP by they way... I will have to start doing some benchmarking, but a quick test of the harddrive shows my burst speed at over 90 MB/s and an average throughput of over 53 MB /sec!

And in case you were wondering, there are no flagged items in Device Manager...

Take care, and enjoy your new FASTER toy

snowbro

[HCW]

repped if it works Thanks

[snowbro]

sounds good

[terryw]

im tempted to intall xp essential 2, but im kinda getting attached to vista

[ANorecticUS]

Good for you! I'm trying to install Win XP 64bit, but can't find correct/working SATA drivers. I've already tried Dell (no SATA for M1330 running on x64) and Intel. Intel at least claims that it has x64 drivers, but after pressing F6 and trying to show which driver to install my installation stops with:

The device associated with following device driver will not work correctly on this computer: iaStor.sys. The device driver is not compatible with the x64-based version of your computer is running. This device driver may be required to complete Windows Setup. Please contact the device manufacturer to obtain drivers compatible with the x64-based version of windows.

M1330 has ICH8M controller and PM965 chip (8400m), right? I tried all of them (AHCI, RAID, for notebooks and desktops) but I always get the same error. If anyone has installed 64bit XP on their M1330, please let me know what to do now.

EDIT: Managed to finally access my HDD with drivers found by DoubleBack in this thread x64 on 1420? Will report success or failure on DoubleBack's thread.

[snowbro]

What are the advantages of using Windows XP in 64-bit? Is it only if you have more than 2 GB of RAM?

[Reserved Egotist]

Go to the Dell Support website for the XPS m1210 and Windows XP and download and install:

Dell Wireless 1505 Draft 802.11n WLAN Mini-Card

snowbro, you mention the 802.11n drivers with the dell card. Will this apply for intel's or is there another driver to get?

[Maelwys]

For Intel's 4965 Draft-N, you'll need to get their drivers:

http://downloadcenter.intel.com/Prod...ProductID=2753

I'm still waiting on my XPS, but "upgrading" to XP will be the first thing I do. Repped for the great set of info, all in one place - thanks mate!

[topboxman]

What about driver for standard WiFi a/g mini card? Where can I find it? I am not interested in the "N". I think it's a gimmick and not much faster than standard WiFi. I would save $25 and get the standard WiFi.

Is this the right driver?

http://downloadcenter.intel.com/Prod...=2259&lang=eng

Peter

[snowbro]

If you go to the support page for the Inspiron 1501, or 1520, you can find a Dell specific driver that supports your specific wireless card... I used the wireless 1505n driver cuz thats what I have...

I actually prefer the Dell drivers when it comes to wireless...