Want laptop where I can install XP

[AlternateSteve]

I am planning to buy a new laptop computer, a PC/Windows based system. I want to pick up a mainstream, brand-name system, the kind I can buy at a store like MicroCenter or Best Buy – so, something like Dell, IBM, HP, Acer, etc., any brand name.

A key requirement I do have is that I want to be able to wipe the existing operating system and install XP on the PC.

I purchased a new HP laptop about a year ago, and ran into a problem with this. The problem came in layers.

First, the controllers for the newer hard drives are not supported by the drive controllers on the Windows XP installation disk. With a desktop computer that’s not a problem, because you can load an older controller via a floppy disk. These days, most of the laptops don’t come with a floppy disk.

Another option is to use the computer’s BIOS setup to change the operating parameters for the built in hard drive controller, to an older mode compatible with Windows XP. But on the HP laptop, I had a rude discovery: the BIOS setup does not let you access most of the “deep” features of the hardware. You can basically set the date and time, and the boot device (hard drive or CD), and that’s about it. You are locked out of everything else.

The result is, I am stuck with Windows 7 on the existing HP laptop.

So, in general terms, I am seeking a laptop PC where you can install XP readily. If some brand name laptops are amendable to that out of the box, please let me know.

Failing that, I want to at least have a BIOS that lets me dig down into the internals – preferable not just the hard driving controller, but bus settings, systems timing, the whole works.

It seems that PC manufacturers tend to keep their configurations fairly consistent across different PCs. So for example, I’d guess that if I got another, different HP laptop, I’d have the same problems. Is there a brand (or brands) of laptops currently on the market that are amenable to installing XP out of the box, or where you can at least get into the BIOS and mess deep down with system configurations?

Thanks in advance for all replies.

(FYI, apparently there are instructions someplace on the web for building an XP install disk and adding additional drivers for the newer disks. That sounds like a huge hassle, but if anyone can steer me to such instructions, that may be an option as well.)

[classicsoftware]

This is a really terrible idea on so many levels. Support for XP is ending soon. You will have a hard time getting drivers for the devices as you have noticed. XP tops out at 3GB of RAM. You are way better off buying a used unit that has XP installed.

[LochLomonder]

I agree w/classic regarding this one; it's a bad idea to try and take a retrograde step with the newer machines on the market. Considering supply & demand in the context of Win 7 uptake, it has surpassed XP usage and manufacturers are less inclined to support the latter platform anymore; especially with newer hardware.

If you truly cannot give up on XP, perhaps you could consider purchasing Win 7 Professional, at minimum, so you can run XP Mode with virtual PC (see here (http://www.microsoft.com/windows/virtual-pc/download.aspx) for further details).

[123456]

Why not just buy Windows 7 Ultimate or Professional and use XP Mode in it?

[azzey]

First of all, welcome to The PC Guide Forums, AlternateSteve!

Sadly, I am going to have to agree with the posts above. You are going to have a hard time finding a brand new machine that has driver support for XP. I have a 3-year old Dell laptop that is almost impossible to get drivers for.

You have a few options here.
1. Buy a machine that has good driver support (going to be difficult)
2. Run Windows 7 and run Windows XP in a virtual machine (easy since you obviously already have XP install media)
3. Move to Windows 7.

Perhaps we could give some more insight if you let us know why you need to have Windows XP at all. Is it to support legacy software? If that's the case, you'll be better off buying a cheap used machine.

If it's just preference, you'll find that you have to switch eventually (very soon) as Microsoft ends support for XP in 2014 (13 years after it was released). Windows 7 is not bad at all. In fact, most people would consider it the "new" Windows XP because of it's stability and ease of use.

The irony of this is that as I'm telling you to upgrade to Windows 7, the machine I'm using on (my work machine) is still running XP... :rolleyes:

[AlternateSteve]

OP: Because I hate the Win 7 GUI. I like XP. I plan to keep using it until I'm 90.

I appreciate your reservations and the good intentions behind "this is a bad idea," but it's a good idea for me.

Perhaps some of you could address the technical question: Is there a brand of laptop where the BIOS lets you change the hard drive parameters and other deep configuration issues?

Thanks in advance.

[FTT]

Because I hate the Win 7 GUI. I like XP. I plan to keep using it until I'm 90.

I felt that way with 98SE and hung onto it dearly up until close to 2002 or 2003. But I finally learned to like XP and now I'm in a similar boat as you.

Perhaps you could consider a dual-boot? You could have one off-line only to handle Office type tasks such as printing, imaging or any other non-internet reliant purposes and have the other OS as your browser and down-loader. Or whatever other arrangement may work out for you.

The tough thing to do is finding a newer PC that will have components that have available 'retro' drivers for the platforms you seek. As mentioned, look for a refurbished computer with specs that close to max out XP's maximum limitations but also are able to utilize either Vista or WIN7. But you need to do some homework prior to committing, in that you will be the one who needs to find, download and store all of the drivers for both operating systems prior to your project.

I'm assembling an XP/Vista dual boot configuration on one tower I recently found,, on the roadside for rubbish removal... :p I have all but 1 driver (onboard LAN?) for XP and although there was no hard drive, I found the restore disk with Vista, in the DVD burner/drive! :cool: I have tried one Linux variety as well and that works too! Picked up 2 more gigs of RAM and a SATA III drive, and I'm rolling down the highway at least.. :)

If you try to 'retrofit' something newer than say, a DDR2 FSB system, the chances of you finding hardware supported by Windows or any others such as nVidia, GeForce etc, are slim, and it gets slimmer by the minute. Sometimes you can disable an onboard peripheral in BIOS and install an add-on card so you don't get an error at each reboot, but slots are more at a premium these days especially if you have a micro-atx mobo or more importantly, a compact (not to infer 'Compaq') case. This is why you should consider a refurbished motherboard and use a case of your liking.

Boy! Am I getting long in the tooth or what,,, :o am I 'ninety' yet?? Well,, getting there.. :D I hate it when I get used to one backyard and Windows goes and changes the whole 'view'.. Oh! Gotta go, my grandson's here.. :cool:

[Paul Komski]

If you could cope with a 10" screen then there are still Netbooks being sold with Windows XP preinstalled: Amazon.uk for example (http://www.amazon.co.uk/s/ref=nb_sb_ss_i_9_11?url=search-alias%3Daps&field-keywords=netbook+windows+xp+home&sprefix=netbook+win).

Even though floppies are all but redundant any more it is nearly always possible with modern PCs to use and even boot from a USB Floppy Drive or CD Drive.

You could also consider trying eBay (http://shop.ebay.com/i.html?_from=R40&_trksid=m570.l1313&_nkw=windows+xp+laptop&_sacat=See-All-Categories) for a Laptop (refurbished or otherise) with WinXP preinstalled or WinXP compatible.

Messing with the BIOS will not change the hardware installed on the board and will not therefore somehow magically make the drivers available. It is obtaining the WinXP drivers for modern systems that is your real problem. There is one other way to use WinXP in a Windows Vista/7 machine and that is to install a Virtual Machine on the PC and then install WinXP onto that Virtual Machine. For example Virtual Box (http://www.virtualbox.org/) or Windows Virtual PC (http://www.microsoft.com/windows/virtual-pc/default.aspx).