Happiness is... no more VISTA
Thread Starter
Joined: Mar 2004
Posts: 310
Likes: 1
From: Indonesia
Happiness is... no more VISTA
At long last I have wiped VISTA off my computer. I attempted to do a clean install of Vista as the kids were used to it, despite its faults. My 'clean' install turned out to have left half the hard drive still in use from the old Vista, as Vista.old or something. As I wiped it told me it would be 34 days and 0 hrs to wipe it all.
I knew that could not be true but gave it an hour to sort things out. I tried to re install the broadband modem, and as before Vista did not like its driver. Even the tech from the computer shop had taken one and a half hours to do it when first purchased.
In the end I chose to put XP in. An excellent move.
The modem was found and automatically installed in less than 15 seconds. Yes, this XP is a really good upgrade after Vista. Really good.
I must have rocks in my head to keep Vista in for so long. I'm using Opera version 10 beta 2 as a browser and it is fast on my Internet. Obviously there's things I can't control, like my broadband running at 4 BPS last night, is that a world record for slowness?
Now here's a bit I need some advice on. I have a problem with the Indonesian language “overlay” supplied with Windows XP. I put it in for a try as our extended household uses Indonesian the most.
Works OK but found that using the language bar to swap languages still left everything in Indonesian.
I removed the language option via control panel, however most things are still in Indonesian. Lucky I never picked some scribbly text language to put in.
Any thoughts how I can get rid of the “overlay”.
I knew that could not be true but gave it an hour to sort things out. I tried to re install the broadband modem, and as before Vista did not like its driver. Even the tech from the computer shop had taken one and a half hours to do it when first purchased.
In the end I chose to put XP in. An excellent move.
The modem was found and automatically installed in less than 15 seconds. Yes, this XP is a really good upgrade after Vista. Really good.
I must have rocks in my head to keep Vista in for so long. I'm using Opera version 10 beta 2 as a browser and it is fast on my Internet. Obviously there's things I can't control, like my broadband running at 4 BPS last night, is that a world record for slowness?
Now here's a bit I need some advice on. I have a problem with the Indonesian language “overlay” supplied with Windows XP. I put it in for a try as our extended household uses Indonesian the most.
Works OK but found that using the language bar to swap languages still left everything in Indonesian.
I removed the language option via control panel, however most things are still in Indonesian. Lucky I never picked some scribbly text language to put in.
Any thoughts how I can get rid of the “overlay”.
Thread Starter
Joined: Mar 2004
Posts: 310
Likes: 1
From: Indonesia
A reply to myself
I have found the answer. I did have a good hunt through Microsoft's help site on the web, and found nothing.
Looking around the computer for something obvious, I went back to Control Panel, Regional and Language Options, Advanced. I found the selection for non unicode programs was set to Indonesian. Reset to English (United States) and all is well, it needed a restart to put the right files back.
Looking around the computer for something obvious, I went back to Control Panel, Regional and Language Options, Advanced. I found the selection for non unicode programs was set to Indonesian. Reset to English (United States) and all is well, it needed a restart to put the right files back.
Joined: Feb 2006
Posts: 594
Likes: 0
From: UK
Real happiness is a fresh XP install after Vista!
When my Lenovo T61 laptop (T8300 Core 2 Duo / 2GB Ram) was supplied new last year it came installed with Vista Business. Performance was so inferior to my T42 single core laptop with 2GB RAM and running XP Pro that had preceded it, and Cisco VPN so unstable, that I asked the IS team to install XP Pro instead.
When it came back, performance was far better than with Vista, but still no better than the T42. Not quite what I expected given the same operating system and service pack level but a much better headline tech spec.
From the outset of having XP installed the T61 would not read some types of DVD, and this came to a head recently when I had reason to need it fixed. Despite installing the latest full K-lite pack and being fully up to date with MS and Lenovo patches it still didn't work, so I asked the IS team to reinstall XP Pro, check if it was fixed, and if necessary then troubleshoot it.
When it came back this time the performance was exactly what I would have expected in the first place. To use a manner of speech, a flying machine. The DVD problem was fixed, too.
I asked the IS team what they had done differently this time; the answer was to reformat and install XP. Last time, I learned, they downgraded from Vista to XP per the option that the laptop had been purchased with. I wish I'd known at the time as I would have specifically asked for a reformat and clean installation but right now I'm kinda glad the DVD problem cropped up (which for the record had been solved simply by reinstalling XP)
When it came back, performance was far better than with Vista, but still no better than the T42. Not quite what I expected given the same operating system and service pack level but a much better headline tech spec.
From the outset of having XP installed the T61 would not read some types of DVD, and this came to a head recently when I had reason to need it fixed. Despite installing the latest full K-lite pack and being fully up to date with MS and Lenovo patches it still didn't work, so I asked the IS team to reinstall XP Pro, check if it was fixed, and if necessary then troubleshoot it.
When it came back this time the performance was exactly what I would have expected in the first place. To use a manner of speech, a flying machine. The DVD problem was fixed, too.
I asked the IS team what they had done differently this time; the answer was to reformat and install XP. Last time, I learned, they downgraded from Vista to XP per the option that the laptop had been purchased with. I wish I'd known at the time as I would have specifically asked for a reformat and clean installation but right now I'm kinda glad the DVD problem cropped up (which for the record had been solved simply by reinstalling XP)
Joined: Mar 2002
Posts: 4,569
Likes: 1
From: Florida
Happiness is visiting a new forum and finding folks with similar thoughts
Today I feel ignorant and frustrated
I just got a Dell XPS710 off of E-bay and the seller mistakenly loaded it with a fresh load of Vista. OK appologies and such but all I really want is a fresh load of XP. The seller sent along the reload XP disk from Dell. So here I am thinking this ought to be straight forward even for me. So I take out the Vista based WD500gb "C" drive and replace it with a brand new formated WD 1000gb drive.
I then pop in the XP CD and boot the computer. Bingo it takes about a minute to load in a whole bunch of drivers and then the dreaded Blue Screen of death followed by the mysterious gobbledigook of what MS calls a stop error 0x0000007b, 0x0000024, 0x00000000, 0x00000000
So I calls in my more experienced computer guru and after a day of trial and error and reading web sites she (my daughter) still can't reload XP without that blue screen (even tried an XP clean formated drive from one of my other XPS710 machines.
This has got to be a simple problem with a simple soultion doesn't it
k:
Today I feel ignorant and frustrated
I just got a Dell XPS710 off of E-bay and the seller mistakenly loaded it with a fresh load of Vista. OK appologies and such but all I really want is a fresh load of XP. The seller sent along the reload XP disk from Dell. So here I am thinking this ought to be straight forward even for me. So I take out the Vista based WD500gb "C" drive and replace it with a brand new formated WD 1000gb drive.
I then pop in the XP CD and boot the computer. Bingo it takes about a minute to load in a whole bunch of drivers and then the dreaded Blue Screen of death followed by the mysterious gobbledigook of what MS calls a stop error 0x0000007b, 0x0000024, 0x00000000, 0x00000000
So I calls in my more experienced computer guru and after a day of trial and error and reading web sites she (my daughter) still can't reload XP without that blue screen (even tried an XP clean formated drive from one of my other XPS710 machines.
This has got to be a simple problem with a simple soultion doesn't it
k:
Joined: Jul 2002
Posts: 684
Likes: 0
From: Hungary
The BSOD could be because the mtoherboard does not like the hard disk you put in.
Did you put in a 'storage' hard disk? These are not designed to run as hard disks, only storage, and operating systems will not work on them as they should (if at all).
Why did you remove the Vista hard disk?
If you put the Vista hard disk back in, will it load up correctly?
What happens when you load up on the new 1TB disk without the XP disk in? Same screen?
When you say 'loads up a whole bunch of drivers', do you mean it reads the XP disk? or are you refering to the standard BIOS startup procedure before it actually gets to the XP disk?
If you answer every question, I will (be able to) provide you with the solution.
Did you put in a 'storage' hard disk? These are not designed to run as hard disks, only storage, and operating systems will not work on them as they should (if at all).
Why did you remove the Vista hard disk?
If you put the Vista hard disk back in, will it load up correctly?
What happens when you load up on the new 1TB disk without the XP disk in? Same screen?
When you say 'loads up a whole bunch of drivers', do you mean it reads the XP disk? or are you refering to the standard BIOS startup procedure before it actually gets to the XP disk?
If you answer every question, I will (be able to) provide you with the solution.
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From: Twickenham, home of rugby
These are not designed to run as hard disks, only storage,
What on earth is a "storage" hard disk?
SD
Joined: Mar 2002
Posts: 4,569
Likes: 1
From: Florida
The BSOD could be because the mtoherboard does not like the hard disk you put in.
a: I have the same motherboard in my other XPS710 computers and the same harddrive as storage
Did you put in a 'storage' hard disk? These are not designed to run as hard disks, only storage, and operating systems will not work on them as they should (if at all).
a: Never heard of such a thing. What spec identifies it as storage? I had presumed that the XP instal disk would see it and ask me if I wanted to format it as a boot disk.
Why did you remove the Vista hard disk?
a: because everything else I own is XP and I hate to learn new icons and pathways
If you put the Vista hard disk back in, will it load up correctly?
a: Yes
What happens when you load up on the new 1TB disk without the XP disk in? Same screen?
a: The 1TB disk is recognized by Vista
When you say 'loads up a whole bunch of drivers', do you mean it reads the XP disk? or are you refering to the standard BIOS startup procedure before it actually gets to the XP disk?
a: It doesn't do anything without the XP disk and by virtue of all the file names being displayed on the bottom of the setup screen it must be reading them off the XP disk. Also I have more thanh one XP system disk and they all end up with the same blue screen.
If you answer every question, I will (be able to) provide you with the solution.
a: Great, can you drop by and take a look at it
If anybody wants a screen capture I can post a pic
a: I have the same motherboard in my other XPS710 computers and the same harddrive as storage
Did you put in a 'storage' hard disk? These are not designed to run as hard disks, only storage, and operating systems will not work on them as they should (if at all).
a: Never heard of such a thing. What spec identifies it as storage? I had presumed that the XP instal disk would see it and ask me if I wanted to format it as a boot disk.
Why did you remove the Vista hard disk?
a: because everything else I own is XP and I hate to learn new icons and pathways
If you put the Vista hard disk back in, will it load up correctly?
a: Yes
What happens when you load up on the new 1TB disk without the XP disk in? Same screen?
a: The 1TB disk is recognized by Vista
When you say 'loads up a whole bunch of drivers', do you mean it reads the XP disk? or are you refering to the standard BIOS startup procedure before it actually gets to the XP disk?
a: It doesn't do anything without the XP disk and by virtue of all the file names being displayed on the bottom of the setup screen it must be reading them off the XP disk. Also I have more thanh one XP system disk and they all end up with the same blue screen.
If you answer every question, I will (be able to) provide you with the solution.
a: Great, can you drop by and take a look at it
If anybody wants a screen capture I can post a pic
Joined: Jul 2002
Posts: 684
Likes: 0
From: Hungary
I was referring to external hard drives, or 'storage disks' (same term). Look here for further info: Can You Boot From External Hard Disk Drive: Running Windows From a Portable Hard Drive | Suite101.com
You see, my problem is, when you say you got a new 1TB 'drive', did you buy a "Hard Disk", or an "External Storage Drive"? If you got the latter, it won't work. If you got the former, fine.
However, my second problem is with your comment: Vista recognises it. What do you mean? The Vista disk is accepted to be installed in this new hard/storage drive? Or, you have Vista on one hard disk, you plug in the new hard disk/storage (yet to be established) and it detects it as an external storage device from within Vista? That's what it sounds like!
The fact you said about posting a screenshot further makes you feel you have got an external hard disk (not for operating systems) and are trying to make it a master drive (principal) whereas it is not designed for this and will absolutely give you the BSOD.
You see, my problem is, when you say you got a new 1TB 'drive', did you buy a "Hard Disk", or an "External Storage Drive"? If you got the latter, it won't work. If you got the former, fine.
However, my second problem is with your comment: Vista recognises it. What do you mean? The Vista disk is accepted to be installed in this new hard/storage drive? Or, you have Vista on one hard disk, you plug in the new hard disk/storage (yet to be established) and it detects it as an external storage device from within Vista? That's what it sounds like!
The fact you said about posting a screenshot further makes you feel you have got an external hard disk (not for operating systems) and are trying to make it a master drive (principal) whereas it is not designed for this and will absolutely give you the BSOD.
Joined: Mar 2002
Posts: 4,569
Likes: 1
From: Florida
I was referring to external hard drives, or 'storage disks' (same term). Look here for further info: Can You Boot From External Hard Disk Drive: Running Windows From a Portable Hard Drive | Suite101.com
You see, my problem is, when you say you got a new 1TB 'drive', did you buy a "Hard Disk", or an "External Storage Drive"? If you got the latter, it won't work. If you got the former, fine.
However, my second problem is with your comment: Vista recognises it. What do you mean? The Vista disk is accepted to be installed in this new hard/storage drive? Or, you have Vista on one hard disk, you plug in the new hard disk/storage (yet to be established) and it detects it as an external storage device from within Vista? That's what it sounds like!
The fact you said about posting a screenshot further makes you feel you have got an external hard disk (not for operating systems) and are trying to make it a master drive (principal) whereas it is not designed for this and will absolutely give you the BSOD.
You see, my problem is, when you say you got a new 1TB 'drive', did you buy a "Hard Disk", or an "External Storage Drive"? If you got the latter, it won't work. If you got the former, fine.
However, my second problem is with your comment: Vista recognises it. What do you mean? The Vista disk is accepted to be installed in this new hard/storage drive? Or, you have Vista on one hard disk, you plug in the new hard disk/storage (yet to be established) and it detects it as an external storage device from within Vista? That's what it sounds like!
The fact you said about posting a screenshot further makes you feel you have got an external hard disk (not for operating systems) and are trying to make it a master drive (principal) whereas it is not designed for this and will absolutely give you the BSOD.
a: OK its an internal hardrive. No external drives are involved in this task
The computer came with a single boot drive loaded with Vista and boots OK. I simply used the Vista operating system to boot up and check to see that it recognizes my blank 1TB internal hardrive (it does). Then I simply unplug the Vista hard drive and plug into the new blank harddrive and and boot as far as I can with the XP system disk.
The screenshot was only a venacular and yes I would have to capture it with a digital camera and not with a an XP operating system running (because I can't load the &(^(& thing)
I do have a Vista restore CD but that is probably not going to help load an XP system in this case.
sorry for the continued confusion but hopefully we can work it out with these kinds of responses
Joined: Jul 2002
Posts: 684
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From: Hungary
Thanks for clarifications!
As posted above, check the cables. Always the first thing. You'd be amazed how many problems can be resolved with simple things before getting so technical.
What do I mean? Well, hard disks have 2 or 3 cables. The power cable (with 4 pins, usually - depends on model), the main connector cable, and sometimes a little flimsy thing (you might find one in the back of the CD-ROM drive). Usuaully, you only need the power cable and the main attachment cable.
Soemtimes, there is a little black peg in the back of the disk. This can be placed in different positions which means the disk will be read as a particualr kind of disk. Have a look. If so, the book (or even on a little ticket nearby) will tell you which position refers to MASTER (not slave). Check that out.
Second, go to the BIOS when the computer turns on WITHOUT the disc in the drive. You normally press delete or F12 (or F8). Find the option for Boot Order. You might also have the option of choosing this direction without going to the BIOS. The keyboard shortcut will be displayed at the very beginning. Make sure the CD-ROM is set for that, and not the hard disk - of course, have the hard disk connected.
Reset with the disc in, and allow it to boot from the disc automatically. The disk should start to load various drivers into the BIOS. Hopefully, you'll arrive at the screen to install XP. Select the appropriate Partition (or create one), and go for it. If it asks you to Format, select the full format which it says takes a little longer. If that works, you should be set...
Keep me updated! We'll take this step by step, getting more complicated each time until we conclude the HD is f*&^ed
As posted above, check the cables. Always the first thing. You'd be amazed how many problems can be resolved with simple things before getting so technical.
What do I mean? Well, hard disks have 2 or 3 cables. The power cable (with 4 pins, usually - depends on model), the main connector cable, and sometimes a little flimsy thing (you might find one in the back of the CD-ROM drive). Usuaully, you only need the power cable and the main attachment cable.
Soemtimes, there is a little black peg in the back of the disk. This can be placed in different positions which means the disk will be read as a particualr kind of disk. Have a look. If so, the book (or even on a little ticket nearby) will tell you which position refers to MASTER (not slave). Check that out.
Second, go to the BIOS when the computer turns on WITHOUT the disc in the drive. You normally press delete or F12 (or F8). Find the option for Boot Order. You might also have the option of choosing this direction without going to the BIOS. The keyboard shortcut will be displayed at the very beginning. Make sure the CD-ROM is set for that, and not the hard disk - of course, have the hard disk connected.
Reset with the disc in, and allow it to boot from the disc automatically. The disk should start to load various drivers into the BIOS. Hopefully, you'll arrive at the screen to install XP. Select the appropriate Partition (or create one), and go for it. If it asks you to Format, select the full format which it says takes a little longer. If that works, you should be set...
Keep me updated! We'll take this step by step, getting more complicated each time until we conclude the HD is f*&^ed
Administrator
Joined: Mar 2001
Aviation Qualifications: PPL
Posts: 8,121
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From: Twickenham, home of rugby
A couple of things -
The Dell US website has this in the spec. section for the XPS 710:
Are you sure that 1TB disks are supported?
Secondly, XP does not support SATA disks "out of the box" - you have to supply the SATA drivers at installation time, IIRC.
Vista does "natively" support SATA disks.
So I guess my question is - is it a SATA disk? And does the PC BIOS support it?
I would search for articles on installing XP on SATA disks - possibly without access to a floppy drive (if that's your scenario), but you can get around that by slipstreaming the drivers onto the XP install CD - might as well slipstream SP3 while you are at it!
SD
The Dell US website has this in the spec. section for the XPS 710:
The XPS 710 supports up to four hard drives4, each with up to 750GB space - a potential capacity of 2TB total. And with RAID 1 and RAID 0 options, you can choose your storage to meet your needs, whether it's for storing large quantities of files, backing up system information and files, or improving performance with data striping.
Dell will ship up to 3 hard drives.
* Up to 2TB5 Multiple Serial ATA Hard Drives (all 4 drives utilized)
* Up to 750GB3 Single Serial ATA Hard Drive
Dell will ship up to 3 hard drives.
* Up to 2TB5 Multiple Serial ATA Hard Drives (all 4 drives utilized)
* Up to 750GB3 Single Serial ATA Hard Drive
Secondly, XP does not support SATA disks "out of the box" - you have to supply the SATA drivers at installation time, IIRC.
Vista does "natively" support SATA disks.
So I guess my question is - is it a SATA disk? And does the PC BIOS support it?
I would search for articles on installing XP on SATA disks - possibly without access to a floppy drive (if that's your scenario), but you can get around that by slipstreaming the drivers onto the XP install CD - might as well slipstream SP3 while you are at it!
SD
Joined: Mar 2002
Posts: 4,569
Likes: 1
From: Florida
RE: Check the cables
The internal drives are Sata and the cables are absolute swaps from Vista to the new hardrive. No such thing as a jumper block have I seen on a simple SATA swap. Hell they don't even provide jumper buttons on these.
Re: Going to BIOS and setting boot instructions.
No problem there. Just for backup I plugged in an external CD through the USB and watched the boot sequence. First it went to the hard disk and displayed a NO OS found. Then it lit up the external CD drive and provided a setup screen for Windows XP, Then it spent a minute displaying all the various drivers that it was loading then it too displayed the blue screen of death having not found a proper hardrive.
RE: Support for 1 TB harddrives
This would have been an easy fix and of course I would be humbled. So I went out and bought a brand new 500 GB WD SATA and presto it also ends in the blue screen of death during the XP load. *&&**%
I now have a couple of beers in me and I'm feeling better already, but I'll hate life in the morning
RE: Does PC Bios support SATA?
Yes. That's all it supports relative to the first 6 slots including two for CD/DVD
Re: Slipstreaming drivers etc.
No floppy
No idea how this is done
The internal drives are Sata and the cables are absolute swaps from Vista to the new hardrive. No such thing as a jumper block have I seen on a simple SATA swap. Hell they don't even provide jumper buttons on these.
Re: Going to BIOS and setting boot instructions.
No problem there. Just for backup I plugged in an external CD through the USB and watched the boot sequence. First it went to the hard disk and displayed a NO OS found. Then it lit up the external CD drive and provided a setup screen for Windows XP, Then it spent a minute displaying all the various drivers that it was loading then it too displayed the blue screen of death having not found a proper hardrive.
RE: Support for 1 TB harddrives
This would have been an easy fix and of course I would be humbled. So I went out and bought a brand new 500 GB WD SATA and presto it also ends in the blue screen of death during the XP load. *&&**%
I now have a couple of beers in me and I'm feeling better already, but I'll hate life in the morning
RE: Does PC Bios support SATA?
Yes. That's all it supports relative to the first 6 slots including two for CD/DVD
Re: Slipstreaming drivers etc.
No floppy
No idea how this is done
Administrator
Joined: Mar 2001
Aviation Qualifications: PPL
Posts: 8,121
Likes: 686
From: Twickenham, home of rugby
lomapaseo,
You seem to have missed the most important point of my post:
Yes, because it hasn't found a SATA driver!!
I would again urge you to:
As you have confirmed that your PC doesn't have a floppy disk drive, you will need to investigate how you get the drivers onto the PC during installation.
You will, soon enough!
Less beer, more thought!
SD
You seem to have missed the most important point of my post:
XP does not support SATA disks "out of the box" - you have to supply the SATA drivers at installation time.
Then it lit up the external CD drive and provided a setup screen for Windows XP, Then it spent a minute displaying all the various drivers that it was loading then it too displayed the blue screen of death having not found a proper hardrive.
I would again urge you to:
search for articles on installing XP on SATA disks
Re: Slipstreaming drivers etc.
No idea how this is done
No idea how this is done
Less beer, more thought!
SD
Hippopotomonstrosesquipidelian title
Joined: Oct 2006
Posts: 1,825
Likes: 1
From: is everything
Sounds like your XP disk is pre-SP2?
This is an nVidia chipset motherboard, it appears, in which case the SATA controller driver may not be obvious: it's part of nVidia Mediashield.
Since you don't have a floppy, you can slipstream the drivers using a package such as nLite. Although, since you have the Dell reload XP disk, I'm surprised the driver isn't already there.
Just on the off-chance, in BIOS have you checked that it's set to auto/SATA and not RAID? Your DELL recovery disk might then automagically work.
This is an nVidia chipset motherboard, it appears, in which case the SATA controller driver may not be obvious: it's part of nVidia Mediashield.
Since you don't have a floppy, you can slipstream the drivers using a package such as nLite. Although, since you have the Dell reload XP disk, I'm surprised the driver isn't already there.
Just on the off-chance, in BIOS have you checked that it's set to auto/SATA and not RAID? Your DELL recovery disk might then automagically work.
Joined: Mar 2002
Posts: 4,569
Likes: 1
From: Florida
Sounds like your XP disk is pre-SP2?
a: Nope, it comes with SP2 straight from Dell
This is an nVidia chipset motherboard, it appears, in which case the SATA controller driver may not be obvious: it's part of nVidia Mediashield.
Since you don't have a floppy, you can slipstream the drivers using a package such as nLite. Although, since you have the Dell reload XP disk, I'm surprised the driver isn't already there.
Just on the off-chance, in BIOS have you checked that it's set to auto/SATA and not RAID? Your DELL recovery disk might then automagically work.
a: Yes I've cycled it a couple of times\
a: Nope, it comes with SP2 straight from Dell
This is an nVidia chipset motherboard, it appears, in which case the SATA controller driver may not be obvious: it's part of nVidia Mediashield.
Since you don't have a floppy, you can slipstream the drivers using a package such as nLite. Although, since you have the Dell reload XP disk, I'm surprised the driver isn't already there.
Just on the off-chance, in BIOS have you checked that it's set to auto/SATA and not RAID? Your DELL recovery disk might then automagically work.
a: Yes I've cycled it a couple of times\
Hippopotomonstrosesquipidelian title
Joined: Oct 2006
Posts: 1,825
Likes: 1
From: is everything
Somewhere between zero and very good: I don't know if the Dell BIOS supports "treat USB as a floppy drive". It's an easy test, though, once you get the driver. I'm still a little surprised that a Dell recovery disk from Dell for a Dell doesn't have the right drivers already on it. Since you say you have the same drive in other computers, it can't be that Dell historically uses Seagate and Samsung drives.
Joined: Jul 2008
Posts: 388
Likes: 0
From: 3433N 06912E
sounds like it could be a driver issue
you could try windows 7 trial version...
Windows 7 Release Candidate (RC): Instructions for Free Download
you could try windows 7 trial version...
Windows 7 Release Candidate (RC): Instructions for Free Download
