Effective tips on how to install windows xp on a laptop. Reinstalling Windows on an HP laptop Installing windows xp hp
Greetings, my dear readers. The other day they brought me an interesting laptop: HP 255 G2 with Windows 8.1 pre-installed (as it should be now), however, its owner did not want to relearn and tearfully asked to put the usual seven. As they say: the master is the master, and it was decided to demolish Windows 8.1, which came with the kit, and install Windows 7. However, everything turned out to be not as simple as I thought at first glance!
How to install Windows 7 on an HP laptop in pictures
So how can we install Windows 7 on an HP 255 G2 laptop, even if the standard delete or f2 does not allow us to get into the usual BIOS of the laptop? (which puzzled me a lot). It was then that I remembered a clever phrase: if all else fails, then finally read the instructions!
The instructions included were very sparse: it showed how to insert the battery and what to press to turn it on... well, and a couple of pages on how to use Windows 8.1. As you can imagine, such reading was of little use to me and I had to go to the official website for answers, and I found them!
Here is the information... to get into the BIOS! to set the boot device we need to press when starting the laptop first and then, after that you will be taken to the BIOS, where you can make settings.
How to install Windows 7 on an HP laptop
Since new HP laptops (almost all) have UEFI instead of the usual BIOS (A sort of modern alternative to BIOS) then there are some subtleties here (UEFI is a topic for a separate article, so we won’t consider it here, we’ll just figure out how to load seven on a laptop)... By the way, quality control was checked by my faithful cat, who never left his laptop for a minute :)
If it weren't for the cat, I don't even know if I would have figured it out or not.
So, if we briefly talk about UEFI innovations, then the main crutch in the installation of any other OS other than Eight - SECURE BOOT mode, which increases the security of the OS. The main problem is that no one except Windows 8 supports this feature. (from desktop OS of course), so to install Windows 7 on our HP 255 G2 or similar laptop, you just need turn off SECURE BOOT and instead of it activate Legacy Support , after these manipulations it may be easy to install any other operating system... at least 😉
As soon as you turn on the laptop, immediately press and then until you get to the BIOS. Here we go to the tab System Configuration and select the item Boot Options on the menu…
As you can see, there are very few settings here, so there shouldn’t be any difficulties here... in order for us to install Windows 7, we need to disable Secure Boot (Select
However, that’s not all, since changing the loading method will not allow the eight to load, we need to enter the confirmation code and press. I warn you right away that the buttons on the number pad are not active in this case... dial the code (in my case 9993) and press Enter
Actually, that's all... now at startup we press + and we find ourselves in Boot Options - where we need to choose what to boot from, that’s all, the HP laptop is ready to install Windows 7.
Instead of an afterword: If you, like me, decide, then take a closer look at the USB ports in the laptop... there are USB 3.0 ports that do not work quite correctly without installing drivers for them. For example, installing Windows 7 was impossible for me due to the lack of drivers for the optical drive, which sounds a little crazy - I installed it from a USB drive... but keep this in mind, if you have the same error, just insert the flash drive into another USB port of the laptop and repeat the download. Now you definitely won’t have any questions left: How to install Windows 7 on an HP laptop! In my opinion, we have considered all possible options;)
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The issue of reinstalling the Windows operating system is not something supernatural for many users. The whole procedure takes about 40 minutes and does not cause any particular difficulties, because modern versions of the OS perform all operations with virtually no user intervention. Some users switch to Windows XP in order to speed up their computer. But many people don't know how to install Windows XP on a laptop.
In fact, the process is quite similar to installing Win 7, 8, 10, but it has a completely different graphical interface. Let's consider in detail all the steps that need to be taken to install Windows XP.
Before you begin installing Windows XP, you need to pay attention to the key features of this operating system.
- Firstly, this is the most popular version among the others for the entire existence of the Windows OS. It was under its control, in the modern world, that most users began to get acquainted with the computer. It was a truly stable and fully functional version of the operating system.
- Secondly, since 2015 it has no longer been supported and no updates have been released, but many users still use it and categorically do not want to switch to newer versions, because it uses much fewer resources than new versions.
Windows XP installation steps
First, you need to decide what media you are planning to install from. You can install using an optical disk (you can also use a CD, since the volume of the installation package is designed for 700 MB), or you can burn the image to a flash drive. Download from the Internet or borrow an image of this OS from someone and burn it to a disk or flash drive (for removable media you will need to install one of the additional burning programs, for example, Ultra ISO). It is best to use tested and optimized assemblies, where the necessary functions are already optimally included and stability is ensured (read the comments about this assembly or get the OS from an employee of one of the service centers).
Many skeptics will argue: why use an outdated version of Windows when almost all laptops come with versions of Windows 7, 8 or 10 already installed? The fact is that if one of the RAM sticks fails, the new OS distributions will not work quickly and freezes and slowdowns will constantly occur. With the OS in question, this problem can be solved without resorting to purchasing RAM. In addition, if the user uses graphic editors or programs that require a lot of resources, he will be much more comfortable working with the old version, because the software in this case will work much faster.
Go to the BIOS settings (in a laptop, entering the BIOS is done in different ways, for example, using the Del button, F12, etc. When loading, as a rule, a hint appears on the screen on how to enter the BIOS menu). Select the boot priority item and in the First Boot Device line, select the media from which you plan to install. Click the F10 button to save the settings. After the reboot, a message will appear that you must click on any button to continue the installation. Do this and the installation process will begin.
A blue screen will open in front of you, showing the progress of identifying controllers, devices, etc. A dialog box will then appear where you can select three options to continue. Due to the fact that we are installing Windows XP for the first time, we must press the Enter button (you can also use the OS there or exit the installation wizard).
After this, you will be asked to select the disk on which this operating system will be installed. Select the required section and press the Enter button.
A window that appears again will offer a choice of formatting for this section. You can leave this section unchanged, but this is the wrong decision and not rational. From personal experience, I can say with confidence that you need to choose quick formatting with the NTFS file system.
After formatting the disk, the laptop will restart and then a window will appear with the direct installation of Windows XP. The presented window will display the installation stages and the entire installation progress. Also, innovations that have been introduced compared to Win 2000 will be displayed there, but this will not surprise anyone, because many used more modern versions of the OS. The laptop may reboot during the installation process, and the screen may go dark for a few seconds.
After the installation is complete, the Windows XP desktop will open in front of you.
In general, the installation can be considered complete, but you still need to install drivers, because this OS does not provide automatic selection. Please remember that the network card will also not work without installing the driver and you will not be able to go online to download them. Therefore, make sure to download drivers for your laptop model in advance. Use only official download sources, for example, on the website of your laptop manufacturer.
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Please read the following important information before starting the update. HP recommends that you print this document for reference during the installation process.
Warning.All important data should always be backed up (for example, but not limited to, personal data, photos, videos, documents, applications, email, etc.) before starting any update to avoid losing important data.
A clean installation (custom) removes all files on the hard drive; all partitions on the hard drive are removed before installing Windows. Original HP drivers and software (and any other installed software) will be removed and will need to be reinstalled or replaced with Windows 8/8.1 compatible versions.
Programs created for Windows 7 or earlier operating systems may not work after installing Windows 8.1.
If your computer is sent to service or is being repaired after upgrading to Windows 8.1, then it is possible to reinstall the image of the laptop to the original Windows operating system, and Windows 8.1 will be removed. After the repair is completed, you can restore Windows 8.1.
Copy the downloaded files to a CD/DVD or USB flash drive to use after installing Windows 8.1.
Go to the customer support website (http://www.hp.com/support), select the Programs and Drivers page, and enter your computer model number. Download and save Windows 8/8.1 device drivers and program files to your computer's hard drive.
Note.If Windows 8.1 is listed in the drop-down menu, your computer model is supported.
Step 2: Create recovery discs and backup important files
Create Windows 8 system recovery discs if you haven't already done so. If a problem occurs during the system upgrade process, you can restore your computer to its original configuration using recovery discs. For information about creating a personal set of recovery discs, see Creating recovery discs or saving a recovery image to a USB drive.
You can use Microsoft Backup and Restore Center or Microsoft Windows Easy Transfer to back up your Windows files and transfer them to Windows 8.1.
Before using other backup programs, make sure they are compatible with Windows 8.1 - You may need to review the documentation that came with your backup software or visit the software developer's website. You should also have a copy of the software installation files on a USB drive or CD.
Do not use backup software that is not compatible with Windows 8.1! If you are unsure about your backup software's compatibility with Windows 8.1, HP recommends using Microsoft Backup and Restore Center or Microsoft Windows Easy Transfer software.
Once complete, verify that the backup was successful and the files are accessible.
Step 3: Disable Acceleration in Intel Rapid Storage
Some HP computers come pre-installed with high-speed mSATA SSDs in addition to the main hard drive. mSATA cache drives enable faster boot times and improve computer performance. Before performing a clean installation, you must disable cache disk acceleration in the Intel Rapid Storage Technology interface. Once the clean installation is complete, you will need to install Intel Rapid Storage Technology and re-enable mSATA cache drive acceleration.
Determine if your computer has an mSATA cache drive:
Disabling acceleration in Intel Rapid Storage Technology
If your computer has an mSATA cache drive, follow these steps to prepare it for Windows 8.1 installation.
Possible problems when installing Windows 8.1
Local account- you can enter a unique username and password that will only be valid on this computer, and thus keep it as an independent device, not associated with other devices. You will, however, be able to manually connect to the cloud service to exchange data.
Microsoft Account- If you use your connected Microsoft account to sign in, this computer will automatically connect to your other mobile devices and request access to all the data you have stored in your social networking accounts.
Aborting installation- at some points in the process the installation may be stopped and restarted. When you restart your computer, you will see several prompts with options: Continue where you left off or Start over.
User Account Management Security- Microsoft's User Account Control program will ask you to confirm that you want the specified program to make changes to your computer. This prevents spyware or viruses from attempting to install malware.
When prompted "Allow the following program to make changes to the computer?" if the program name is specified as Microsoft Windows, and the name of the developer will be Microsoft Corporation, select Yes to allow this action.
Select a username and password- By default, Windows 8.1 is designed to seamlessly integrate your computer into the Internet or cloud with other social services and devices using a connected Microsoft user account, such as a Microsoft LiveID, Instant Messenger, Gmail, or AOL account.
Allow repeated reboots- During installation, the computer will restart several times. During the reboot, you can either remove the installation DVD or ignore the prompt To boot from a CD or DVD, press any key....
Performing a clean (custom) installation using a DVD or USB drive
If you purchased Windows 8.1 on DVD, or you created a DVD or USB drive when you purchased Windows 8.1 for download, follow these steps to perform a clean (custom) installation.
Enable mSATA cache drive and acceleration (optional)
If your computer has an mSATA cache drive, you need to enable acceleration in the Intel Rapid Storage Technology settings to increase PC performance. Use the following instructions to set up a drive for Windows 8.1.
What to do after upgrading to Windows 8.1
Connect to the Internet if you are not already connected.
Installing updated video drivers - For best quality, install the latest drivers on your computer. Use previously downloaded drivers, Windows 8.1 drivers burned to a CD/DVD, or a USB flash drive.
Go to the HP Customer Support website (http://www.hp.com/support), select the software and driver download page, and enter your computer model number. Download and install drivers for Windows 8.1 on your computer.
Creating a Windows Repair Disc - Using a Windows 8.1 System Repair disc can help you fix startup problems and repair Windows 8 if problems arise later.
In the Windows 8.1 Charms bar, select Settings, then - Control Panel. Type recovery , then from the list of search results select Creating a recovery disc.
Restore your backup files - If you upgraded to Windows 8.1 using a clean install, you can restore your files using the backups you made before installing. For instructions, see Restoring Files from a Backup.
If your computer had a recovery partition (Windows 7 or Windows 8 Recovery Partition) and the Recovery Manager program, they will be deleted during the installation of Windows 8.1. If after the update you want to restore the original operating system, before updating you need to create HP recovery media, obtain a disc containing the retail version of the required Windows operating system.
Attention!Even if you have already updated your drivers, you may need to reinstall some drivers because... Some Windows 8 drivers may not automatically transfer to Windows 8.1. To ensure your HP computer has the best drivers, make sure you have the latest drivers for your system. Go to the customer support website (www.hp.com/support), select the Software and Drivers page, and enter your computer model number. Download and save device drivers and Windows 8.1 software package files to your computer's hard drive.
HP stopped shipping consumer laptops running Windows XP in April 2010. Therefore, Microsoft may no longer provide general support for this solution. This will take into account how and when you purchased your copy of Windows XP. Bulk support includes, but is not limited to, delivery of drivers for new devices, updated drivers, security updates, patch files, or updated software.
Replacing the installed operating system with a retail version of Windows XP on an HP notebook computer that is under warranty will void the software warranty. The software warranty only applies to the original software and operating system that originally shipped with your laptop. This warranty does not apply to modifications made to the software after purchase.
The equipment warranty is valid for a specified warranty period. For hardware related issues, you may see a message telling you to reinstall the original OS to check if the problem is caused by a hardware issue.
Known issues when upgrading from Windows Vista or 7 to Windows XP
Replacing the Windows 7 or Vista operating system originally installed on HP Pavilion or Compaq Presario consumer notebook computers can cause significant problems with the computer's performance. Many hardware components, such as audio devices, video devices, graphics cards, network cards, drives, and other internal and peripheral devices, will experience reduced functionality or stop working. Before you decide to replace your operating system, you should review your hardware and software manufacturers' support policies and the problems other users are experiencing with this situation.
Microsoft has stopped selling the Windows XP operating system and is providing limited support to users of the system. Information about the use and support policies for this operating system can be found on the Microsoft website.
The installation disk does not find the hard drive
When you try to install Windows XP on a computer designed to install Windows Vista or Windows 7, a problem may occur in which the installation disk does not “see” the hard drive. During installation, you will receive an ATA error message stating that the hard drive was not found on the computer. Newer operating systems use Serial ATA (SATA) technology to manage the hard drive, while Windows XP and earlier operating systems use ATI-native technology. The BIOS, which controls all hardware components, uses its own native-SATA drivers, but the XP installation disk cannot recognize this newer technology.
To resolve this issue and disable the native-SATA configuration in the BIOS, follow these steps:
If the SATA option is available, set it to Disable, then press F10 to save your changes and restart your computer.
If the SATA option is missing, you should use third-party tools to change the settings.
Open the optical CD/DVD drive to remove the XP installation disc and turn off the computer's power.
Press the power button, then the F10 key to open the BIOS settings menu.
Use your keyboard to navigate to Configuration to find the Native-SATA configuration options.
After changing the SATA setting, insert the XP installation disc into the drive, restart your computer, and follow Microsoft's instructions to complete the installation.
If the BIOS does not have options to disable SATA settings, installing XP may require what is called a "slipstreaming" procedure. This procedure involves the use of third-party tools that are not supported by HP, which may result in unexpected errors. Before attempting to make changes to Windows Vista or Windows 7, it is recommended that you search the Internet for the necessary instructions and tools.
Cannot connect to network using network interface card (NIC)
The computer cannot be connected to the network or the Internet. The most likely cause of this problem is that Windows XP cannot recognize the network interface card.
To resolve this issue, locate and install the network interface card drivers for your original operating system. You will need another computer to find and download the appropriate NIC or Ethernet drivers. You can then transfer the file to the computer where the operating system was replaced. After you install the network interface card driver and restart your computer, you can connect it to the Internet to search for and download other drivers.
New hardware manufacturers do not provide drivers for Windows XP
Since the release of the newer Windows Vista and Windows 7 operating systems, device technology has been constantly changing. Some hardware manufacturers do not provide support for Windows XP. After upgrading the operating system on an HP Pavilion or Compaq Presario consumer notebook computer designed to run Windows Vista to an older operating system, you may experience the following issues:
HP does not provide Windows XP compatible drivers for the audio, video, graphics, network cards, drives, or other internal or peripheral devices of these notebook computers.
If you replace your operating system, you may need to return your computer software to its original (factory) state so that you can troubleshoot hardware and software problems with support.
Newer hardware components may be designed specifically for use with the latest operating systems, such as Windows Vista or Windows 7. Therefore, some hardware manufacturers may not provide drivers that are compatible with Windows XP.
Even if Microsoft or other companies can provide universal drivers that work for all devices, your HP computer may not perform at optimal levels.
Use Windows Update and HP Help and Support to find compatible drivers.
Microsoft and HP provide tools to make it easier for users to find compatible drivers and software. Since some updates can be installed only after installing other updates and restarting the computer, you will need to run the update tools several times.
Open a browser window and go to www.update.microsoft.com.
Select the check box for the components for which you want to check for updates to your operating system and Microsoft software, such as Word, Excel, Office, and so on.
Wait until your computer finishes checking for updates and patches. The most recent version of Windows XP Service Pack 3 (SP3) includes all the drivers planned for release by Microsoft. Microsoft has no plans to continue developing drivers or software for Windows XP.
Windows Update is part of the Windows Vista and Windows 7 operating systems and runs from your hard drive. To update your Windows XP operating system, go to the Microsoft website and run the online update program. To run Windows Update, follow these steps:
Some maintenance tools are available in HP Help and Support for Windows XP. But this application refers to the HP Instant Support Professional Edition diagnostic toolkit, which works through the web interface (once connected to the network). This set of diagnostic tools has been developed for known combinations of hardware and operating systems. If the configuration of your laptop is non-standard, then delivery of updates will not be possible.
Launching HP Notebook Utilities for XP
HP laptops have a unique feature that is lost when installing the stock Windows XP image. Although you can find and install individual utilities, HP has prepared a software package, SP27720 – Notebook Utilities for Windows XP, which contains several utilities for notebook computers. Utilities are used to calibrate the battery, switch displays with keyboard shortcuts, quickly lock the system, and use Wireless features.
Download and save the software package on your computer. Do not try to run the program from the website. Some utilities check the hard drive for earlier versions of the program and display a message about removing installed programs:
Open control Panel, right-click on the program name and select Uninstall from the drop-down menu.
Shut down and restart your computer before installing new versions of utilities.
Updating or reinstalling drivers through Device Manager
If the laptop does not recognize any USB device, or if the driver installation is not completed correctly, an error message appears.
This device cannot be started. (FailReasonString value) A change in this setting indicates a failure in some hardware component.
The device is missing, not working properly, or not all drivers are installed for it. (Code 10)
If the failed device is an external peripheral device, such as a printer or USB hard drive, disconnect and reconnect the cable to check that the connection is secure. To resolve this issue and install a compatible driver, connect your computer to the Internet and try one or more of the following methods.
Update your device driver
Click the Start button and right-click My Computer.
Select Properties, then click the Hardware tab.
Click the button device Manager to launch Device Manager.
Device Manager uses an exclamation mark inside a yellow triangle to indicate a device that has not been detected or a driver that is not installed and is malfunctioning.
Select the Driver tab.
Select an item Update driver and allow the Windows operating system to search your computer and the Internet for a suitable driver.
Uninstalling and reinstalling the device driver
Open device Manager, as described above.
Highlight the broken device row marked with an "exclamation mark inside a yellow triangle" symbol and click the Remove button.
Close device Manager and shut down your computer.
Restart your computer and wait until Windows detects plug-and-play devices and installs the appropriate drivers. Allow the WINDOWS operating system to search your computer and the Internet for a suitable driver.
Finding and installing alternative drivers and programs manually
If you know the model number of a hardware component, you can use that number to find other devices that use components from the same manufacturer, and then search for compatible drivers. Because Windows XP was developed using older technology, Windows XP drivers may not be as functional as Windows 7 drivers.
Search for drivers used in similar device models running the new operating system. Go to the HP Drivers and Downloads web page to search for an updated device driver for other computers in the same series.
Note.Before you install an unknown driver or program, find out which version of the hardware component it is for. Read the Readme file or installation instructions that apply to the file you are updating.
Warning.DO NOT install random drivers or software, as running an incompatible program may cause your computer to malfunction or become completely inoperable! For example, attempting to install a BIOS for a 32-bit Intel processor on a computer with a 64-bit AMD processor will result in the computer being completely inoperable and unable to be restored to a previous working state.
If your computer does not work properly, install the original operating system
If you've already replaced your original Windows Vista or Windows 7 operating system with the older Windows XP, you may have found that features such as sound, DVD drive, or webcam no longer work. There are very few Windows XP drivers listed on the product web page for your laptop. HP DOES NOT provide Windows XP compatible drivers for computers designed exclusively for Windows Vista and Windows 7. If your computer came with a non-XP operating system, HP will provide support for the installed hardware and software when the computer is running under written agreements. management of the initially installed OS. You can reinstall the original operating system.
Note.You can try installing drivers and programs provided by other companies; however, HP will not be able to provide technical support or diagnose potential hardware problems until you have reinstalled the original Windows Vista or Windows 7 operating system.
To resolve hardware and software issues, you MUST reinstall the original operating system that was installed at the factory. To do this, follow these steps:
Although there are documents available online that describe installing two operating systems with a choice of which one to boot, HP does not support this configuration. Installing two operating systems requires installing drivers for both systems, but HP does not provide drivers for components that are not designed to run on the other operating system. With this configuration, you may need to return your computer software to its original (factory) state in order to troubleshoot hardware and software problems with support.
Additionally, even if you can find third-party drivers for use in a dual-OS configuration, pay attention to the available hard drive capacity. Each operating system takes up significant space on your hard drive. Installing XP and Vista at the same time can significantly limit the hard drive space available for other applications, which will degrade overall performance.
So, you bought a computer, but it doesn’t have your favorite operating system - Windows XP. What to do in this case? Read the beginner's guide, laptop. The procedure, in principle, is not particularly complicated, the main thing is to repeat the installation steps step by step.
Introduction to installationWindows
First of all, you should find out which interface your hard drive is connected to - IDE or SATA. Why is it important to read such documentation? Because the original Windows distribution does not have software for some SATA chips from Intel. Such an interface will not be recognized, nor will the device connected to it. And then
Fortunately, most devices allow you to enable the so-called IDE drive compatible mode. This is done through the BIOS. And if this option is activated, Windows will recognize any SATA hard drive as “its own”. However, if your chipset is not from Intel or AMD 7, the compatibility option will not be needed.
Recording the installation distribution
Before using Serial Ata drivers, you need to find or create an installation set of necessary files in packaged form, which contain the operating system, drivers and application programs. There are several approaches to creating a set of SATA drivers:
- Recording to floppy disk. During the installation of Windows, a message will flash that when you press the F6 key, you can install additional drivers from a floppy disk. But if there is no USB drive, then such an installation makes no sense.
- After installing the system, install the necessary software there, and then disable compatibility mode.
- Embed SATA drivers into the original distribution.
We will dwell in more detail on the possibility of installing Windows XP on a laptop with built-in SATA drivers. The installation process steps are shown below.
- Burn a packaged copy of Windows XP (distribution) to a CD. It is assumed that driver integration was successful.
- Set the CD drive to be the first boot device in the BIOS. In this case, the system will start automatically.
- When the system is already installed on a PC or laptop, all that remains is to install the SATA drivers from the CD.
How to install windows xp on a laptop. Driver integration step by step
- Copy the distribution kit, as it is, to any unallocated partition, for example, D, in a specific folder. Download drivers from Internet resources dedicated specifically to this topic.
- Or unpack the system CD image in .iso format using a suitable archiver.
- Install the program for building windows - nLite.
- Run it for execution. Specify the location of the distribution.
- Select “Drivers” and “Bootable ISO image”.
- Click the “import” button and specify the location of the drivers (folder).
- Then we select a specific driver from intel or amd, depending on the chipset manufacturer.
- In the “apply changes” dialog box, agree and click “yes”.
- Burn the final version of the distribution to a CD using the Direct Burn option.
- We give our consent again, this time to the recording process. After its completion, the system distribution with SATA drivers is generated.
How to start the installationWindows
Before turning on, enter the BIOS while holding down the ins, del, F8 or other key. When loading, the bottom of the screen will display what to click.
Find the Bootable or Boot tab, go to the list of recognized devices.
Using the +/- keys or possibly F5/F6, change the order in which the system boots from devices. The first item on the list should be the CD drive.
Save the changes and restart the laptop.
Next, the installation wizard will take on the task of installing Windows XP on a laptop. You may have to enter your product key and answer a few questions about regional settings. Also, during the wizard’s work, there will be questions about installing the network, that is, installing the standard version of the TCP/IP protocol or selecting individual subcomponents. The entire workflow takes about 30-40 minutes on average.
