Downgrading from Vista to XP hazard: Google xp vista AHCI

[ToolPackinMama]

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Advanced_Host_Controller_Interface

The forums are full of people who are trying to downgrade their new
laptops and PCs from Vista to XP, and are banging their heads against a
wall. It's astounding how few people know about AHCI, and how it can
frustrate people who are trying to take control of their own computers.

One example: I bought a new custom-built laptop, and I asked the vendor
to send it to me with a bare drive. I planned to install XP, not Vista.

I was prevented from installing XP on this "Vista-ready" machine, until
I set the AHCI in BIOS to "disabled". It must be "enabled" for Vista.

I don't even want to think about what I would have to do to dual-boot.

 

[Guest]

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Advanced_Host_Controller_Interface

The forums are full of people who are trying to downgrade their new
laptops and PCs from Vista to XP, and are banging their heads against a
wall. It's astounding how few people know about AHCI, and how it can
frustrate people who are trying to take control of their own computers.

One example: I bought a new custom-built laptop, and I asked the vendor
to send it to me with a bare drive. I planned to install XP, not Vista.

I was prevented from installing XP on this "Vista-ready" machine, until
I set the AHCI in BIOS to "disabled". It must be "enabled" for Vista.

I don't even want to think about what I would have to do to dual-boot.

First thing we did when we got our new Compaq laptop a few months ago
(model C770US) was disable AHCI in the system bios. On the first reboot,
Vista Home Premium (with SP1) booted just fine and auto-installed a
standard ATA driver for the hard drive.

 

[ToolPackinMama]

First thing we did when we got our new Compaq laptop a few months ago
(model C770US) was disable AHCI in the system bios. On the first reboot,
Vista Home Premium (with SP1) booted just fine and auto-installed a
standard ATA driver for the hard drive.

No kiddin'? But the people are having a problem installing XP, not
Vista. I don't believe people are complaining about not being able to
install Vista.

 

[Guest]

No kiddin'? But the people are having a problem installing XP, not
Vista. I don't believe people are complaining about not being able to
install Vista.

I was responding to the claim that "AHCI must be enabled for Vista".
It doesn't, at least on our laptop. Once the drive interface is set to ATA
one should be able to install XP, if proper drivers can be rounded up.
Lack of drivers is what prevented us from downgrading our Compaq
from Vista to XP (e.g. no XP driver exists for its Atheros wireless
adapter).