Installing Windows XP on a HP DV6500 series Laptop. The following simple solution, I will show you how to install Microsoft Windows XP on an HP dv6500 Laptop. HP provides minimal driver support for those who want to downgrade to Windows XP, hence the necessity for this tutorial.
We will be using nLite to create a remastered Windows XP installation disk with integrated SATA drivers, so having a working CD/DVD burner or recorder is essential. I would also recommend having a USB flash drive handy to hold the additional drivers that will be installed after XP installation.
Note: Before proceeding, backup any important data you want to save from your PC to another storage device. In addition, it's also good idea to ensure that you have created a HP recovery disk set for your computer.
You must use a Windows XP service pack 2 installation disk. Service pack 3 will cause problems and you may not be able to get sound working on your HP DV6500 series laptop with the drivers we use. I repeat, you will have NO Sound on your HP DV6500 laptop if you use a Windows XP installation disk containing SP3. You can upgrade to SP3 after the install is done.
(**note this tutorial is for Intel processor based systems only)
Installing Windows XP on a HP dv6500 Series Laptop
First we need to "create a new Windows XP installation disk integrated with SATA drive controller drivers" (Intel SATA AHCI Controller Driver). Otherwise Windows XP will not find the hard disk during the installation procedure.
- Download and install nLite
- Download the Intel SATA AHCI Controller Driver and run the executable installing to the default c:\swsetup\SP37005 path.
- Insert your Windows XP CD into your CD drive.
- Navigate to Start -> Programs -> nLite and click nLite to launch the program.
- Once you get to the Locating the Windows installation section, Click the Browse button and navigate to the CD drive where your Windows install CD resides, then click OK and Next
- Next, the program will ask you where to save the CD installation files for modification, click OK
- Now, you will need to create a folder to save to and work from. Click the Make New Folder button, type in a folder name, and click OK
- Then, nLite will attempt to copy all files from the Windows installation disk to the folder you have created. Once it has finished, click Next
- Once you arrive at the Task Selection page, select the Drivers and Bootable ISO option and then click Next
- Next, you'll want to select the SATA drivers to integrate. Click Insert, select Single driver and navigate to the c:\swsetup\SP37005\Files and click iastor.inf and click Open
- Then, select "ALL" of the driver files listed and then click OK
- Next, when prompted to start the process Click OK
- After the process has finished, click Next till you arrive at the Bootable ISO page.
- I prefer to Create and ISO Image and then use other software to burn the ISO to a CD/DVD or bootable USB.
- Next, find your newly created ISO and burn your ISO to a CD using your preferred burning software.
- Insert the remastered Windows XP CD into your HP dv6500 series Laptop and proceed to install Windows XP.
Installing Drivers for Windows XP on an HP dv6500 Laptop
Windows XP should now be installed on your HP dv6500 series Laptop. Next, you will need to install the related system, audio, network and video drivers for your new XP install. I am assuming that you have a wired internet connection established, if not you will need to use another PC to download the driver pack and then extract the files to a USB device.
Note: Resources found at this Notebook review post were used to complete the following section.
- Download the XP Driver Pack
- Extract the Driver Pack
- Navigate to where you extracted the Driver Pack files and run chipset - infinst_autol.exe to install the Chipset Drivers and reboot
- Once rebooted, navigate back to the Driver Pack files and run intel matrix - iata78_enu.exe to install the Matrix Storage Manager Drivers and reboot once again
- After reboot, to install the nVidia Graphics Drivers, extract nv_gfgo_101.34-2kxp32.exe and run Setup.exe from the extracted folder. Click Continue Anyway if a popup dialog box appears warning you that the driver is unsigned
- To install the Audio Drivers, extract files from the realek HD audio - WDM_R183.zip and run Setup.exe from the extracted folder
- Navigate back to the Driver Pack files and run UAA - sp32646.exe
- Next, extract the files from realek HD audio - WDM_R183.zip and run Setup.exe from the extracted folder
- To install the modem drivers from the motorola modem - Windows_SM56_6.12.07_DFV.zip
- Next, run synaptics touchpad - sp35444.exe
- Next, run quicklaunch - sp34796.exe. If you get a few popup New Hardware Found windows. Choose
one and click No, then click Next. Choose Automatic then click Finish. - Proceed to install any additional drivers you might need from the Driver Pack For example: Ethernet Card or Wireless drivers
If all has gone well, your HP dv6500 series Laptop should be up and running from Windows XP with all of your peripherals working properly