Installing Windows Xp on SSD disk is possible and with some tweaks it runs quite smoothly. Here is the short guide how to achieve it.
Windows Xp is outdated nowadays and was not designed to install on SSD, but in some situations you may need to install it on SSD (solid-state drive). So before installing you need to choose if you want to install it using AHCI or IDE mode. Keep in mind that AHCI is recommended for SSDs, but you will need additional SATA drivers during the install. Windows Xp requires floppy disk to install additional drivers which is unacceptable nowadays, so you will need to slipstream it to installation media. Otherwise you will face the blue screen with 0x0000007b error.
Installing using IDE mode
This method is used when you are in hurry and don’t want to prepare your Windows Xp media with SATA drivers included. Remember, you may change HDD operating mode after install later using some registry tweaks.
- Enter your computer “BIOS” by pressing F1, F2 or Delete key immediately after system turning on (for some computers needed keys may differ).
- Navigate to Storage options (again it may differ depending on your actual motherboard, refer to your motherboard’s manual).
- Change Hard Disk Mode to “IDE” or “IDE Compatibility“, “Standard IDE” and similar settings.
- Save your settings and restart, it should let you install Windows Xp on SSD disk normally.
Installing using AHCI mode
First you need to prepare your Windows Xp instillation media. Refer to your motherboard’s manual and download your drivers from manufacturer website your SATA/AHCI/Floppy drivers. Than use nLite to include it to your setup. Just install the software, select your Windows Xp setup files location and select “Drivers” in “integrate” section.
nLite for Winodws Xp 1.4.9.3 – Download
nLite for Winodws 7, 8 and 10 1.3.1.5060 32-bit – Download
nLite for Winodws 7, 8 and 10 1.3.1.5060 64-bit – Download
If you can’t find appropriate driver for your motherboard, try using DriverPacks BASE, which includes all possible SATA/AHCI drivers.
DriverPacks BASE 10.06 – Download
Just run the program, it will extract to your desired location. Then download this “Mass Storage” pack and place it to extracted “DriverPacks” folder (no need to extract 7z file) and run the “DPs_BASE.exe”. Here is the full tutorial read more.
Mass Storage 12.09 32-bit – Download
Now we are ready to install the operating system.
- Enter your computer “BIOS” by pressing F1, F2 or Delete key immediately after system turning on (for some computers needed keys may differ).
- Navigate to Storage options (again it may differ depending on your actual motherboard, refer to your motherboard’s manual).
- Change Hard Disk Mode to “AHCI“.
- Save your settings and restart, it should let you install Windows Xp on SSD disk with additional SATA drivers.
Tweaks for SSD for Winodws Xp
The main SSD lifespan killer is integrated Windows defragmentation tool, in later Windows versions it detects and switches off automatically. This registry tweak disables automatic disk defragmentation, auto-layout, last access timestamps and prefetch.
Windows Xp registry tweak – Download
This should help you out installing Windows Xp on SSD disk. Have some suggestions? Leave a comment below.
I don’t believe the E1405 has an AHCI option.
Yes, Inspiron E1405 does not support AHCI, but you can still use cheap SSD, just in IDE mode. We don’t recommend using expensive and very fast SSD, cause it won’t be able to gain all benefits.
Which tweaks do you refer? and where can i read about it…. (maybe a xxx.reg for install?)
😉 grtz
My motherboard is MSI G31TM-P21, and I have a USB floppy drive connecting to the motherboard;however, the installation to the ssd drive is always failed.