WinXP on HP 8300 Elite

[Leo35]

I recently bought a used HP 8300 Elite with no OS. My idea is now to install my favourite OS of yesterday - Windows XP (32bit). I've downloaded the HP drivers and will have a go at it any day now. Is there something I should keep in mind while doing so? Any caveats? 

[Paul_Tikkanen]

Hi:

Other than realizing that Microsoft no longer supports XP with security updates, etc, and that browsers and antivirus programs are getting harder to find that work on XP, I don't see any issues with it.

I recommend for best performance, have the drive controller set to AHCI in the BIOS, and either load the SATA driver at the F6 prompt using a USB FDD or slipsteam the drivers.

I have attached a document for how to slipstream the sata drivers below, and I have also zipped up and attached the 32 bit drivers you need to either install from the USB FDD or slipstream.

Now if you choose to install via a USB FDD, after you press the F6 key when asked if you need to install a SATA/RAID driver, XP will continue to load files, then stop and ask you to press the 's' key to install the driver.

After you press the 's' key you should see the files listed on the FDD. 

Then you have to use the Up/Down arrow keys to scroll to and select the specific sata ahci driver your PC uses, which is the Intel(R) 7 Series/C216 Chipset Family SATA AHCI Controller.

Leave the USB FDD connected during the installation, as XP will access it a couple of times during the installation.

I once made the mistake of disconnecting the USB FDD after XP initially loaded the driver, thinking that was the only time it would want it.

You must use a USB FDD for the F6 method.  A USB Flash drive or a CD will not work.