Want to replace Vista with XP/Linux dual-boot
 

I have a new Dell Vostro 1510 which came with Vista (I know, but it was a great deal) and I tried to replace V with XP (SP2, new copy). XP could not detect the HD, therefore would not install. Initially I would like to set it up as a dual-boot to continue to use some of my XP hard- and software, and I want to have a distro which, once I'm thoroughly comfortable with it (and have replaced anything that doesn't fly with Linux), I can use exclusively. I've used about 10 of the most common ones, but I really like Mint (Elyssa) which was recommended to me by someone who knew of my situation. Question: should I use nLite to burn a new copy of XP with all drivers included (which I have stored) and then add Mint or, as another person suggested, install Mint (which hopefully will recognize my hardware) and then use VBox to run XP virtually? Also, if I begin with Mint, should I add the BIOS version of the drivers to the disk or just install and see what happens?
Thanks in advance,
Mark aka darksyde
P.S. If anyone wants to recommend another distro I'm still open, but I want a non-corporate-backed OS with great packages available and a Gnome desktop.

You may not be able to get XP running on that laptop other than in a VM.. An IT cohort of mine spent a couple weeks trying to install XP on a Sony Vostro that came with vista to finally give up and re-install vista on it. no matter what he tried XP refused to run.

Best of luck, maybe your's will be better than his.. :)

You stated that XP would not detect you're HD .
It could be because you have a SATA drive , in this case you need a driver for XP to work with the sata drives
There drivers for it.
The Linux distro why not download some Live CD just to try out with one suit you best
Of course you have to burn it as a iso 9660 file
Some live CD are also install CDs at the same time.

Yes, for example opensuse 11.1.

These may help if you don't have them.

http://www.livecdlist.com/

The Parted Magic and GParted live-cds will allow you to examine and partition your HDD before you install. You may find this safer and easier than doing so while installing.

http://apcmag.com/howto_category.htm?cid=198

Good Luck

Thanks, everyone...food for thought
 

I figure that if an IT can't get XP installed over Vista than chances are huge that I can't either. In response to ronlau, I do have the drivers for the SATA drive, in fact all drivers for the computer, in XP code as well as BIOS. Someone said that a new CD could be burned from the original XP disk with all drivers added using nLite, but it seems a bit complex, though it couldn't hurt to try, I guess. I have used many distros, Suse, DSL, Mepis, Ubuntu, Debian, Fedora, Puppy, Slax, and so forth, but Mint really seems to have what I'm looking for: good support, many packages, easy downloading of packages, Gnome desktop, and a non-corporate backing.
Again, thanks to all, and I'm still open to any suggestions before I install Mint, though I think that using XP virtually will be the easiest and best approach from all I've heard. Plus, no need to partition, ergo greater available memory.
Happy New Year (this will be my "Year of the Penguin!),
Mark

This site purports to explain booting xp and vista. Don't use either so...

http://www.pchelp911.com/vista-xp.htm

Since you have Linux installed, I'm not sure if that will be a problem. Haven't really read the instructions at the site thoroughly.

My mom has a Sony laptop with Vista... I tried so many things to switched her to XP but I wasn't successful. I recommend you stick to Vista and Dual boot to a Distro you like and feel comfortable with. I recommend OpenSuse and Ubuntu. when I started linux I always had a DUAL boot system always afraid that some programs won't work or Linux won't do what w$ndows would however I learned that no matter what you want to do Linux will always have a way of doing. Just have to research a little!
Wish you luck!