[arsmith24]

I cannot find a straight forward guide to installing XP on this Mini 9 with Ubuntu already on it. It's a 4GB SSD and 504MB of free RAM and an Atom 1.66GHz.

I've been reading about this procedure and all I can come up with is bits and pieces as well as problems with their installs.

Any help would be much appreciated.

Thanks!

[rrfranczak3]

when you say 504mb RAM do you mean 504mb available free disk space?...if so there is no way you are gonna fit XP on 504mb.....first think I would do is upgrade the SSD to at least 8gb or better yet 16 or 32gb...if if you havent done so I would upgrade the RAM to 2gb also....RAM is the internal memory NOT the diskspace.....


PS. Welcome to the forum...

[Thorsteenster]

The other 8MB of RAM is for graphics? I read it as 512 MB of RAM. If you're sticking with XP you should definately upgrade to at least 1GB of RAM, preferably 2. But with the 4GB SSD, forget about any of the last 4 versions of XP. I guess you could fit ME, 98 or 95 on there with ease.
Forget the 8GB SSD upgrade too, I wouldn't go less than 16GB for Windows, even XP.

[arsmith24]

Originally Posted by rrfranczak3

when you say 504mb RAM do you mean 504mb available free disk space?

When I say 504MB of RAM I mean 504MB of RAM. There's actually 512MB but 8MB is dedicated to video. The SSD is a 4GB which XP only needs 1.5GB.

Is there any trick to installing XP on this Mini 9?

Thanks!

---------- Post added at 08:54 AM ---------- Previous post was at 08:51 AM ----------

Originally Posted by Thorsteenster

The other 8MB of RAM is for graphics? I read it as 512 MB of RAM. If you're sticking with XP you should definately upgrade to at least 1GB of RAM, preferably 2. But with the 4GB SSD, forget about any of the last 4 versions of XP. I guess you could fit ME, 98 or 95 on there with ease.
Forget the 8GB SSD upgrade too, I wouldn't go less than 16GB for Windows, even XP.

I'm not trying to be rude but let me worry about that. I seen the system req's for XP. Ubuntu is useless for the woman that wants this done.

BTW, in the BIOS, it says it's a fixed disk. Does that mean it's integrated?

[holmes4]

There is not enough room on your SSD to have both Ubuntu and XP. I'd say that 4GB is not enough for XP on its own. Even 8GB is very tight.

[Thorsteenster]

Fixed I guess it's a fixed system drive, as in not removable as a USB drive. No, it's not integrated.
If Ubuntu is useless for "the woman that wants this done" so will XP on a 4 or 8GB SSD, won't be long at all before the running out of disk space keeps popping up. Install a few progs, maybe load some music, run some updates, bam, say bye bye free space.
If she isn't savvy enough to run Ubuntu I'd hardly unleash her on a Windows machine that'll require constant attention to install size.

[arsmith24]

Originally Posted by Thorsteenster

If she isn't savvy enough to run Ubuntu I'd hardly unleash her on a Windows machine that'll require constant attention to install size.

I don't believe you understand. She needs a Windows machine. We are aware of the limited drive size. Their office is a Windows office where they use Windows software. This is a Windows world. Windows windows windows... We don't want a dual boot. I just want a straight up answer. I appreciate your concerns with my specs. If I can get it to install, GREAT! If I can't, Fantastic! I'm sure they need more paperweights.

No one has even come close to my thread topic. Instead everyone wants to badger me about my specs. Come on now!

Forget about my specs for a minute and answer me this. Is there any trick to installing Windows on a SSD. Has anyone done it and is it any different than a tradition HDD.

Thanks!!

[holmes4]

No, there is no trick to installing XP on an SSD. I've done it a couple of times. We thought you somehow wanted to have both Linux and XP on the same system, which is more complicated.

You want to select a "Custom" install of XP (may be called "Advanced"?) and select the option to delete all existing partitions, then select the unpartitioned space to install into.

I still think 4GB is too small.

[arsmith24]

Originally Posted by holmes4

No, there is no trick to installing XP on an SSD. I've done it a couple of times. We thought you somehow wanted to have both Linux and XP on the same system, which is more complicated.

You want to select a "Custom" install of XP (may be called "Advanced"?) and select the option to delete all existing partitions, then select the unpartitioned space to install into.

I still think 4GB is too small.

Thank you.

[Thorsteenster]

4GB is too small, and there is no trick, install it as normal.
There is nothing to understand, I don't care what type of environment she's in. By the time you get XP updated and all the Dell drivers installed you'll be pushing if not exceeding the 4GB envelope right there.
I think the key message everyone is giving that you see as not coming close to topic is, 4GB is too small.
Lets review, shall we?
4GB is too small. Don't waste your time, throw in the towel now and call it a paperweight.