XP on X220

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x220fan · #1 Post by **x220fan** » Sat Mar 26, 2011 12:42 pm

Will it be possible to install Windows XP 32-bit edition on a new X220 once I get my hands on one in a month or two?

I want to run some old applications without compromise that don't run on Windows 7 64-bit edition.

sarbin · #2 Post by **sarbin** » Sat Mar 26, 2011 12:58 pm

welcome to the forum.

don't think there's any reason you couldn't install/run xp.

jdrou · #3 Post by **jdrou** » Sat Mar 26, 2011 5:20 pm

I'd certainly expect it to run. Hopefully it won't have the same issue with restricted video memory that the X201 does.

#4 Post by **ZaZ** » Sun Mar 27, 2011 1:38 am

You could try them in XP Mode.

x220fan · #5 Post by **x220fan** » Tue Mar 29, 2011 10:20 pm

Unfortunately the reason I want XP to be installed is to run older games that aren't compatible without hacking/installing a bunch of add-ons for W7, so XP mode isn't a choice as it doesn't handle graphics very well.

How would I go about dual-booting XP and 7?

#6 Post by **RealBlackStuff** » Wed Mar 30, 2011 10:53 am

You wipe the HD, make 2 partitions, then install XP first on the first partition, and then W7 on the 2nd partition.

jdrou · #7 Post by **jdrou** » Wed Mar 30, 2011 2:21 pm

x220fan wrote:Unfortunately the reason I want XP to be installed is to run older games that aren't compatible without hacking/installing a bunch of add-ons for W7, so XP mode isn't a choice as it doesn't handle graphics very well.

The video memory might be a problem then. To explain, on the X201, Windows XP only has access to 128MB of graphics memory while Windows 7 can access up to 1.7GB (depending on amount of system RAM). This is not a chipset/GPU/driver issue but a system-builder issue. Can't really say if the X220 will have the same issue until someone tests it with XP. While 'older' games probably don't require more than 128MB you may see a performance hit because of the lack. It definitely makes a difference in the 3DMark05 benchmark results and 3DMark06 won't even run.

EDIT: The X201 issue is fixed in the latest BIOS so hopefully the X220 either won't have it or will also be fixed with a new BIOS.

Colonel O'Neill · #8 Post by **Colonel O'Neill** » Thu Apr 14, 2011 11:21 pm

You don't necessarily have to wipe the HD. You can keep the preload partitions, shrink the second partition (first is the boot partition, third is the recovery), and create another partition (recommended to be logical; in case you need more later).

Install XP (remember to slipstream AHCI drivers) and then fix the bootloader using EasyBCD.

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