Make XP/Linux drivers available for all model even if only Vista is pre-installed

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Make XP/Linux drivers available for all model even if only Vista is pre-installed

10980 points posted to Accessories (Keyboards, etc.), Linux, Operating Systems by vineets001 09/24/07 **REVIEWED**

There are good hardware models coming out. And only Vista is pre-install option. If people want to wipe off Vista and install XP or Linux, let them do that. Make a commitment to have the drivers available.

We're working on having drivers for the hardware we ship more widely available. Click here to learn more from john_h.

msdestynie 09/26/07	I couldn't agree more. I haven't tried to put XP on a Dell laptop that came pre-installed with Vista, so I can't speak from experience there. But it's a royal pain to find XP drivers for Toshiba's Vista laptops. Toshiba's stance is that you bought the laptop with Vista, tough. Too bad the performance is detestable. Yes, I said it. I did get XP on two Tosh laptops successfully, though. And with only a couple BSODs. The bad part is that it took me around 12 hours to get it all working the first time...The sound card / modem was the worst. I wouldn't buy a Toshiba just because of this. But their prices are right.
pentox 09/28/07	I think that the problem here though is a matter of software maintenance though. It would take a significant amount of work to generate, test, maintain, and otherwise offer up drivers for XP. If Vista is the only option offered then that's what is intended for use. It seems a bit unreasonable to ask them to generate and maintain drivers for an operating system that you won't even be able to purchase in 9 months. Linux drivers are a bit more reasonable than the XP drivers though. I imagine that linux drivers are offered as development / support time/work allows for.
stijepan 09/28/07	I don't think that is unreasonable to demand xp or linux working drivers. Dell has the responsability to put drivers in there site so people can do what they want with the laptops (or desktop, whatever). And taking notice that most people like XP instead of Vista, and Dell know it, they should considere to put on the extra work of geting out the drivers for XP. And even linux, i know it may be a pain in the ass to test drivers for linux, and all the work, but if your gona sell laptops and pc's, you should be prepare to give the best support you can. I don't mean to be rude, and say that if Dell don't do that it's a shitie company, NO, is just a minimun responsability that companies have towards they costumers.
pentox 09/28/07	That's the thing though, it is unreasonable to demand XP drivers. Linux drivers are a different matter. The two aren't the same argument. XP is an operating system that is and the end of it's lifecycle. Obviously there are people who prefer XP. People are always afraid of change. This is an inevitable fact. Always has been, always will be. The problem is that Dell should not necessarily be catering to this minority. The computer is being designed for Vista now, that's the way it is. Otherwise why don't you ask for some Win2K or Win95 drivers while your at it? Or maybe some solaris drivers would be nice to go with it as well. In regards to linux drivers you think that splitting up development/testing/etc time so you can have some linux drivers is good support? No it's much much worse for your support. It gives you that much more ground that your average support technician will have to know. You think that Off Shore Tech support may be bad now, imagine if their training is split between knowing two operating systems. You will have techs knowing half as much on each one. So when you call for linux support you will have one tech knowing half as much. And then the person who needed help for windows support will have half as much help as well. Unless you want to pay way more for your computer just so you can get your linux drivers you should just accept it. Development time = money, training time = money, support = money, everything that you would want in more drivers is more money, and it's only going to be for a small fraction of their sales. It will basically just raise the cost for those who don't want linux.
a3_nm 10/01/07	Dell, please give Linux drivers whenever necessary and possible, preferably open-source, or at least technical specifications so that FLOSS developpers can write the drivers themselves.
pentox 10/01/07	Hm I think that's actually a much better idea. Although I've only dabbled in driver code a little, if possible Dell could release specs for devices so linux developers could make them on their own time. Saves money for Dell and makes linux users happier. The only problem being in how difficult is it to create the driver for the particular piece of hardware without being one of the developers who wrote it.
msdestynie 10/06/07	Okay, I know there are varying opinions on this subject. But after just buying this Vostro 1700 with Vista Business on it..I have to mostly commend Dell. I was able to find drivers for almost everything in XP (the Intel Matrix SATA drivers - AHCI - would not load during installation and I'm running with AHCI off in the bios, but I'll take this over Vista). 90% of the drivers came from Dell's website, in some form. However, not nearly all from choosing the Vostro 1700 and XP at support.dell.com. So here's my take on this subject, after my experience: Dell, if the drivers are pretty much available on your website, why not add links to them from each system's specific support page. Why should I have to choose Vostro 1500 and XP to get the Sigmatel Audio drivers for my Vostro 1700? sigh It's like putting together a puzzle. But Dell still blows away Toshiba on this subject. At least you can find the drivers on Dell's website, maybe not in the place they should be, but on Toshiba's website, it's a lose/lose proposition. And yes, I know Dell won't support my OS change now, but I don't care. Don't force me into using that piece of cr@p OS, I mean, Vista. I'll deal with my own software issues, thanks. As long as Dell continues to support my hardware, I'm cool.
hsweet 10/29/07	I also am unhappy with being forced into using VISTA and will hang onto my old computers with XP as long as I can. Dell, until recently, offered the XPS410 with XP. Now the successor model, the XPS420 does not have that option even though Microsoft has made it available. Doesn't Dell want to make its customers happy?
polyzelf 11/09/07	It is the responsibility of the hardware manufacturer to provide drivers for the various operating systems that their components will work under. Dell manufacturers a MICROSCOPIC amount of hardware for the systems they sell. It's not Dell's responsibility to develop an Ubuntu driver for your Sigmatel integrated audio. Firstly, it's Sigmatel's responsibility. Secondly, its the responsibility of those who develop the OS. The reason you dont necessarily get XP drivers for a system sold exclusively with Vista is because Dell does not support any OS outside of the one it was sold with. If you can find the compatible drivers from the manufacturer of the hardware, that's great. Given these circumstances, Dell is under no obligation to provide Linux or XP drivers for a system that only comes with Vista. Dell isn't even making the hardware most of the time! Lacking drivers for the hardware on the OS you want to use that Dell didn't install at the factory? Write your own. Linux nuts should be happy about this.
mhunter 11/30/07	I fully agree with this. Putting XP onto the Vostro 17" laptop was a huge pain in the neck. Clearly marked drivers for Vostro 17" laptops for XP would be a huge sale for me.
gone_wheelin 12/07/07	How about just making Linux drivers available for those systems that can get it preinstalled. I tried searching for Linux drivers for the Inspiron 1420 and was only offered Vista or XP drivers.
sphagnum 12/23/07	Considering that some models that don't come with Linux (or XP) may be able to use the same drivers as other models that do come with Linux (or XP), it would be convenient not to have to resort to trial and error. But really I think you should have a choice of OS for all models.
davmcn 12/23/07	yea, agreed sphagnum,.
landb Jan 9	I am a Dell customer in India. Inspiron 1525 Laptop is perfect for my needs but for the OS which is Vista preinstalled with no option of XP. Infact Inspiron 1520 Laptop has XP as an option, but the configurations are different. I request an option of XP for this model. Thats the only reason for not going ahead with placing the order.
jesse_l Feb 6	Great discussion. More drivers are needed. For Linux enthusiast woldwide this would be a most welcome change in the industry.
toyota_supra Feb 6	Author: landb I am a Dell customer in India. Inspiron 1525 Laptop is perfect for my needs but for the OS which is Vista preinstalled with no option of XP. Infact Inspiron 1520 Laptop has XP as an option, but the configurations are different. I request an option of XP for this model. Thats the only reason for not going ahead with placing the order. ===================================================================... I have requested the same thing in another post. I would buy the Inspiron 1525, once is offered with Windows XP. Dell are you listening? People want to buy your product, just give them a choice of OS. Regards, T.S.
bahaa_comm Mar 16	I think there are agreement between dell and microsoft
emmanuellelc Mar 25	It would be great to have linux drivers for all the components in my Inspiron 531.
achurchill3 Mar 29	I need drivers for X P on my 1525 as well, Why? Because Vista is just rubbish it just doesn't work properly, I need a laptop for programming automated machines after they done away with serial ports RS232 you need a U S B to Serial converter, but guess what they don't come with Vista drivers and Microsoft wont support these devises either so now I'm really stuck. Also the software I use which is nearly over a thousand pounds wont work or install with Vista. Why would you sell a laptop with unfinished software on it that just doesn't work.
chperry Mar 30	I support the idea of making linux drivers easily available on Dell's support pages. I have a new T3400 that I purchased with XP. I installed Ubuntu in dual boot. The T3400 has the built in sound (SoundMAX Integrated Digital HD Audio). While I can get stereo sound in Ubuntu, I cannot get the surround sound features to work.
loster Apr 6	This is almost the same as this idea: http://www.ideastorm.com/article/show/71482?page=last#lastPost And my comment on there says it all for me. I believe absolutely that Dell should provide XP and Linux drivers (and it can't be particularly hard to do so for the former), but their relationship with MS and the future upgrade cycle demand that they probably won't. Very disappointing, but the reality of the matter.
john_h Apr 11	In process for Linux. We're working on having drivers for the hardware we ship more widely available. I think we've done a pretty good job of this for the systems with ship Linux pre-installed on, and most of those drivers also apply to systems we don't ship Linux on (examples: wireless, audio, video, modems). Over the next year or two this will continue to improve, hopefully to a point where every piece of hardware has an open-source drive in the Linux distro of your choice. Can't speak to the XP part.
kara_k Apr 14	Changed status to REVIEWED.
vineets001 Apr 16	Thank you john_h. We have been running Linux on vostro 200 (5 of them) for few months now and several poweredges for few years. These are great machines. However I was not able to get everything working (specially wifi) on Vostro 1500. We are a Dell shop here and have XP and linux mostly and couple of vista. Availability of linux drivers would be a huge deal for us. We will be looking forward to it.
fisiu Apr 19	john_h - the most of hardware is supported by linux kernel out of the box. I suppose, the machines with Linux under the hud have a supported hardware... linux video driver (for nvidia, intel, ati) are avilable since... few years... sound - almost all work without Creative X-Fi (Creative didn't write working linux driver yet), wireless - You use wifi card on atheros chip - where drievrs are avilable since many months, even years... so what drivers are You talking about??
qkchuah May 1	I bought a Dell Inspiron 1420 which has no OS install. Install XP only to found know that the driver supplied by Dell Malaysia is for Vista. Try searching the drivers at Dell site and end up nothing.
bvasiliev May 31	Can you also kindly supply the XP drivers for the entry level servers like PE-SC440? It will be nice to have XP as an optional OS for PE-SC440. (Please do not tell me that it is a server and it could not be done. I installed a few of them - no problem. Just it will be cheaper for our customer to get XP preinstalled by DELL.) We install the POS systems - they require a "server" hardware and a minimal XP as an OS. Can you kindly help us to expend our and your business?
natakuc4 Jun 4	Yeah but there are a great deal of xp drivers available for systems for example the inspiron 1525, you can have half the drivers from the inspiron 6400 and probabally 90% of them lying about the dell website, with no link to them on the inspiron 1525 drivers and download page.

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