So my colleague bought a new HP Compaq 4515s laptop, and gave it to me to install Windows and all other stuff, but it doesn't cooperate It goes through installing drivers, but when installation process comes to the "Starting Windows" point it crashes with BSOD. I never had such problems before. The only issue that I can think of is that all XP versions I have are x32. Can it cause that kind of crash? Or maybe I must install Vista

I had the same problem with my laptop.
I even tried XP specially for laptops - same shit.
So I was forced to install Vista.

http://h10010.www1.hp.com/wwpc/za/en/sm ... 56525.html

Goddammit!

that, or, memory is duff, CD is duff, windows is duff

doof.

I'd say it's Windows. Now you must install a Linux distro.

I'm trying to make it as simple as possible. The comp is for my colleague's daughter. Do you think that Linux is appropriate for 12 year old girl who only wants to "burn some music and play Sims"?

I read that disabling SATA drivers in BIOS setup might allow XP installation

omg that SATA driver problem is still in windows?

yeah, you can disable it (will probably disable your connection with your HDD though)
but, you need to load your MOBO SATA drivers when loading the wind0w$ boot CD (pressing 'F6' I think, when the installation screen starts up to load the drivers)
You'll will need a floppy disk with the drivers on also.

When I was a d0w$ user I used nLite to pre merge my drivers into a unattended installation with all the crap taken out.

Thanks for the tip

Ha! Managed to install LastXP after I changed SATA setting in BIOS from somethingsomethingsomethingsomething to IDE

Now I'm off to find the drivers

edit: Strange, all the drivers can be found on HP download page, despite the fact that XP is not supported (according to electroneon's link)

Hm, just checked Bulgarian version of their page. It also mentions "Genuine Windows Vista? Business with downgrade to Windows XP Professional custom installed...". Whatever that means.

http://h10010.www1.hp.com/wwpc/bg/bg/sm ... 35146.html

Obviously they can't decide what OS they support Or we Balkanians have special treatment and if you access the download page from the Balkans you get drivers for pirated version of XP