OS intsalation on this laptop. (Help)

[Refreshment]

As always greetings to everybody.

Have this laptop (Inspiron 1420). Its has 1GB of RAM cursed/blessed with the Vista OS.

Anyway, want to install a new OS. Tried the trial version of Windows 7 (from a DVD)... doesn't read the DVD at Boot up.

Tried Windows XP (from CD)... doesnt read CD at Boot Up.

A DVD with windows XP does read at boot up, but when the software is preparing the installation it says that the HardDisk couldn't be found.

So what might be the problem here. Any ideas?

 

[Davros]

do you have the hdd set as ahci ?

 

[Refreshment]

do you have the hdd set as ahci ?

Hello Davros.

Can't check right now (laptop is stored). But what if i do and how to check if it is enabled?

 

[Davros]

go into the bios and change it to basic sata mode
if you go to dells support page type in the service tag or model number you can dl the manual