We got a couple of Philips Freevents 11NB5800 laptops at work this week, and they’re actually very nice. Of course, they come with Vista installed, so we had to remove that.
Problem #1
There are no XP drivers for the Freevents 11B5800. There’s nothing in the box (not even a Vista restore disc), and Philips have no mention of any of their laptops on their website. In fact, outside of PC World’s online store, the Freevents doesn’t appear to exist.
Thankfully, the 11NB5800 is actually just a re-badged Twinhead F11Y. It took me ages to figure that out, and it was only by searching for the SATA controller chip that I made the connection. Twinhead helpfully provide all the necessary drivers for XP (and ME and 2000, if you’re that way inclined).
Problem #2
Sadly, you can’t get as far as XP installing, as the XP Pro SP2 install disc doesn’t include the SATA driver necessary for the installer to see the laptop’s hard drive. Of course, this is often a problem, but you can usually solve it by putting the driver files on a floppy disk and pressing F6 when prompted during setup.
If only it were that easy. I had a USB floppy drive and managed to find Ye Olde Floppy Diskette, put the drivers on it, and pressed F6. XP Setup recognised the drivers, and I chose the Mobile variant of the Intel SATA chipset driver, and Setup continued. Unfortunately, Setup still couldn’t see the hard drive.
Problem #3
Then, after some more Googling and getting a hint from someone having similar problems with a HP laptop, I found this page. I tried the same thing, slipstreaming the SATA drivers into a copy of the XP Pro SP2 setup disc, creating a new disc in the process. Booting from this new disc and… success! I could see the hard drive, delete the Vista partition, and start XP Setup!
Problem #4
But then, disaster! The partition formatted, and the files needed for setup were copied to the hard drive, and then the machine rebooted as expected. But that was all – the laptop froze on the POST screen and refused to progress any further. I couldn’t get into the BIOS, I couldn’t boot from a CD, and removing the battery for a while before trying again was futile. Oops!
Luckily, I had another identical laptop. I decided to try the risky venture again, only with one small (and, it turned out, vitally important) difference. On the partitioning options during setup, I deleted both the Vista and the small System Restore partitions from the drive. This time, everything worked fine and after a (surprisingly quick) installation, I was at the XP desktop ready to install all the XP drivers previously downloaded from Twinhead’s website.
Of course, I still have one bricked laptop, but as soon as I figure out how to get the hard drive out, I’ll have that sorted by cloning the working one to it…
Sometimes there are things that just need to escape my head.
Hi,
Can anyone tell as how to reinstall vista on 11NB5800. Is there a recovery partition that i can use. Actually OS has corrupted on the machine and we don’t have the recovery disk.
Was wondering if these machines come with a preinstalled recovery partition. Help really appreiciated.
tx
Khalid
Thank you for publishing this. I have recently dealt with a similar situation with a Philips laptop. Your post here really helped me out. THANK YOU!
hi guys, What is this no one give a easy solution how to install xp on freevents any x series………
Thanks for the info on how to Install XP in Philips Frevents… but I have a still problem in AUDIO DRIVER for Philips Freevents X59.. pls. kindly tell me where can I get that driver. Thank you.
The driver should be on the Twinhead site. Go to Support > Downloads (or click here) then pick F11Y from the model list, and Driver from the Category list. The XP Audio driver is listed. In fact, this should be a direct link to it.
Hi all, I have the Freevents 11nb5800 and the power button does not operate. has anyone had this happen to them and knows of a solution? I think the button itself, works, and the only way I can start it is with the Media button on the opposite side. once stated the media button acts as a media button should do and the power button still does nothing. I have looked for a keyboard driver, no luck. Help!!! Stuart
Hello,
I managed to install Xp (on my Philips Freevents X59)by using my netbooks recovery dvd (It is a MSI U100 Wind) but can’t get any of the drivers to go… WiFi would be nice! If only one driver worked, I can put up with shitty graphics if WiFi works.. any suggestions? theoperaghostuk@hotmail.com
Hi, any of you guys with a Philips 12NB5800 prepared to email me a copy of their Philips rom file. I uploaed the twinhead version, and of course my copy of windows has deactivated
afudos.exe Romfile.rom /O to export
Danny said that after “bricking”, he got to the point of:
f12 to boot from network & f11 for BBS popup
while deKAy wrote that he couldn’t get into the BIOS
Which one is true? Can any of you tell me their BIOS version? I’m soon going to have one of those delivered, and booting from net is acceptable for me while having no option isn’t.
@rhn,
There’s every chance both are true! I certainly couldn’t get into the BIOS. I couldn’t tell you what BIOS version I had though, as I no longer have access to the laptop – it was passed on to someone else.
I managed to get Linux running on a Philips 11NB5800, with BIOS version 1.01. It’s Mandriva 2010.0, and the only problem I had was blank screen at one point of the installation.
I managed to work around this by switching to another console when the error was about to happen (alt+ctrl+F1 or alt+ctrl+F2) and switching back (alt+ctrl+F7). The cause was something WiFi-card related, so you might just try turning wireless off while installing.
If anyone wants hints on installing Linux, I can try to help: my email address is rhn ( at sign ) o ( digit two ) ( dot ) pl
after a week of desperate searching I finally found the audio fix for xp on the x59
http://geekswithblogs.net/lorint/archive/2006/06/11/81540.aspx
you just need to download and run this file …
http://couponmeister.com/blog/HD_Audio/KB835221.exe
I had trouble finding drivers for XP for my PC Philips MT6000 Freevents. I found these drivers:
http://hotfile.com/dl/39981736/35922d7/Philips-Freevents_MT_6000_XP.rar
if someone has later please let me know.
If anybody needs them I have the Philips Freevents H12Y AHCI driver files for the Intel Chipset here. (inc TXTSETUP.OEM for first boot use)
http://www.divshare.com/download/11297556-0c2
am having problems with an x54. when i boot up i get a series of double lines running down the screen. checked hdd in another unit no problem, but can only access it in safe mode on the x54. any idea
hi just bought a philip 12nb5800 from the laptop now it came with 3 problems which i kindly need help with first is the fact that the audio is not workiking it says no audio output installed
2 my u key is not working i have taken it apart but it is styill not working just the udo i need to buy a whole keyboard for it to work lastly the camera also does not work before the person sent it out he did a restore to original factory setting from the built in partition so i believe every driver is ok please help please
can someone help me locate a battery for a philip 12nb5800 mine is completely dead and a dvd drive for my philip 11nb5800 i pull out the old one which has stop working
Hi All.
If any one wants a recovery DVD for X59 then PM me.
Amilod, can I take you up on your offer of a recovery DVD or even a downloadable ISO of it? Thanks so much! Let me know how to get it from you?
Hi, I’d just like to say, what a interesting article! i am just doing a bit of research for my blog but i had trouble reading this article as the text protruding in to the side menu…. Edit: apologies, the problems my end, it is my ancient version of chrome causing the fault. Could be worthwhile telling people to update? All the best. Burt
How can i get Philips freevents 12NB 58000 Driver for xp.
Plz give me solution for Philips Freevents 12NB 5800 Driver for xp as soon as possible………….plz
hiya. I downloaded the SATA driver files from the website you indicated. When they unpacked there were 2 CAB files plus an installation application – no INF files for the nLite to import into the XP operating system.
I ran the install and did n’t get any options as to where the INF files were going..
Any pointers??
Many thanks – Stewart
drives philips 11nb5800
Anyone find drivers that work? The web site indicated seems to have disappeared. If anyone has the sata drivers for the 11NB5800 would really appreciate them or if you’re a real star fancy posting an ISO for a disc that will boot on this machine? I deleted the disc partition on the hard drive which is the death nell for these beasts….
Oops I got me contact detaiols wrong in last post.. This one gets me
I have the x55 and can’t reinstall because I don’t have a sata driver so my generic xp disc can’t see the hdd in the laptop, and the links to the twinhead site are all dead. Any help welcome – luke.d.osullivan@gmail.com.
Hi all, I have two Philips Freevents Laptops, an x56 and an x65. Both are missing the HDD’s and I’m wondering if anyone can help me with a System-Restore CD/DVD? I’d be much appreciated as I’ve bought them to give as presents to my Niece and Nephew, email me on woz47dylan@yahoo.co.uk
Hi,
I’ve got the original driver disks, and I have downloaded off the twinhead sit, but it doesn’t seem to help. There are no .inf file, so the nlite software wont pick up the drivers. I’ve messed around for ages and used my own .inf:
[autorun]
open=setup.exe
but no success so far.
Cheers,
John
Hello again.
Well I’ve solved this problem. It tool me a couple of weeks (on and off). The solution is pretty simple in the end. Upgrade the bios (H12YT_BIOS_R1.08 for an X55) and then you can install Windows 7 – Voila!
John
Hi i have Philips freevents x58 on which thinhead model it correspond ? i need audio driver for xp the everest program say Conexant Cx20549 @ Intel 82801GBM ICH7-M – High Definition Audio Controller [B-0] PC but i cant find it anywhere
I have a Freevents X200 and had to change the HDD and when I try to load Vist I go as far as inputting the CoA and then it asks me for the drivers, what drivers ? I bought a recovery disc which cost me £15 but it does not help any. Does anyone know what I need to do and how to do it, I am no buff just basic knowhow is it.
I also have a Freevents X59 and cannot load Vista at all as it does not see the HDD again in very simple terms how do I get round this please, thanks for any help but please keep it very simple, thankyou.
Oh yeh I have the Freevents X55 running XP and it works great but I can’t get it to find my network, it can’t find any networks, how do I tell it where to look, I have tried everything I know and still nothing but on my other X59 running Vista it sees my Network and all the routers in the area, why not on XP? Thanks again, in know it’s alot to ask and yes I do own many Freevents but I have a big Family just in case you wondered why I own so many, thanks guys