Packard Bell tower PC

Hi all,
Isabelle has a PB tower, Piii-500 (looks like this comes with some TATTOO??), and wants to do a clean win98 on the machine (I already checked, she has a full CD, and key, and does NOT want to use the PB recovery cdroms)
How do we go about it?
will she find the multimedia keyboard drivers someplace?
At the moment, there's no internet connection available, but this machine can be brought over to my place.
(if she does, I will most likely make a ghost image of the drive, as a precaution.)

why do it?
several of the hardware items she purchased and hooked up seem to have failed to do their job as they should.
the latest in this series is a scanner which works dandily as long as you do not try the copy to printer option.
iow, she cannot do a straight copy to her printer, and this is really bugging her.
scanner = Epson Perfection 1240U =usb
printer = HP deskjet 815C (on ECP)

I already removed a ton of debris from absent hardware. I also suspect some software problem with the EPSON interface.
(It Always complains there is no Epson PRINTER, and will not print to HP)

the machine needs to be seen to next monday, so I am trying to get some ideas about what to expect.

addtnl info
dvd drive
cdr/w (some HP)
usb joypad
HP digital camera (usb)
64ram
17Gb HDD

and it had me stumped when I looked at it on site. https://discussions.virtualdr.com/
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it's all caused by my Flemishness!
Jaak

[This message has been edited by jtdoom (edited 01-19-2001).]

Hi mosaic1,
pls call me Jaak?

erm, if she brings it over, there are many options, and I will have all day monday, so can do this in depth, and try options.
One of the problems, (as usual), is that she has tons of user data in there.
She recently had the cdr/w put in, and got the printer and scanner at the same time.

have found drivers for the scanner (hopefully newer)
think I got MM-keyb http://pbsupport.alorica.com/home.asp
one needs to sign up there?

I really do not want to mess with the drive tattoo.

I intend to at least try the following.
I can hook up a newly fdisked drive and start from scratch, and see what it does.
(this leaves her drive out, so it is intended as test. If I can make the hardware work on a tattoo-less drive, I know we can do this. If not, it's probably gonna be as you suggest)

yesterday I cleaned out the old absent hardware, and then did a setup over the present system (setup was one without switches)
The harware I weeded out stayed out, and the stuff actually works, but not as it should.
I suspect a great many soft bugs krept in over time, and also that the dvd/cdrw setup ain't right either (you know, it loses the dvd while it reads drivers off it. It does not do that on the cdr-w. so I guess it was improperly hooked up)

I'll get myself in trouble on this one, no doubt... https://discussions.virtualdr.com/

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it's all caused by my Flemishness!
Jaak

should have tried look with hwinfo /ui but did not think of it at the time.
And as an added complication, this machine has user profiles. Grrrmmmmblll https://discussions.virtualdr.com/


[This message has been edited by jtdoom (edited 01-19-2001).]

Don't know whether this applies or not, but I had an old PB 486 that came with win3.1 on it and restore disks and such, and when I went to win95 I formatted and just did a regular install with the boot disk and the win95 disk. Didn't use the restore disk at all. Course, maybe things have changed since early 1994.

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AMD K6-2 3DNOW, 350 mhz, 128mb ram, 6gig hdd. 56k modem

Jaak
Go into device manager and check the usb. Might want to look for updated drivers or buffers for it. It has made a good difference for me. I can now https://discussions.virtualdr.com/.
Mosaic got it right on the overinstall that I do.

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SMILE
and post back

You might check out this site for drivers before you start:
http://www.download.com.my/packardbell/manual.shtml

FORMAT
Get rid of PB junk!!Do a clean install of 98 .Do not install over PB garbage!!!!!!I have hundreds or (thousands)of hours fouling
up the first puter i owned (PB)

You guys are great keep up the good work.

Have a great weekend

Jaak,
Heed Mosaic1's words.

"I don't know about Packard Bell.. They are out of business here in the States.(Now they are NEC .) "

Those three letters make you cringe, don't it https://discussions.virtualdr.com/



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It's either that or it's into the woodchipper

I own a NEC and have so for about a year with relatively few problems. It came with a restore disk, which I'm afraid, I think is what most computer buyers will find packed with their new purchase.
In my opinion the restore disk has about as much practical usefulness as some of those bright-n-shiny AOL disk that come in my mail. I'd poke a hole in it and make an earring, except I don't have anything that would go with that awful baby poop yellow.

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I want my old name back part deux...
Trish-A

Hi Train,
buffers on usb?

I have nothing with USB on my machine so cannot easily find such settings when look into this. But it sounds like something I should know more about.

Has anyone got hints and tips or live links on this?



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Remember, it's only free advice...
Jaak

Well lets see, i have a packardbell II400 about 1 and a half years old. When i first got it i had hardware problems as well. Modem was not being recognised, so i decided to use the pbell boot up disk and chose to reformat the hard drive. I then chose the operating system option only, this loaded on just win 98.

From here i went to the smart restore application: start>programs>tools>smart restore. This allowed me to choose what softare or hardware i wanted to install. If the application is not in tools it should be in one of the master cd's that comes with the computer.

A few months later i started getting messages that the epson 640 i had connected was not being recognised, when it was connected to the computer and had been working fine for months. The solution to this was that somehow the LPT port had become disabled in the bios, after enabling it(press del at boot up to enter bios on my machine)it ran fine.

G-fuNk

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sometimes i forget, but patience is a great virtue!

Jaak
This statement scanner = Epson Perfection 1240U =usb Is why I suggested checking out the usb for up dates. As MO stated about Viatech. [check Device manager USB controllers]

Also, I install the printer first and then the scanner. Do not know why, but other way gives my computer fits.

I suspect there was a Epson printer on that computer at one time that left stuff in dos.
[Found that problem last night on a 486 win95 machine]


------------------
SMILE
and post back

Train, could be.

Isabelle had a lot of stuff hooked up to this machine before I saw it.
she has an older parallel scanner (but then she had no drivers for it. dunno if it was ever hooked up, I guess she tried.)
She has an older printer, what I saw looked like a HP too but I did not closely look at it (it's currently hooked up on the kids machine)

I am gonna try find out tomorrow.
Think I am gonna need find out https://discussions.virtualdr.com/

She told me about things she returned to the store because it would not work or broke down.
I reckon it's gonna be complicated.
First thing will be my friend Mr Phillips and a magnifying glass.

I wondered what a voodoo5 was doing in there.
Come to think of it, it looked as if this machine had dual screen enabled on the single screen. The time I spent there, I saw a good many glitches and some weird stuff going on.

btw, del did not get me in bios on this one.
Will have to look it up.
thanks for the input so far.



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Remember, it's only free advice...
Jaak

Hi all.
well, the hard drive is fdisked, partitioned and formatted.
(orig setup is ghosted onto my machine)

checked the cables, they are NOT cable select cables.
(mobo port 1 is black, 40 wire ribbon, two connectors. The one on port two had but a single connector, the port is white)

I think we have a hardware problem all right.
When I copied the windows cab folder to D: partition in DOS, the DVD had trouble keeping "on line". this error repeats itself at different points in copy process on several repeat trials. (If other jumper placement don't fix this, I'll get it out and clean the lens...)

the cdr/w gets it done without hiccup.

my reasoning is, if it won't properly work in DOS, windows will have problems with it as well.

TBC'd

dang, voodoo3 acts up... banshee drivers in winSE complained of not being right ones.
and I need my bed.
will try locate voodoo 3, 8 MB drivers. voodoo is integrated in bora pro mobo.


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Please remember, it's only free advice...
Jaak

[This message has been edited by jtdoom (edited 01-31-2001).]

What are the models of the DVD, CDR/W and mobo?

Hi Imm,

motherboard MSI 6186 bora pro -integretaed sound (got the drivers, and found a CD from a SB128 works dandy on it)
the 8MB agp integrated vid reports
voodoo 3 2000 TV bios version 1.00.01
(got this info with debug)
(I need better drivers for this voodoo)

the DVD
SAMSUNG DVD_MASTER 6E model SD-606

the cdr/rw
LG model CED-8080B ROM VERSION 1.06

EDIT; lens is clean...
and I have all night to get this thing going...going....going to pot...into the dustbin...Hmmm, have various sizes of hammer, which would be better?... https://discussions.virtualdr.com/

[This message has been edited by jtdoom (edited 01-31-2001).]

I cant get them voodoo drivers at 3dfx itself.
bummer

and just about all other links point to 3dfxgamers, where I cannot get them either
http://www.3dfxgamers.com/drivers/vo...gs-1.05.00.exe

there is a 1.07.00 as well, samo samo

server down???

editupdate
forgot that this super great board has a hardware section

download started at windrivers
sigh of relief....
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Please remember, it's only free advice...
Jaak

[This message has been edited by jtdoom (edited 01-31-2001).]

re the vid drivers - is this what you're looking for? http://www.packardbell-ap.com/Suppor...?CID=1&group=3

I could use a lecture on how language localized etc. you driver issues are.

you bet I bookmarked that PB site

have just -again- unconditionally formatted the PB.
DVD is removed.
put an known good and known as "silent" afreey CDRomdrive in.

when DOS reads from it it almost acts like the DVD....but it don't bluescreen...

I am rummaging boxes for a new ribbon.

update; put new ribbon in, so this is ruled out as well. Will test DVD-drive in two other machines. I get this weird feeling this could be BIOS related too. Found newer BORA PRO bios yesterday-nite, and it still sits on this machine. dont wanna flash if not needed.

ONLY if DVD is OKAY in other machines I'll consider flash.

Have put a NIC in the PB so as to get on cable for downloading.
Since the Packard has a burner (and hard-drive is now partitioned) I can put the drivers and install files in there and then burn a "recovery" CD.

You bet I'll ghost a known good installation as well.

meanwhile, thanks for helping.
I get this feeling this ain't over yet...

let me Quote Arnie
I'll be back...
Hasta https://discussions.virtualdr.com/
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Please remember, it's only free advice...
Jaak

[This message has been edited by jtdoom (edited 01-31-2001).]

If you're making a care package of drives including archivint the dos drivers the 8080b is here: http://www.lgeservice.com/drivers.html
It'll lead to http://www.lgeservice.com/drivers/CED8080B.zip

Specs are here: http://www.lgeus.com/Product/cd/ced_8080b.asp

Regarding the 606 - is it 606B or 606F and do you know the firmware revision?

[This message has been edited by IMM (edited 01-31-2001).]

Hi,
this NIC worked in four other machines,
and you guessed it...nada.
I had to plug my main machine PCI NIC in here

anyway, I am reading this in a paltry 16 colour on the Packard

hmmm,
DVD-MASTER 6E MODEL SD-606
The barcode says
SD-606/PBE 63EKB12578 F/W=606FP12
H/W:A ver.F november 1999

I believe I posted firmware on CDR/RW

Oh Lord, this is awful reading like this.
gonna start dowloading 3DFX

will be hanging about



------------------
Please remember, it's only free advice...
Jaak

windrivers has a good server

noticed PB had earlier version reference
so I started DL of version 1.07 3dfx at windrivers as well
in comparison, PB server is slooooow
DL of 8Mb finishe in no time, and PB is still pumping data as I write.
musta been about a minute at windrivers
COOL !!!!

Imm, if I need upgrade the firmware on this DVD, just tell me.
edit; haven´t found it yet, so where do you find this stuff?

In the past, I done firmware flashes on videocards, cdr/rw but never on a DVD nor CDRom drive, but I reckon it is about the same procedure.
You can bet I will disconect the other atapi IF and when I gotta do a firmware flash....

all 3dfx DL´s finished
brb

EDIT; at least that went okay, 3dfx is working. after a rebbot I put the latest on.

1.07 version drivers install went smooth. Must be because they´s meant to comply with ME winstaller.
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Jaak


[This message has been edited by jtdoom (edited 02-01-2001).]

Jaak - re the firmware for the DVD - samsung had one out there (don't know what it addressed for issues) but their links are changing and broken and I'm having trouble locating it. I wasn't going to really suggest it till you started to see trouble on the build if you did (it's version fs14).
The dos stuff is here http://samsungelectronics.com/suppor...rom_index.html

I'm not clear on whether the sound drivers came from: http://www.packardbell-ap.com/Suppor...?CID=1&group=6

Finding STUFF is an art form https://discussions.virtualdr.com/

[This message has been edited by IMM (edited 02-01-2001).]

Hi Jaak, I just saw this post today.

Quote:

---

have found drivers for the scanner (hopefully newer)
think I got MM-keyb http://pbsupport.alorica.com/home.asp
one needs to sign up there?

---

You've helped me out so much, I'd like to reciprocate if I can. I have the Epson Perfection 1200U scanner (with Epson Stylus 640 Printer). Both use an Epson Twain driver. If it will help you out, I'd be glad to send the driver for you to try. ('course the way things have been going for me lately, you'll probably have to hold my hand and walk me through that too https://discussions.virtualdr.com/ Geez..)

Both Epson pieces are the one things I can count on to work and have never once given me any trouble, and the Epson scanner is exceptional and FAST.

-Kat

Hi IMM

samsung website needs MAJOR overhaul.
got to the page, but the download won't start. I thought of getting the ones for version F, w/i what the barcode stuff somehow indicates.

about sound driver
chip number matches creative/ensonique
both the downloaded and those I have on creative soundblaster 128 CD worked.

Katmac,
you'd be interested to learn that as soon as I installed adaptec EASYCD and adaptec CD-Creator on the Packard, a CDR DATA disk with modem drivers turned to music cd with CDA track.....(in a known good cdromdrive)
and also sound sometimes stutters after this install. this must be related to YOUR topic, so I might report this there as well.

this PackardB keyboard is NUTS
keyboard MODEL
SK-2300-H

the Dutch packard bell support site linked thru to British which I already had been at.
currently, MOST of them buttons do what they's supposed to do. A few others don't.

Hmmm, somewhere I noticed there was a patch for French keyboards.
Since AZERTY layout is used in Belgium and France, I might wanna try this.
I wish Packard would describe the models better.

I may wanna feed them the machine model or registration number to get better support?

its like IMM says.
Finding this stuff is the trick.
Spent more time searching than working on the hardware.

There IS ONE good thing in this.
See, his "experience" may one day serve me well.

------------------
Please remember, it's only free advice...
Jaak

Hi IMM

the DL still wont happen, but I have this to ponder..
-drive manufactor date is NOVEMBER 1999-
and filedates on "DL-zipfile-link" (not your fault, ain't it? I never got that far when I searched) are AUGUST 1999.

this makes me think the DVD firmware update would be pointless???
Conferred with Isabelle, and she will use this cdromdrive I put is until she can afford a new DVD.

About the USB scanner copy to HP-815.
tonite I will test the following setup.
I got a PCI USB card to add USB ports since that printer has an USB connector as well.
(I seen some where the USB was not soldered on, so I wondered why it was connected to ECP. Well, Isabelle ain't got a hub, and this -expensive- packard has only ONE USB at the back, and only ONE at the front of the case. That was why she used a parallel cable.
I hope the features this scanner has works once this printer is USB connected.

I noticed Katmac has an EPSON printer, and this scanner software was "begging" for an EPSON printer when the HP-815 was on ECP.

I could perhaps still test this setup on ECP as well. I'll let you guys know if I did and if it worked... Reason I got a PCI USB card is that she also has a digital camera and other stuff like gravis USB joypad.
I really think she can use more ports.

gonna stuff face, and then again get to this PB.
https://discussions.virtualdr.com/ https://discussions.virtualdr.com/

------------------
Please remember, it's only free advice...
Jaak

I haven't read much of this carefully but see questions about a keyboard so I'll throw these links and you can tell me if u need more or you're ok with the keyboard.
(keyboards are SO cheap I never fight with them) http://www.pbnec.nl/support/itemnr/REFFIUP01380100.html
http://www.pbnec.nl/support/faq/article/ART02544.html
These are pretty much the same stuff as the site I originally linked has tho'

BTW the DVD firmware I was chasing isn't listed there (your link with the old date is 12 and I was looking for 14)



[This message has been edited by IMM (edited 02-01-2001).]

Hi thanks!!!
I understand your last mssg to mean there is a later firmware you are aware of, but have trouble finding it? (dunno how YOU do it. I might try all over again as well)

Jeesh, If you can find an URL to it, by all means, I'd be willing to try this "flash".

You are NOT gonna believe what I just did.
yep, I plonked the restore on.
Curiosity killed the cat, they say, but I HAD to see this.
Bloody thing wiped the partition with all that setup stuff I had saved to it.
(yep, sets the drive back to ONE partition... So what if the drive died? Will it even install on a different one? I really think this is stupid.)

Oh well, most of these drivers sit on my machine as well. You bet I am gonna burn cdrs...

btw, I had the mmkeyb and the french fix.
but hey, thanks! Much appreciated!
I feel I need quick links in here as well.
If I hit this board from the PB tonite, It might be useful.
(gonna export some favourites to floppy later, to transfer to PB...)
Okay, I see image setup finished. Now I got some MAJOR software cleaning to do. I did not believe my eyes when I saw what is installed by this image setup.

if I get tired of the problems, I can still plonk in a replacement hard drive and "debug" or "lowlevel" this one.


------------------
Please remember, it's only free advice...
Jaak

UPdate
after packard bell restore setup.
USB card added. reboot

added printer and testpage came out fine, reboot
added scanner, reboot.
copy function launches just fine, does not beg for epson printer, and whammo, a split second after scan finshes, the program says printer error/system error.
This does not look like a windows error, and does not give "details" button.

as a last try, I updated scanner driver to ME drivers and now it won't even scan.

printer options threw me.
put it in mobo usb port, prints just fine there too.

must be some program glitch for spooler????
the printer dont even start blink when scan finishes.

Frankly, I am getting fed up with this crud.
I am gonna lowlevel that disk.
------------------
it just hit me when I was putting this cdr with drivers and updates together.
USB issue.
the card I added reports a via USB
and I had the update on disk.
https://discussions.virtualdr.com/ plumb forgot to look into that. https://discussions.virtualdr.com/
And to say it was suggested in this thread. https://discussions.virtualdr.com/
coming across it, I reread the article, and hope this fixes it after the clean setup which is currently running.
I feel so DUMB.
and am numb too.

[This message has been edited by jtdoom (edited 02-02-2001).]

Hi all
clean install with retail SE
copy was nada, setup for this crud drove me nuts.

again restore, windows only.
(easier for all them drivers)
updated USB
installed HP815C printer on USB
reboot
install EPSON perfection 1240U scanner and twain
reboot

copy function still won't print
=I can still try run retail SE setup over it. versions match =

but first I am gonna test this printer and scanner copy thing on MY machine
if it works there, I am of a mind to put a the hammer to that packard.
if not, its either an issue with 815 or epson.

I can't get later drivers than those I have, far as I know....

Jeesh, all this trouble.

Steve, NEC???
NOW it makes me shudder.

EDIT; copy function won't work on other PC, so this is no fault of packard.
btw, just spoke to Isabelle. she asked if PHOTO print worked. was still on my machine.
darn thing begs for EPSON PRINTER. She considers getting the scanner back to the shop and getting a cheaper one... The manual never said anything about NEED FOR EPSON PRINTER. will try find such info in online-help or in PDF.

as such, end of story.
This machine gets back to factory restore.
(she has her data on CDR)

Katmac, did you ever read it REQUIRES, as in mandatory, an EPSON PRINTER for these photo print and copy functions??
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and all this work was free, you know.
NO gain, no pain.
Jaak

[This message has been edited by jtdoom (edited 02-02-2001).]

Hi,

later on I posted that this copy function is adressed with a recently published patch I found.
the photo print still begs for Epson, tho, but at least direct copy works.
FWIW, seems there is still some issue in this machine.
after Isabelle took the machine home the printer got connected to USB.
She recently told me that when she was printing photo compositions ( a full page of pics ) the printer lost connection.
I suggested to uninstall it, then install it on ECP port.
Hmmm, I wonder if she has re-enabled this screensaver I disabled.
When set to couple minutes this can interfere with time-consuming print jogbs.

I wanna look this over.
besides, I should get there re a tip by DrMDJ.

scanner copy solution http://tech.epson.com.au/downloads/p...U&platform=all

scanner thread http://discussions.virtualdr.com/For...ML/037718.html


DrMDJ tip in following thread http://discussions.virtualdr.com/For...ML/037906.html



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Please remember, it's only free advice...
Kind regards, Jaak.

today I found samsung driver and firmware links work again.

I finally got that version IMM tried to point me to.