RESTORE TO FACTORY SETTINGS??

[SpywareDr]

You're welcome.

The repeatedly offered updates problem was fixed on Thursday. September 2013 Office Update: Targeting and Repeated Offering

The seven updates that I started about an hour ago have finally finished installing.

[Midknyte]

When I click Windows Update, I'm brought to the screen "Welcome to Microsoft Update," but can get no further after I click "Express Update." The screen that follows usually lists any updates to be downloaded and installed after a brief window that says, "Checking for the latest updates for your computer..." and a green progress bar rolling from left to right. But the window won't go to the next screen that enumerates all of the updates I still need, both Express and Optional. I'm now into the 28th minute of the system "Checking for the latest updates for your computer..." and nothing has changed.

Can someone please help?

Thank you!

I thought I said to install the drivers and AV before doing Windows Update? You shouldn't be connecting to the Internet before you install AV.

Otherwise, you can choose Custom instead of Express.

[sbuxman]

Yessir, you did say that, and I complied and thought I had them all installed, but Chrome crashed and ESPN won't display the vids typical on their homepage due to not-recent-enough DirectX...whatever facilitates video play. It didn't matter anyway because the Windows Update site is having its own major problems, so zero were installed, but I am being told that I have 132 updates available! All drivers are now installed, but I continue to have problems with Chrome, not that that's a biggie!?

Thank you!

[sbuxman]

I thought I said to install the drivers and AV before doing Windows Update? You shouldn't be connecting to the Internet before you install AV.

Otherwise, you can choose Custom instead of Express.

Disaster set in about 8:30 PM PDT when a "tech" from HP who was working remotely started to mess with drivers in response to my problems with Chrome crashing and the other minor issue I mentioned above...the service was provided me via purchase 2 days ago and was a last resort of a case that had already been created. Since I can't connect to Windows Update and wouldn't anyway until all driver issues were handled and an AV installed, it seemed reasonable to request assistance to help repair Chrome. Needless to say, never again. So since a Level 2 tech at the same service advised that I should start all over from scratch and install a new copy of XP, I've decided to call it a night. My biggest mistake, according to the Level 2, was deleting the Recovery Partition during my first reformat.

I'd like to try this again one last time or my $$$ investment in this dinosaur is wasted.

Tomorrow : /

[Midknyte]

You had to pay for tech support? DirectX is probably not the problem with your videos. Many videos rely on Adobe Flash. ESPN definitely uses Flash. I just checked.

Chrome uses their own "pepper flash" instead of the normal Adobe Flash. I've had issues with Chrome and videos before. Maybe you should have tested the system with Firefox with the Adobe Flash plugin instead.

Or you could disable pepper flash and install Adobe Flash for Plugin-based browsers.
http://www.enounce.com/chrome-disable-pepperflash

http://www.adobe.com/products/flashp...ribution3.html


Didn't you install the network drivers? You couldn't get to Windows Update from Internet Explorer? You should only use IE for Windows Updates, not Chrome.

Like I said, if you got physical CDs, then your system wouldn't have a recovery partition. It might have had a diag partition, but that's different. The point of having a recovery partition was so that they wouldn't have to include physical discs. I.E. save themselves money. Also, the recovery partition wouldn't be that big. Maybe 10GB or so.

[sbuxman]

"
Chrome uses their own "pepper flash" instead of the normal Adobe Flash. I've had issues with Chrome and videos before. Maybe you should have tested the system with Firefox with the Adobe Flash plugin instead.

Or you could disable pepper flash and install Adobe Flash for Plugin-based browsers.
http://www.enounce.com/chrome-disable-pepperflash

http://www.adobe.com/products/flashp...ribution3.html


Didn't you install the network drivers? You couldn't get to Windows Update from Internet Explorer? You should only use IE for Windows Updates, not Chrome.

Like I said, if you got physical CDs, then your system wouldn't have a recovery partition. It might have had a diag partition, but that's different. The point of having a recovery partition was so that they wouldn't have to include physical discs. I.E. save themselves money. Also, the recovery partition wouldn't be that big. Maybe 10GB or so."
=====================
No, not each incident. I had purchased an HP service contract just over a year ago for unrelated matters with other hardware. It expired on the 9th and my reformatting began on the 12th. I suppose the agent who interested me in the renewed contract felt sorry for me, because it was offered at a huge discount over the one last year. My experience with the 3rd party folks has ranged from outstanding to disgraceful, and while I take responsibility for all of my computer failings, last evening's session hit rock-bottom.

So here I am back at square one, worn but hopefully much, much wiser.

[sbuxman]

"
Chrome uses their own "pepper flash" instead of the normal Adobe Flash. I've had issues with Chrome and videos before. Maybe you should have tested the system with Firefox with the Adobe Flash plugin instead.

Or you could disable pepper flash and install Adobe Flash for Plugin-based browsers.
http://www.enounce.com/chrome-disable-pepperflash

http://www.adobe.com/products/flashp...ribution3.html


Didn't you install the network drivers? You couldn't get to Windows Update from Internet Explorer? You should only use IE for Windows Updates, not Chrome.

Like I said, if you got physical CDs, then your system wouldn't have a recovery partition. It might have had a diag partition, but that's different. The point of having a recovery partition was so that they wouldn't have to include physical discs. I.E. save themselves money. Also, the recovery partition wouldn't be that big. Maybe 10GB or so."
=====================
No, not each incident. I had purchased an HP service contract just over a year ago for unrelated matters with other hardware. It expired on the 9th and my reformatting began on the 12th. I suppose the agent who interested me in the renewed contract felt sorry for me, because it was offered at a huge discount over the one last year. My experience with the 3rd party folks has ranged from outstanding to disgraceful, and while I take responsibility for all of my computer failings, last evening's session hit rock-bottom.

So here I am back at square one, worn but hopefully much, much wiser.

Midknyte...

I took a day off just to get away from everything cyber...felt like I got so close, but then ended up so far away.

I'd like to reformat and create a new C: partition and then start all over. Once I have my new desktop immediately following the reformat, what should I do first?

Thanks for your patience and skill...figure I should probably start a new topic as well??

Thank you!

sbuxman

[Midknyte]

From post #25 and 26:

The first thing I do is install service packs. AV can cause problems during a service pack install. SPs can affect drivers also.

Next, install the video and chipset drivers. After that, network and sound drivers. These should have been downloaded ahead of time to a flash drive or CD, as Train mentioned.

After that install your AV and do a Windows Update.

You'll probably need Graphics, Audio, Touchpad (Input devices), Storage (SD card reader) and Network (there are 8 so you need to know what card you have).
You might need Modem drivers if you have a modem (if you don't use it, I would probably disable it in the bios).

I don't see chipset drivers on the HP website, so see if there is anything left in device manager after you install SP3 and the other drivers.

[sbuxman]

I'll download the drivers from the site you provided me:

http://h10025.www1.hp.com/ewfrf/wc/s...product=435618

and burn them to a CD using my desktop.

Can I also download and burn SP3 to a CD-R or will I need a DV-R? I have both.

Do you have a link for the download of SP3 since I presume the idea is to keep the newly formatted CTO off the internet without AV protection?

I'm not sure I know how to find out whose network card I'm using, since there are 8 listed in the above link. Or just wait until after all the above is complete and then see if there's anything in DevMgr? Isn't there a mfr number accessed through Properties for whatever card appears in Network while in DevMgr?

Thank you!

[Midknyte]

Don't just copy and paste the link from my post. You have to CLICK on the link. You copied the shorted link which will NOT work. Look at the difference when you put the mouse over your link vs. my link.
http://h10025.www1.hp.com/ewfrf/wc/s...product=435618

SP3 can fit on a CD. Do you have a USB flash drive? You could use that instead of burning CDs. I already gave you the link to SP3 in post #4.
http://www.microsoft.com/en-us/downl...ylang=en&id=24

You'd have to look up the PCI Vendor ID for the device. Or You could just start with the Intel drivers first. If that doesn't work, try the Broadcoms.
http://www.makeuseof.com/tag/how-to-...dor-device-id/

[sbuxman]

SP3 is installed following your precise instructions. Chipset will be installed last per your advice...is video lumped with them? I see no listing for video drivers specifically unless they're within a larger category on the page. There are two Conexant audio driver packages, so as in the case of the 8 sets of drivers for a NIC, I have to know which one to use...ditto for keyboard, mouse, etc/solutions/multimedia/modem (which I prefer to disable in the BIOS per your info)/storage driver did download and install successfully. The graphics driver installation stopped with the following message" "The INF file does not contain information for this system's hardware."

Here's the info for the network adapters in the Device Manager:

1394 Net Adapter
Realtek RTL8139 Family PCI Fast Ethernet NIC

How to proceed now?

Thank you.

[Midknyte]

Chipset will be installed last per your advice...is video lumped with them?

No. Video is separate. Graphics = Video

The graphics driver installation stopped with the following message" "The INF file does not contain information for this system's hardware."

What is still MISSING in Device Manager? If the drivers installed ok for video/graphics, then you don't need to install additional drivers. Windows has a lot of built-in drivers, even more when you add SP3 (that's why you install SP3 FIRST).

You only need to install drivers for devices that have a yellow exclamation point or a question mark.

If there are multiple drivers for the same device, install the latest driver. If that one doesn't work, you can try an older driver.
Example:
Synaptics Touchpad Driver
2006-04-10 , Version8.2.23 N, 5.51M (this one has the latest date)

1394 Net Adapter (this is firewire. ignore it)
Realtek RTL8139 Family PCI Fast Ethernet NIC (this is your WIRED network card)

Are those the installed network devices or MISSING devices? Neither is a wireless network card.

[sbuxman]

"You only need to install drivers for devices that have a yellow exclamation point or a question mark."

The lineup:

Under Other devices:

HP integrated Bluetooth module
Mass Storage Controller
Multimedia Audio Controller
Network Controller
PCI Modem
Video Controller
Video Controller (VGA Compatible)

[Midknyte]

Like I mentioned, you can either look up each device by PCI vendor ID, OR you can just install the drivers from the HP website starting with the newest ones first. If you post the PCI vendor IDs, we can try to narrow them down for you.

HP integrated Bluetooth module - Under Network, try Support Software for Bluetooth by HP 2004-08-29 , Version3.00 B, 20.08M

Mass Storage Controller - Try Media Card Reader Driver 2005-06-24 , Version1.4.0.1 A1, 2.98M

Multimedia Audio Controller - There are 2 conexant cards listed, install Conexant CX20468-31 AC97 Audio Driver EQ first

Network Controller - I'm guessing this is the Wifi card, try them in this order.
Intel PRO/Wireless Drivers 2005-09-16 , Version4.00 F, 5.81M
Broadcom Wireless LAN Driver 2005-06-01 , Version4.00 C, 3.32M
Broadcom WLAN Network Adapters Driver for Windows XP 2004-12-10 , Version3.00 D, 3.32M
Intel PRO/Wireless 2100 3B and 2200 3B Mini PCI Adapter Driver for Windows XP 2004-10-15 , Version3.00 E, 7.13M

PCI Modem - Again 2 listed. Try the conexant first. If that doesn't work, then the agere.

Video Controller and Video Controller (VGA Compatible) - You said you already tried the Intel drivers?
You can try the drivers from the Intel website:
https://downloadcenter.intel.com/Sea...troller+Family

Intel® Graphics Media Accelerator Driver for Windows* XP (exe)
Installs graphic drivers version 14.19.50 for the integrated graphics controller of Intel® chipsets.

[sbuxman]

Like I mentioned, you can either look up each device by PCI vendor ID, OR you can just install the drivers from the HP website starting with the newest ones first. If you post the PCI vendor IDs, we can try to narrow them down for you.

HP integrated Bluetooth module - Under Network, try Support Software for Bluetooth by HP 2004-08-29 , Version3.00 B, 20.08M

Mass Storage Controller - Try Media Card Reader Driver 2005-06-24 , Version1.4.0.1 A1, 2.98M

Multimedia Audio Controller - There are 2 conexant cards listed, install Conexant CX20468-31 AC97 Audio Driver EQ first

Network Controller - I'm guessing this is the Wifi card, try them in this order.
Intel PRO/Wireless Drivers 2005-09-16 , Version4.00 F, 5.81M
Broadcom Wireless LAN Driver 2005-06-01 , Version4.00 C, 3.32M
Broadcom WLAN Network Adapters Driver for Windows XP 2004-12-10 , Version3.00 D, 3.32M
Intel PRO/Wireless 2100 3B and 2200 3B Mini PCI Adapter Driver for Windows XP 2004-10-15 , Version3.00 E, 7.13M

PCI Modem - Again 2 listed. Try the conexant first. If that doesn't work, then the agere.

Video Controller and Video Controller (VGA Compatible) - You said you already tried the Intel drivers?
You can try the drivers from the Intel website:
https://downloadcenter.intel.com/Sea...troller+Family

Vendor IDs

(bluetooth)
USB\VID_03f0&Pid_011d&Rev0017

(mass storage)
PCI\VEN_104C&DEV_8033&SUBSYS__3080103C&REV_00

(multimedia audio controller)
PCI\VEN_8086&DEV_266E&SUBSYS_3080103C&REV_03

(PCI Modem)
PCI\VEN_8086&DEV_266D&SUBSYS_3080103C&REV_03

(Video Controller)
PCI\VEN_8086&DEV_2792&SUBSYS_3080103C&REV_03

(Video Controller) VGA Compatible
PCI\VEN_8086&DEV_2592&SUBSYS_3080103C&REV_03

Here is the PCI vendor ID for the Intel PRO/Wireless 2200BG already installed:
PCI\VEN_8086&DEV_4220&SUBSYS_12F5103C&REV_05

So far, the wireless is working just fine, but had not tried the Intel drivers to my knowledge for the Video controller.

I hope all of the above data is extra helpful!

sbuxman