Needledoc

I did something I now regret and hope you can bail me out. For reasons too long to go into, I needed to quickly replace my office computer in which the motherboard died, leaving my hard drive intact. I use XP Pro. An IT friend of mine suggested I could go out and buy another computer and switch out the hard drives, which I did. Problem is I bought a Compaq CQ5110F running Vista, not XP. Big mistake, I wish I had just taken the time to order one that ran XP to begin with. My Bad.

After switching out the hard drive, my new computer with XP will boot in safe mode, but not otherwise. I’m not sure if these are the only problems I need to deal with, but the device manager tells me I need to find drivers for the SM bus controller, PCI simple communications controller, and ‘other PCI bridge device‘.

The processor is an AMD Athlon 7550 X2. I tried going to AMD to find a driver but wasn’t able to find what I thought to be the correct driver.

I suppose the easiest thing to do would be to switch the drives back and take the computer back, but since I switched out the disks, I feel like it is my problem now, not the retailers.

Thanks in advance for your help. I am obviously not the most computer savvy person in the world.

BCCOMP

HI,
Welcome to TSF.
I can help you with the drivers for this, but I would backup any info on this drive (XP) that you wish to keep.

You may have to do a repair install of XP, so you may increase the chances of Data lost.

Here are your drivers (that I can find quickly) and a guide for a repair install of XP.

Compaq CQ5110F XP Drivers

System Specs:
http://h10025.www1.hp.com/ewfrf/wc/d...roduct=3978596
AND
http://h10025.www1.hp.com/ewfrf/wc/d...roduct=3978596

Repair install of XP guide
http://michaelstevenstech.com/XPrepairinstall.htm


Chipset: NVIDIA GeForce 6150SE nForce 430
http://www.nvidia.com/object/nforce_winxp_15.26.html

MS UAA Driver: Must be installed BEFORE the Audio Driver
http://h10025.www1.hp.com/ewfrf/wc/s...3180330&dlc=en

Audio: Realtek ACL888S
http://download.cnet.com/Audio-Realt..._4-168837.html
or
http://h20000.www2.hp.com/bizsupport...&cc=us&mode=3&

Modem: Conexant HDAUDIO Soft Data Fax Modem with SmartCP
I am still working on the Modem for the driver, but I think Windows Update under the "Custom" option will give you the rest of the Hardware updates.

Let me know how you make out.
Bill

Needledoc

Hi Bill,

Thank you so much for all your time and effort. I downloaded and installed the drivers. I still can not boot normally, but at least now the device manager informs me that I only need the PCI simple communications controller. Idon't know if this helps or not but when I installed the Nvidia driver I was asked if I wanted to install a Network Communications something or other. I said yes, but it failed to install. Be that as it may, we have still made some progress!!

Any thoughts on where or how to get the PCI SCC driver? Is it likely that just getting that driver is going to make the system bootable again or is it likely that there is more that needs to be done? Thanks again for your help. I really do appreciate it!

joeten

hi please run everest ultimate http://www.google.co.uk/url?q=http:/...Fr3sKQLU1Axw5A this will help Bill track down the drivers if possible,please post the full info you get from everest

BCCOMP

Everest will help (thanks joeten), but the PCI simple communications is your MODEM (dial-up). This should not effect the way the computer boots up.

Did you do a repair install?

Is there any info on this drive that you wish to keep?

If it were me I would Save the info on this drive and do a CLEAN install of XP so you have a "fresh" system.

I believe the issue here is that you installed an old drive from another system (computer) and XP does not like it. A repair install still leaves old traces of drivers and other info that may be conflicting with this "new" computer.

Bill

Needledoc

I've tried posting the report but I am told it is too long. I did a 'complete' report to begin with. Is there some sections of the report I can easily exclude in order to shorten it?

I have resisted doing a repair install until I heard back from you. If the Everest report doesn't turn up anything, that will be my next step. I would like to put off the clean install as long as possible, only because I have heard horror stories. Thanks.
Thanks

BCCOMP

Horror stories? I see no issue, but I admit I have not done one of these.

I would make sure you have saved any data you needed off this drive first.

Did you copy and paste the report to Word or Notepad and try to attach it?

If that still fails I will PM you my E-mail address.
You can send menthe report and once I am done with it I will attach it for you.
Bill

Needledoc

Yes, I saved it to notepad and it was still too long by 88,000 characters. I tried editing the old event log entries out but it was still too long. It might just be easier to send it to you directly.

Needledoc

My concern about doing a full install and then using my back up copy is that there is some VERY expensive ($35000) software components on the drive with registry entries, etc. and given my lack of computer skills I am not sure of my ability to get all that back on to a new XP system. I'm sure I could spend a lot more money and have the software vendor do a re-install but I was hoping to avoid the expense of that. I run a small business that is only barely making it and I have to watch my pennies. Thanks for the help.

BCCOMP

HI,
Thanks for the report, but I do have a concern.
You apparently use this computer as a OFFICE computer that has ALOT of expensive software and Personal Data, but you have NO backup of this DATA?
When it comes to software most times you have to backup the data (quick books, Medisoft, etc) and reinstall the programs. Then retrieve the backup Data and reinstall it to the appropreiate program.

Can you give me a complete list of these programs ($35,000.00).
This way I know what is on this system.
Please PM or e-mail me the list of ALL programs installed (I DO NOT WANT THE DATA/PERSONAL FILES ETC.).

Belarc Advisor may help:
http://www.belarc.com/free_download.html

But DO NOT post the report to the thread (E-mail or send it via PM).

I do know that this info may be PRIVATE and I do follow HIPPA Reg. So Depending what I "see" I may or may not be able to help you.

Bill

BCCOMP

HI,
I have reviewed your report and it shows two errors

The Realtek Audio driver is not installed. Did you install the UAA and Realtek driver posted in post2?

PCI Simple Communication Controller (Dial-up Modem).
The driver can be found here:
http://h20000.www2.hp.com/bizsupport...reg_R1002_USEN

I do not believe these drivers will correct your startup issue.
What is the EXACT issue.

Bill

keknox

Hi Bill,

Yes I installed the two programs. At least I thought I had. I will retry again tomorrow when I am back in the office.

And I do have the disk backed up. Use Rebit and love it. Thanks

Needledoc

The exact problem is that when I turn on the computer, the Bios window appears for several seconds (as far as I know that maybe normal for a Compaq computer. I never started the computer up with the original drive and Vista OS so I don't really know, although it seems a bit strange to me) and is then replaced with the usual Windows XP window with the blue loading status bar active. After several seconds the Windows window dissappears suddenly prior to the log on window and the computer recycles back to the Bios window for several seconds. Then it automatically goes to the window display offering a choice to boot in safe mode, etc.

Early on I tried the normal boot choice but that didn't work. I haven't retried it recently assuming it wouldn't work the second time if it didn't work at initial startup. Once it starts up in safe mode, the DVD drive and USB port work.

Sorry if this isn't all that clear. Like I said, I'm not the most computer savvy guy in the world so my computer language skills are a bit lacking.

Attached Files

K Knox.txt (1.32 MB, 6 views)

BCCOMP

Xp is not loading correctly (in Normal Mode) due to the Harddrive coming from another Motherboard. XP is trying to bootup with the "OLD" cofiguration of the "OLD" motherboard. I am surprised it even boots up in safe mode, but in safe mode XP does not load certain drivers.

Did you get a chance to install the other 2 drivers I mentioned?

I believe the only way you may get this to boot normally is to do a repair install. I am still not sure if this will save ALL your info through.

Bill

Needledoc

So here is an update. I've loaded all the drivers and I no longer get a device manager warning. I am also able to connect to the internet via a router and network (I can ping google), but my browsers aren't working. I am also now able to use the software I was concerned about.

So the biggest problem at this point seems to be a boot issue. I would consider doing a repair install but I can not find the original XP disks. (I took over the office management in January and was not involved in the installation or set-up of any of the computers.) If need be, I will go out and buy another XP disk.

Is all of this something I can continue working with on this board or should I move to another board?

Thanks for all the help. I think we are making some slow process.

simpswr

A repair install should not affect data or applications . . but it sounds like you have expensive apps that could be put at risk.

One alternative is to image that drive, so that if the Repair Install went south, you could recover the image and get back to where you are now. Acronis is good for doing that.

You will need to be sure you can find XP drivers for that motherboard ( particularly the dhipset ) . .

Is there no chance to find a replaceement board for the one that died?

I agree with Bill . . with the risk of loosing the apps, you might be better off using a professional.

If you decide to try it yourself, be sure the new installation disc matches the version you had on the old machine. This is a good guide to performing a repair install

http://www.michaelstevenstech.com/XPrepairinstall.htm

Needledoc

Thanks Rich.

Here is another option that I would like anyone's feedback on. Is anyone familiar with Reimage Repair? From what their website says, it might be worth a try. My problem there is that although I can connect to the internet, I haven't worked on resolving the browsers not working. I suspect if I could get the browsers back on line I could try Reimage Repair.

Forgive my ignorance here, but with Bill's help I downloaded the driver for the chipset. Are there other motherboard drivers I might need but don't have installed, and if so, is there a way I can find out what those are and download them? The Everest report shows all the motherboard components. Is that where I would start?

I have the entire disk backed up on Rebit and feel very comfortable that I could recover the disk information. I have used it once before on a different computer and it worked flawlessly.

Thanks again for the help.

BCCOMP

Hi,
From what I can find on the Rebit program you have this should do the job as far as backing up this entire HD. From my understanding this Rebit program backs up the entire HD to an USB External HD. If you have used this successfully in the past then you should be OK.

The only downside of backing up this HD on an external HD is your computer may not be able to boot from this USB External HD. If thats the case and your repair install fails then you will not be able to get this up and running without doing a "Clean Install".

It is best to make an image of this entire drive to CD's (alot) or DVD's. This way the computer can restore the image to the HD from CD/DVD. Acronis True Image is a good program.

To do the repair install you will need XP Pro (Retail).
I am not sure what Service Pack is installed as your Everest Report does not state this.
If you enter SAFE mode and right click on MY Computer>Properties a window should pop up. Under system you should be able to see what Service pack is installed.

So, to do a proper repair install you will need XP Pro and the correct Service Pack.
I would not really worry if you do not have the correct service pack as there is a work around for this.

But you need to have a XP Pro CD (retail) before we can do anything.

Bill

Needledoc

In as much as I would need to purchase XP Pro to do the install, might there be an advantage instead in just going ahead and purchasing a machine with XP Pro already installed, only because I would then be assured that all the hardware had XP Pro drivers available, even if I had to reinstall them after doing a repair install on my drive.

I am not looking to spend lots of money on a computer so the added difference in price between a computer running XP and buying the OS separately( and perhaps still having problems if I can't get some of the hardware to work properly even after the XP install) isn't going to be all that much. In other words, is the chance greater that I am throwing good money after bad if I buy the retail OS vs going with a new machine?

Any thoughts on Re-image?

BCCOMP

Hi,
Are you thinking of buying a computer with XP pro on it and taking out the Harddrive and put the one in that has all your info?

Won't work
You will be in the same boat.

If you buy (If you can) a new computer with XP Pro you will still have to install all your programs you need (Meditab).

Bill