please help with laptop!

thaiboxer04 · 12-10-2008, 07:09 AM

I am hoping someone can help me. I bought a used sony vaio laptop yesterday, its between 2-3 years old and running windows xp. The first problem is that the computer is full of useless programs, old malware removers, messengers etc. It is so bad that Id like to have the coomputer like new again... like a clean install. The problem is I don't have a recovery disk or any software for it. All I have access to is the recovery disks for winxp for my dell desktop which probably won't work and has none of the drivers for my laptop. Is there anyway to do this without the disks? The second problem is the built in wireless. I can't connect to my linksys cisco router. My compaq laptop is newer and has no problem with it. The vaio finds it in the "view available wireless" but when you try to connect it says not found. I think the vaios network settings are all messed up and need reset. Can anyone help please?

**vladimirb** · 12-10-2008, 07:20 AM

Hello there...
Well either you need to clean your laptop from junk...
If you can not do that then you need to do a clean installation of operating system...
The fact is that if you do not have recovery prtition then you should call person who sold you laptop and ask to give you an installation disc...
I will not assist you in installation of ilegal copy...
And by the way, you can not connect to your router either because system is faulty or you are infected with viruses...

**simpswr** · 12-10-2008, 08:09 AM

and welcome to the Forum

You can use a Dell Reinstallation cd ( Dell does not furnish recovery or Restoration discs ) to install XP on your Sony as long as it is the same version ( Home, Pro or MCE ) . . when prompted for the Product Code, use the one on the sticker on the bottom of the laptop

You can download the drivers from the Sony website ahead of time while you can see them in Device Manager and burn to cd for use after the install. You can also download and run the BElarc Advisor to get the details of the hardware and software.

thaiboxer04 · 12-10-2008, 10:15 AM

Thanks simpswr. I have the reinstallation disk for my dell. I believe it is the same version of xp. The person I bought the laptop from had no disks available but the product key sticker is on the bottom of the laptop. When I use the dell disk... do I just do a reinstall or first format the hard drive and go through that whole process? Can you elaborate more on how I would go about doing the drivers end of the process? Sorry but im not too savvy on any computer stuff but I love to learn as I go. Thank you much!

**simpswr** · 12-10-2008, 11:00 AM

First thing is to check that you do not have a restoration partition on the laptop . . many do. You would see "Press XXX to restore the system" when you first boot. If you have such a facility, it will restore the pc to the state it was shipped, O/S, drivers and apps.

This is by far the easiest way to reinstall, if not . .

First thing to do is download the drivers from the Sony Website . . you can look in Device Manager to see what you need, but at a minumum you should get the drivers for:

Chipset
Video
Sound
Network Adaptors
Modem

They should all be available on the Sony Support site, which is fairly easy to use.

Once you have XP installed, install the Chipset driver first, then the others. Once you have the network adapor drivers, you can go back for any that are missing. I like to run the Belarc Advisor to give me a complete report on what hardware and software is on the pc.

Early in the reinstallation process, you will have a chance to delete partitions and recreate them . . this will give you a clean slate to install on.

This is a good guide to reinstalling XP . . you might want to print it for reference during the install.

http://www.techsupportforum.com/cont...icles/158.html

This is a site that walks you thru a simulated XP installation:
http://www.echoproject.net/en/software/catalog.html

Let us know if you need anything more.

thaiboxer04 · 12-10-2008, 12:38 PM

WOW. I sincerely appreciate all of the help. I honestly didn't even know where to start before your advice. One thing I noticed that was kind of strange is when I boot it... it gives no prompt whatsoever. I am used to seeing "press such and such button" to enter the bios at least. This has a blank screen that blinks a few times then says windows. I was wondering if I should keep rebooting and trying "escape" or maybe "F1" to see if it does something. I wish it had the restore partition. I am hoping starting this over fresh will make my wireless problem easier to fix also since the network configuration is probably in chaos right now. Thank you again and Merry Christmas.

**simpswr** · 12-10-2008, 01:38 PM

For help entering BIOS: http://www.techsupportforum.com/cont...e/Tips/48.html

12-10-2008, 07:09 AM	#1 (permalink)
thaiboxer04 Registered User Join Date: Dec 2008 Posts: 3 OS: winxp	please help with laptop! I am hoping someone can help me. I bought a used sony vaio laptop yesterday, its between 2-3 years old and running windows xp. The first problem is that the computer is full of useless programs, old malware removers, messengers etc. It is so bad that Id like to have the coomputer like new again... like a clean install. The problem is I don't have a recovery disk or any software for it. All I have access to is the recovery disks for winxp for my dell desktop which probably won't work and has none of the drivers for my laptop. Is there anyway to do this without the disks? The second problem is the built in wireless. I can't connect to my linksys cisco router. My compaq laptop is newer and has no problem with it. The vaio finds it in the "view available wireless" but when you try to connect it says not found. I think the vaios network settings are all messed up and need reset. Can anyone help please?

12-10-2008, 07:20 AM	#2 (permalink)
vladimirb Mentor Hardware Team Join Date: Mar 2008 Location: Banja Luka, Serb Republic Posts: 3,481 OS: xp pro sp3, Server 2003, Windows 7 Professional x64bit My System	Re: please help with laptop! Hello there... Well either you need to clean your laptop from junk... If you can not do that then you need to do a clean installation of operating system... The fact is that if you do not have recovery prtition then you should call person who sold you laptop and ask to give you an installation disc... I will not assist you in installation of ilegal copy... And by the way, you can not connect to your router either because system is faulty or you are infected with viruses... __________________ MCP - MCSA Cisco SMB Account Manager

12-10-2008, 08:09 AM	#3 (permalink)
simpswr Moderator Hardware Team Join Date: May 2007 Location: Houston, Texas Posts: 11,916 OS: XP, Vista, Win 7	Re: please help with laptop! and welcome to the Forum You can use a Dell Reinstallation cd ( Dell does not furnish recovery or Restoration discs ) to install XP on your Sony as long as it is the same version ( Home, Pro or MCE ) . . when prompted for the Product Code, use the one on the sticker on the bottom of the laptop You can download the drivers from the Sony website ahead of time while you can see them in Device Manager and burn to cd for use after the install. You can also download and run the BElarc Advisor to get the details of the hardware and software. __________________ Rich MemTest86 \| BenchTest \| Virus/Trojan/Spyware Help How to post a Screen Shot \| PC running slow?

12-10-2008, 10:15 AM	#4 (permalink)
thaiboxer04 Registered User Join Date: Dec 2008 Posts: 3 OS: winxp	Re: please help with laptop! Thanks simpswr. I have the reinstallation disk for my dell. I believe it is the same version of xp. The person I bought the laptop from had no disks available but the product key sticker is on the bottom of the laptop. When I use the dell disk... do I just do a reinstall or first format the hard drive and go through that whole process? Can you elaborate more on how I would go about doing the drivers end of the process? Sorry but im not too savvy on any computer stuff but I love to learn as I go. Thank you much!

12-10-2008, 11:00 AM	#5 (permalink)
simpswr Moderator Hardware Team Join Date: May 2007 Location: Houston, Texas Posts: 11,916 OS: XP, Vista, Win 7	Re: please help with laptop! First thing is to check that you do not have a restoration partition on the laptop . . many do. You would see "Press XXX to restore the system" when you first boot. If you have such a facility, it will restore the pc to the state it was shipped, O/S, drivers and apps. This is by far the easiest way to reinstall, if not . . First thing to do is download the drivers from the Sony Website . . you can look in Device Manager to see what you need, but at a minumum you should get the drivers for: Chipset Video Sound Network Adaptors Modem They should all be available on the Sony Support site, which is fairly easy to use. Once you have XP installed, install the Chipset driver first, then the others. Once you have the network adapor drivers, you can go back for any that are missing. I like to run the Belarc Advisor to give me a complete report on what hardware and software is on the pc. Early in the reinstallation process, you will have a chance to delete partitions and recreate them . . this will give you a clean slate to install on. This is a good guide to reinstalling XP . . you might want to print it for reference during the install. http://www.techsupportforum.com/cont...icles/158.html This is a site that walks you thru a simulated XP installation: http://www.echoproject.net/en/software/catalog.html Let us know if you need anything more. __________________ Rich MemTest86 \| BenchTest \| Virus/Trojan/Spyware Help How to post a Screen Shot \| PC running slow?

12-10-2008, 12:38 PM	#6 (permalink)
thaiboxer04 Registered User Join Date: Dec 2008 Posts: 3 OS: winxp	Re: please help with laptop! WOW. I sincerely appreciate all of the help. I honestly didn't even know where to start before your advice. One thing I noticed that was kind of strange is when I boot it... it gives no prompt whatsoever. I am used to seeing "press such and such button" to enter the bios at least. This has a blank screen that blinks a few times then says windows. I was wondering if I should keep rebooting and trying "escape" or maybe "F1" to see if it does something. I wish it had the restore partition. I am hoping starting this over fresh will make my wireless problem easier to fix also since the network configuration is probably in chaos right now. Thank you again and Merry Christmas.

12-10-2008, 01:38 PM	#7 (permalink)
simpswr Moderator Hardware Team Join Date: May 2007 Location: Houston, Texas Posts: 11,916 OS: XP, Vista, Win 7	Re: please help with laptop! For help entering BIOS: http://www.techsupportforum.com/cont...e/Tips/48.html __________________ Rich MemTest86 \| BenchTest \| Virus/Trojan/Spyware Help How to post a Screen Shot \| PC running slow?