[Solved] Packard Bell Drivers?

[Pozzouk]

I have an Imedia 5070 Desktop circa 2006 - At this time it is running XP on a hard drive from my old PC. It works okish but i presume that it would work a whole lot better with Packard Bell system drivers but try as i might i just can't find a way of identifying for certain what is required on their site - have any of you guys got any ideas.

 

ATB Pozzouk.

[Plastic Nev]

You could go to device manager, click start, then run, type or copy and paste=

 

devmgmt.msc

 

that will list all devices, a double click on each will then open a small window, click the driver tab, then "Update driver"

 

A bit long winded I know but the system searches the net for relevant updated drivers for you.

Nev.

[Pozzouk]

Cheers Nev, Have tried that and apparently nothing was needed - however i know for sure that i have drivers and files that have gone missing. Basically a few weeks back the whole system became totally unacessable - after dozens of attempts i got the thing to run in safe mode and after sevaral blue screens and disc checks that wiped out a pile of orphaned files the machine just about runs ok. However several programes including IE take an absolute age to open - infact firefox was taking so long i have had to give it a miss altogether as it kept throwing up to many errors.

Sorry for the essay - just wondering if there is anything for free on the net that would check it through????

 

Fingers crossed

Pozzouk.

[KenB]

Hi,

 

At this time it is running XP on a hard drive from my old PC

Was XP installed on the "old PC" and you just transfered the hard drive into the new casing and booted up?

[Pozzouk]

Thanks for the reply Ken, it sure was a straight transplant from old system to the Packard Bell - i was amazed when it worked fine for six months and then one day everything started sticking until it got so bad it refused to boot up at all! So i guess the transplant certainly never started the problem. In fact, only after fiddling for hours in safe mode did i eventually get the thing to run again. I was still pretty intent on fitting a new hard drive and starting over so presumed, if i was to do this that original motherboard drivers might be a good idea for either option.

 

At this moment in time i'm on that very PC that a few days back was dead to the world - when i eventually got it to run scandisc it deleted piles of corrupted files many of which were orphans. Now and again it seems so slow that i presume it has lost a few DLL's but not quite sure which or how to find.

 

Sorry so long - perhaps i should write a book ;o)) - only good can come of this - I hope!!!!

 

ATB Pozzouk.

[Plastic Nev]

Hi again, with a system this old, motherboard drivers may be difficult, one problem being that Packard Bell is now part of Acer which doesn't help.

However, rather than the motherboard drivers, I am a little worried about the Windows system itself, do you have the disks for the original system just in case?

When Ken gets back he may also have some more idea's too.

 

Nev.

[KenB]

was a straight transplant from old system to the Packard Bell

I am surprised that it booted at all.

 

Nev has already asked - do you have the original XP installation Disk ? ( not recovery disks )

If you do - we can try a Repair Install.

This will keep your files and data intact and repair the Windows XP installation.

[Pozzouk]

Hi, not sure when Nev asked about the original disc???

 

But.

 

Yes i do have the original XP disk and i sure had wondered if such a repair run was possible without taking out the info and settings held on that hard drive - As it is i have most of it backed up just in case but i would be pleased to experiment with a re-run over the existing setup. For the record no one was more surprised than myself when i plugged in the alien hard disc and bingo it worked purfect first time.............12 months ago!!!!

 

Regards Pozzouk.

[KenB]

Hi

 

Take a look here: (Repair Install XP )

http://kenspchelp.co.uk/viewtopic.php?f=29&t=23

 

Be aware - if your XP Disk contains SP2 you will need to update again to SP3

Also - all Critical Updates will need to be re-installed from Microsoft Updates

 

Let us know how you get on.

[Pozzouk]

Hi KenB,

 

Just off to have a look through that link you supplied on repairing XP. But first before i go, i have to admit that if this setup i have running was a cat or a dog i guess it would have been put down long before now for fear of the wrath of the RSPCA.

 

As for my XP disc it's vintage, or should i admit an antique 2002 copy! So would i need to be running service pack one as well 2 & 3 ????

 

Thanks Pozzouk.

[KenB]

Hi Pozzouk

 

SP1 was introduced in 2002

SP2 was introduced in 2004

 

If your installation is SP1a or higher you can install SP3 directly.

I doubt that you will have SP2 given your dates.

If, however it is pre Service Pack or SP1 then you will need to do an intermediate upgrade of SP to SP2 ( oe SP1a ) before you upgrade to SP3.

 

Another note:

Do not surf the net before activating a firewall and Anti Virus.

[Pozzouk]

Thanks for that Ken, sounds like i could have got in a right mess. As it is, the version i have is 2002 and i do have service packs one and two on discs that i kept over the years. I'm pretty certain that my copy is pre any inclusive service packs (is there a way of checking?) so does that mean after initial installation i should run service discs one and two and then update online to SP3 - I presume when you say don't surf the net that i'm safe to go to Windows Update, or do i need to download SP3 first and maybe save it to a disc (not sure if this is possible or not?)

 

Should be interesting to see how it goes as this morning the system really did not want to wake up - still i have everything backed up now so taking into account the questions here asked i'm ready to go.

 

Thanks again for your help so far.

Regards Pozzouk.

[KenB]

run service discs one and two and then update online to SP3

This is what I would do - yes.

 

Bare in mind - you have done a repair install so your AntiVirus should still be functioning.

 

I would be inclined to get up to SP3 then do all of the Critical Updates before you start using the net properly.

 

Then go to your AV and see if there are any updates to be had there.

 

If you were using Microsoft Firewall just make sure this is enabled.

[Pozzouk]

Well the re run seems to have well and truly fixed it - from slow and clunky to a blue screen of death!

 

The Stop message is as follows STOP:0x0000007E (0X0000005, 0X00000000, 0XF89CFF1C, 0XF89CFC1C)

 

I sure hope someone smart knows what that might mean, other than it's broken ;o))

 

Living in hope Pozzouk.

[Pozzouk]

Looks like I've hit a dead end - presumably i have to completely reinstall from scratch or maybe a new hard drive??? The only other line of thought is that perhaps as it is 2006 machine that i need to add a "RAID" driver, as I'm trying to install XP - However the machine does not have a floppy drive so i suspect that might be a tad awkward.

 

Any ideas more than welcome.

 

Pozzouk.

[KenB]

Until "someone smart" comes along you are stuck with me.

 

Did you get through the repair install ?

Which Service Pack is installed now ?

 

Can you still boot up in Safe Mode without the system crashing ?

 

Is your hard drive SATA ?

 

================

For KB's reference

HKEY_LOCAL_MACHINE\SYSTEM\CurrentControlSet\Services\Intelppm\Start - set to 4

[RandyL]

I'm not the expert here but I will throw in my 2 cents.

 

Like all stop errors it's hard to determine the exact cause. It could be memory, drivers or Windows system files corruption.

 

I'm inclined to believe this is a system file corruption. This could be due to a failing drive but more likely the fact that you just swapped drives without reinstalling Windows. It could also be a combination of incompatable drivers and the failure to reinstall Windows.

 

Although the repair if done properly often works there is no gaurantee that it will. The fact that it made it worse leads me to believe that you really only have two options to fix this.

 

1. Reinstall Windows. This option will give you a clean start although you will need to get additional drivers after. If it does not work then that leads to a hardware problem such as a failing hard drive or memory etc.

 

2. Try a brand new hard drive and install Windows. If that works then it was the drive. If not then a different hardware problem.

 

However answer Kens questions first as it is possible that it is something else. For instance a safemode startup would indicate a possible driver issue.

 

Forget about RAID. A RAID setup is designed to make two drives operate as one. So unless you have Windows installed across two hard drives the point is mute.

 

Sorry I can't offer more.

[Pozzouk]

Cheers Guys, Yep all seemed to be going ok with the repair run and fully understood not to hit the recovery "R" until after the license agreement - Windows then appeared to be booting past the usual Windows welcome logo..........and then, bang blue screen of death! I tried four times and just got the message that this repair had been tried previously, each time thwarted by the blue screen of death.

 

As for "Safe Mode" I have just had a go at that and got >Windows XP Setup cannot run under Safe Mode - Setup will start now< and ultimately back to the blue screen.

 

Consequently Ken, i have not got as far as installing service packs.

 

My apologies regarding RAID - i confused that with SATA - in fact, i wonder if this is the problem, as i reckon the machine may well have originally had a SATA drive - it certainly has all the cables within for such a drive. In fact, i did go out and get a new drive a few weeks back, but when i realized it was a SATA drive i got cold feet due to the fact the machine has no floppy drive needed to provide SATA drivers for XP, hence i tried to stick with the original IDE drive.

 

Sorry about the essay.

Pozzouk

[KenB]

Hi,

 

So now you are unable to boot up at all ?

 

Take a look here - post 6

http://discussions.virtualdr.com/showthread.php?t=186540

 

Also found this:

http://support.microsoft.com/kb/330182

 

I would try taking one of the RAM modules out. ( turn off at the wall first )

If you are still getting BSOD swap them over.

 

If none of the above work then I would suggest a complete re-install.

You may have data / files that you need access to.

Let me know if you do.

[Pozzouk]

Cheers for all your help there - yes I'm still determined to get to the bottom of the issue with that drive & Win "R" - I have read with interest through and beyond post six, there are without doubt similarities to follow up............PC's - how to make time disappear!

 

However, I whacked in that SATA drive last night and to my amazement XP seemed to run fine - I was amazed as i had read that you either required SATA drivers adding by floppy drive (no floppy drive on the system in question) or to switch off the SATA option in the BIOS (no sign of any such thing in the BIOS) or use "nlite" to add the drivers to a CD and re-record the windows disc. It sounded so complicated, so in for a penny in for a pound i just loaded the disc changed over the hard drive pressed the button and bingo..........So I now have virgin windows!!!!

 

So now i just need reassuring about Service packs 1,2 & 3 - just double checking that i need to run all three sequentially? and obviously finally windows update.

 

Off to the loft for service packs one & two - who mentioned Windows 7!!!

Pozzouk.

[KenB]

You can't see me - but I am smiling :)

 

Progress.

 

Start ....type in ....winver......ENTER

This will tell you which Service Pack you have.

 

If none then you must start with SP1 or SP1a

 

If it is 1a then you can jump to SP3

If not - then you must install SP2 then SP3.

 

Good Luck - let us know how you get on.

[Pozzouk]

I'm glad someone's cheerful - I'm ok with the smiling so long as your not laughing Ken!!!

 

Just called in home instead of working to run those packs ;o)) - In a way i feel I'm almost back to where I started - like would the system be more stable if i could locate specific main-board drivers from Packard Bells "top secret" website (why do they have to be so unhelpful) I say this in view of a problem i recently had with another PC when it somehow lost its "networking controller" - nVidia could not have been more helpful. Or for that matter, is it preferable to have drivers suited to the processor???

 

Sorry i ask so many questions - you'll miss me when i'm gone ;o))

 

Damn it, i'll be an expert soon!

 

ATB Pozzouk.

[KenB]

you'll miss me when i'm gone

Once you start posting on these forums it is impossible to stay away :)

 

if i could locate specific main-board drivers....

It is always best if you get drivers direct from the manufacturers site.

 

This is a niggle with XP.

When you reinstall you find that you have to trawl the net for drivers for your devices.

 

You probably will need chipset drivers for the motherboard.

NIC drivers

Sound Card drivers

etc.

 

Start > Run ....type in ....devmgmt.msc ......ENTER

 

Any devices with yellow exclamation marks / red Xs need attention.

[Pozzouk]

My eyes are now square and feel like i have just about gone around the bend!

 

Perhaps i should have asked hours ago but finding sound drivers for this thing have been a nightmare, trying to find freely available offerings seem just about damned impossible. However am at this moment attempting to dload from Packard Bell what appears to be the required offering, only it's 19.6MB and only wants to load at 12kbs and IE times out, so i've set the laptop on it - seems firefox is better geared to getting anything out of Packard Bell. Just in case of total failure any ideas welcome.

 

Soooooo anoying, after all seemed to go so well with all the service packs + Avast and the like all in place so sweetly only to trip on these ruddy sound drivers - i tried many so called free driver providers, with driverguide looking most promising but could not make head nor tail of them by the time i had avoided all the tricks to sign you up to this and that........growl.......i bet it is easy when you know how.......fume & rage!!!

 

One good thing - at least this is being posted on my megga fast new copy of XP - and not a crash in sight - touch wood.

 

Pozzouk.

[KenB]

wants to load at 12kbs

That is slow - but it is down to the site not your system.

 

i bet it is easy when you know how

Not really.

Older drivers are difficult to locate.

 

not a crash in sight

Excellent :)

 

If you need help locating any software post the details and I will do what I can.