Re-installing XP doesn't install drivers

[firmex]

I have a fairly old HP Compaq Pentium 4 PC that has given me problems so I

decided to re-install XP using the CD that came with the PC. After

re-installing, the PC won't connect on the net and the monitor is using

default settings. If I view the devices in the system area of the Control

Panel it shows a yellow question mark for both the ethernet and the

VDU. If I try and get the manager to find a driver on the CD it fails.

So how do I at least connect on the internet so that I can search for

the appropriate drivers?.

 

Any help gratefully received

[Guest Wolfeymole]

So how do I at least connect on the internet so that I can search for

the appropriate drivers?.

 

In two words Firmex, you can't.

 

The only way is to use another pc that has net access and then locate the drivers needed and burn them to a cd.

 

The XP install disk will have only base generic drivers for say cdrom and base video, your probably looking at a screen that looks like your in Safe Mode yes?

[firmex]

That's correct, it looks like safe mode. I was under the impression that an XP installation

disk contains generic device drivers for all requirements, e.g. networks and video.

 

So if I get my model number and go to the HP Compaq web site I guess I can get the

correct device drivers. I assume there is one driver per device??

 

Thanks for your feedback

[RandyL]

Compaq makes it quite easy to find the right ones firmex. At least I never used to have trouble with any model.

[Tony D]

Is there another disk that came with your computer? It may have the drivers specific to your machine.

[firmex]

Help - getting nowhere fast

 

I thought this would be straightforward but it doesnt seem to be

 

I downloaded two exe files onto a CD and inserted the disk into the

Compaq. In device manager it couldnt make sense of the exes that

I ran and expanded.

 

The exes were supposed to be generic ethernet and monitor devices

for XP via an HP web site. I'm not even sure what extensions

the device manager wants??

 

Can anyone please help

 

If some one can just advise of the correct files to transfer on CD that

would be a tremendous help. I assume once I've got a decent video picture

and an ethernet connection then the rest is relatively simple.

 

Rgds

[Tootech]

If you post the exact model and serial number of your PC we will do our best to find the correct drivers for you.

[firmex]

Serial Number

 

Thank you for your help.

 

The serial number is HU31102206

Product ID DB121T

 

It's a HP Compaq Pentium 4 I believe

[Tootech]

According to Google, DB121T is a Compaq Evo D310 mini tower- that sound familiar?

 

The link to the drivers is here

 

Compaq Evo D310 Desktop- Download drivers and software - HP Business Support Center

 

You should download the Driver - Display, which is the SP21171.exe.

 

The Network driver is a little more tricky, there are 4 to choose from. The board has an Intel chipset, and I am assuming your network adapter is built in - ie not a separate card.

 

Download the system utility SIW from here

 

SIW | System Information for Windows by Gabriel Topala

 

Run it, and look up the network adapter you have, then download the the correct driver.

 

Hopefully that should be it.

[firmex]

Downloads etc

 

Hi,

 

Thanks for your help although this problem is driving me crazy.

 

I downloaded SP21171.exe and ran it from CD, it installs correctly

but the display itself still defaults to the original one, I don't seem

to be able to select a driver via Control Panel/System/Device Manager

where I try to poiint the new driver at C:/compac/SP21171. What am

I doing wrong.

 

In SIW if I click Hardware then Network Adaptors it just shows the

computer name followed by the PC type in brackets.

 

Any ideas?

 

Rgds

[Guest Wolfeymole]

Copy the files from the cd to a folder on the desktop called for example Compaq Drivers.

 

Open the file and double click the setup icon which will then install to the correct location.

[Tootech]

Can you explain a little further what this means

 

"the display itself still defaults to the original one"

 

Do you mean that you can still only get large writing and a 800 x 600 screen resolution?

 

We are not getting anywhere fast with this. Looking at the documentation for this machine, there a different video cards available and different network adapters depending on form factor - ie desktop/tower/mini tower/slimline case.

 

Try installing and running Everest from here

 

|MG| EVEREST Free Edition 2.20

 

It's another system information utility. The really useful info is the motherboard model mumber, video card model and chipset and same for the network adapter.

 

It's possible that both the video card and network adapter are add in cards, in which case you would plug into them in the lower half of the case panel - something like this.

[ATTACH]284[/ATTACH]

Does yours look like this?

 

Does your monitor plug in to a VGA Video port in a similar place to the one marked?

Is your network connection in a similar place to the one marked RJ45 NIC?

 

Let us know what Everest comes up with, and tell us about the back panel on your PC.

 

Can you also confirm if it is a tower type case or a desktop type case.

Edited September 27, 2009 by Tootech

[firmex]

Details etc

 

I run the SP21171 exe and it locates the files in c:/compaq/sp21171

I navigate there and run setup.exe which installs NVIDEA, but after

that my display is still the same and I am unable to change the

driver which I imagine is the whole point. The resolution of the

screen remains at 640x480. The screen properties states

(Default Monitor) on.

 

I ran Everest and got the following :-

Motherboard Name Compaq Evo D310

Chipset North Bridge Intel Brookdale -G i845G

Chipset South Bridge intel 82801DB ICH4

Display GPU Intel 82845G/GL/GV

Network PCI/PnP Network Intel 82801DB ICH4 = Lan Controller 82562ET/EZ PHY

 

I also ran System Info For Windows (SIW) which gives the following

Product Name Evo D310

Serial Number HU31102206

Motherboard Model 0804h

North Bridge - as above

South Bridge - as above

 

The screenshot of the rear of the PC is similar but not the same.

Below the PS2 ports are the 4 USBs instead of further down. There

is a number on the plate which is 264185-001.

Could be a red herring but there is a serial number on the motherboard

which is sp#323003-001 p688201p10e1ej.

There is also a label on the outer chassis stating -

D31D/P266/80/k/256Ac

Hewlett Packard S/N HU31102206

Product ID DB121T #ABU

Not sure how to recognise a tower or desktop but it looks more like a

desktop

[firmex]

Thanks ...

 

... but I've managed to download a driver for the display that works

by searching for 82845G/GL/GV. Network still a problem though

[Tootech]

Thanks for all the info, I reckon we have about got it sussed.

 

Firstly, go to Add/Remove Programs, uninstall the nvidia software and restart your PC. If it is not listed then great, that's that bit done.

 

It looks as though everything is built onto the mainboard with this one.

 

Next, download the video driver from here

 

Compaq Evo D310 Desktop- Intel Graphics Driver for Microsoft Windows 2000/XP - HP Business Support Center

 

Then download the network driver from here

 

Download Software, Drivers and Utilities Filters

 

Install them and you should have it sorted.

[firmex]

Done

 

It all works - thank you so much