No sound after formatting HDD

[30something]

Hello

 

I've been having problems with my pc for a couple of weeks now, and am looking for some help from anyone kind enough to offer any.

 

The problems started a while ago, when I was randomly surfing the internet and the computer shut itself down. When I attempted to restart it, I was given the option to start windows in safe mode or normally etc etc.. Regardless of which option I chose, I was taken to a BSOD with a "PAGE FAULT IN NONE PAGED AREA" error with a code something like 0x00000007. This happened each time I tried to boot the computer, in any mode.

 

I did some research online and learned that this particular error is usually RAM related, so I tested each stick individually and found no problem. I ran the DELL diagnostics application and all tests were passed, yet I still got the same BSOD each time I tried to boot the pc.

 

At this point I pretty much gave up and started looking at saving up for a new computer. A few days later I happend to find an old windows xp disc from another computer, so I formatted the hard drive from the recovery console and reinstalled xp.

 

The computer now boots up fine, but I keep getting an error message saying that there is no audio hardware installed, or it is not functioning properly. I ran the DELL diagnostics application and retested the audio, I heard the sounds and the test was passed, yet when windows had loaded I would receive the same error message regarding there being no audio hardware available.

I read that I might need to go online and download certain drivers and applications from the manufacturer's website to restore the pc to its "out of the box" state, but Im also having trouble getting the pc online. I have a wireless network, and before all these problems I would connect to it using a USB wireless adapter, which is now obviously not recognized by the pc.

 

I have a Dell Dimension 5150 running windows xp home edition. I dont recall getting any discs with drivers or software on when I bought the pc, and if I did I no longer have them.

 

If anyone could help me out I'd be incredibly appreciative

[RandyL]

A few days later I happend to find an old windows xp disc from another computer, so I formatted the hard drive from the recovery console and reinstalled xp.

Do you mean you installed XP from a disk meant for a different computer? It sounds like you might have used a Dell disk from another computer and that's why the drivers are incompatable.

[Match]

First of can you tell us the Model, and can you find the service tag number, once we know what Dell machine it is we will be able to tell you where the service tag is.

 

also we will be able to find out if it has a recovery partition.

 

but just in case it does not have a recovery partition can you have a look in the device manager

 

 

1. Click Start, click Control Panel, click Performance and Maintenance, and then click System.
   
2. On the Hardware tab, click Device Manager.
   

and tell us anything that has a yellow triangle by it.

 

also it might be useful to know if you have had the machine from new or bought it second hand (used/graded)

[30something]

Hey guys thanks for the help. The win xp disc I used to reinstall is from my last computer which was a HP, could this be the problem? The model is a DELL Dimension 5150.

 

I looked in device manager and there are no yellow triangles, however, if I expand the "Other devices" section there are a few things with a yellow "?!" icon next to them.

These are:

 

802.11bg WLAN

Ethernet controller

PCI Device

SM Bus Controller

Video Controller

Video Controller (VGA Compatibble)

 

Everything else looks normal.

 

I bought the computer new about 4 or 5 years ago now. Im not sure where to find the sevice tag, if someone could point out to me where it is I'll take a look.

 

Thanks again for the help

[Match]

It looks like your in luck, fingers crossed and that you should have a restore to factory setting option :) if you follow the following steps then this should solve all your problems in one go.

 

Use Dell PC Restore by Symantec only as the last method to restore your operating system.

PC Restore restores your hard drive to the operating state it was in when you purchased the computer.

Any programs or files added since you received your computer—including data files—are permanently

deleted from the hard drive. Data files include documents, spreadsheets, e-mail messages, digital photos,

music files, and so on. If possible, back up all data before using PC Restore.

 

To use PC Restore:

1 Turn on the computer.

During the boot process, a blue bar with Dell Austria: Notebooks, Desktop-Computer, Monitore, Drucker und PC-Zubehör | Dell Österreich appears at the top of the screen.

 

2 Immediately upon seeing the blue bar, press <Ctrl><F11>.

If you do not press <Ctrl><F11> in time, let the computer finish starting, and then restart the

computer again.

 

NOTICE: If you do not want to proceed with PC Restore, click Reboot in the following step.

 

3 On the next screen that appears, click Restore.

 

4 On the next screen, click Confirm.

The restore process takes approximately 6–10 minutes to complete.

 

5 When prompted, click Finish to reboot the computer.

 

NOTE: Do not manually shut down the computer. Click Finish and let the computer completely reboot.

 

6 When prompted, click Yes.

The computer restarts. Because the computer is restored to its original operating state, the screens that

appear, such as the End User License Agreement, are the same ones that appeared the first time the

computer was turned on.

 

7 Click Next.

The System Restore screen appears and the computer restarts.

 

8 After the computer restarts, click OK.

 

their is a chance you don't have a recovery partition however as you have owned the PC from new and haven't said you lost the disks that came with it, then I'm inclined to think that you do have the recovery partition, ether way get back to us on how you get on.

[Tootech]

Perhaps not very helpful, but I'll put money on it the Dell Restore partition, if still intact will not work - the install of XP willl have trashed its 'bootability'.

 

I have repaired these in the past - but if your Windows install has wiped the partition, there is no way to rebuild it.

 

Have a look at this link and see if you can make any sense of it - it does tell you how to repair the Ctrl F11.

 

Inside the Dell PC Restore Partition

 

The win xp disc I used to reinstall is from my last computer which was a HP

 

I'm afraid that using a disc from another PC is totally against the licence agreement with Microsoft. The CD may seem to work, but it is not the correct one for your PC. It may be HP branded in some way, or it may not.

 

You should not use that version, and you may not have known that. Grumble grumble I hear you and other members say, but the forum really does have to adhere to the licensing rules.

[30something]

Hey all, just a quick update..

 

I booted up the computer in order to perform the Dell PC restore, but there was no blue loading bar. I dont ever recall seeing a blue loading bar as described, so Im not sure it was ever there or if its vanished because of something I did.

 

I tried hitting ctrl f11 during the dell loading screen and the windows loading screen but nothing happened and windows loaded 'normally'.

 

I was not aware that I shouldnt have used an old xp disc on this computer. I have no problem abiding by the licencing laws, but as I said previously I dont recall getting any discs with my computer when I bought it, so now Im wondering how Im ever supposed to reinstall the OS.

 

To the fellow who said he had repaired these computers before, could you tell me roughly how much it would cost to take the machine into a repair shop and have it sorted? I know thats a little defeatist, but a week ago I was looking at buying a replacement, so a shop repair would still be cheaper than that.. right??

 

If anyone has any further ideas about how I can fix things myself, please let me know.

Your time and effort is much appreciated.

[Tootech]

Ok, so your restore partition has either gone or is not working.

 

I advise you to get on to Dell and obtain the correct restore CD for your PC - it might not cost as much as you might think.