new install xp - hardware not recognised

I checked the threads that my title found, but none of them have a solution.

I have been installing XP on peoples PCs/Laptops for many years, and I haven't experienced a problem like this in 7 years.
A friend has 2 laptops. Both with legitimate versions of XP. One has a broken monitor, and the other recently developed a hard disk problem. Basically the disk is toast, but that's not the problem.

We replaced the disk with the one that had been working fine on the laptop with the broken monitor. I assumed that it would simply accept it, boot and start. We got the black screen message, and safe mode starts ok, but when we tried to start normal mode, it got into windows and rebooted.

I thought maybe there could be some file corruption, or incompatibilities, so I tried to reinstall XP. I downloaded a version with SP3, as we already have valid licences for both machines.
It installed ok, but the first odd thing was we were offered a dual boot. I can live with that, and remove as necessary.

The next thing was, a lot of the hardware was not being recognised, particularly the ethernet adapter, and built in wireless. I tried an internet connection first via modem, with ethernet, and then usb, nothing. And then via modem, router, ethernet again nothing. (to be expected). I couldn't configure a LAN/fast internet connection at all.

Another odd thing was that the DVD was randomly disappearing.

One thing I did notice was that via device manager, a number of devices had exclamation points, meaning the drivers were not up to date, but obviously, without an internet connection, I can't add them.
The USB port I tried works fine with my memory stick.
I tried the internet connection via both modem and router on two other laptops, even my iPhone, and they connect fine, so it's not an issue with modem, router, cabling, or wireless.

My initial thoughts is that I have got a duff copy of XP, as I am assured the machine was connecting fine before, albeit a month or so back.
What I haven't tried yet, is the second, and probably original Windows installation. It may be that, if files in that environment were corrupt, the installation has fixed that, and left the other settings, but I guess the installation blew away the original Registry, so I am not hopeful.

I'm gonna try the old installation, and if that doesn't work, back up my buddy's date, and reinstall from an XP disk I know is good, even if it does mean I have the drag of having to download SP's again. Perhaps someone can recommend an online source for a good XP SP3 version I can get and use my existing keys?

Has anyone experienced this type of issue before, because I have never had problems getting an internet connection after an install of XP before?

thanks in advance guys.

 

quote
A friend has 2 laptops. Both with legitimate versions of XP. One has a broken monitor, and the other recently developed a hard disk problem. Basically the disk is toast, but that's not the problem.

We replaced the disk with the one that had been working fine on the laptop with the broken monitor. I assumed that it would simply accept it, boot and start.......

First of all from what you say, you are using the hard drive from the second latop, in the first laptop- Rarely will this work, unless chipsets etc: are identical-

 

You then say that you installed another copy of XP on the same partition =TROUBLE,
I believe your problem is caused by not properly formatting, and reinstalling on a 'foreign' drive to the one you are trying to install the hard drive to.

 

Some laptops have a recovery partition, that is accessed by pressing f9/f11, or , another when starting up, if you are lucky, and the hard drive has one, you might some get drivers installed from it, and load XP better. If the two are similar, same manufacturer.

 

You might still be able to get XP SP3 from many pc stores, but with a number, otherwise I have seen them on (fl) Ebay, whilst buying a small component.

 

fraid i disagree. if the disks are the same standard, i see no reason why it shouldn't work, same as putting a different drive in a pc. Perhaps you could explain why it, in general, works.
can you back up your statement?

fraid i disagree on this one too. i don't see the need for it to be reformatted. a reinstall "should" create a new version of the os. Plus I wanted to retain my friends data, and access it, which we could.
can you back this up?

Not wishing to appear ungrateful, but from what you have written, you haven't justified your arguments. some links to where you are getting this info, or a bit more detail please.

and please, a single post is sufficient. Is that how you got your member status? Quality, not quantity please.

 

If I was you, I would back up his data, then, play with that hard drive.
It is possible to get sp2 and sp3 for XP on disc, but Ibelieve XP is not being supported by Microsoft after July , this year, so it might be possible still, to get XP Service packs from Microsoft, on cd/dvd .

 

You have simply repeated what I wrote in my original post and have not made any viable suggestions as to what the problem might be, or how they might be resolved. Simply unsupported speculative nonsense.
Please, if you have nothing constructive to say, don't post on my threads just to boost your thread count

 

To anyone interested

An OEM XP is supposed to be for one computer, although some laptops will have a two uses version.
This has always resulted in the classic blue screen when using on a different'machine', and appears to have been designed as such by Microsoft.
This makes them particularly chipset 'tied' in my dealings, so when using in another laptop, or, pc it keeps to Microsofts liscence requirements. It is even more so once that version is activated.I did not make them that way, and that is not speculative. I never included any links, as I did not use any, I quoted from my own experience, .
Why it has worked for you, I see thaat you are a programmer- perhaps the later disc,that includes XPSP3 is less demanding, but that was always the way with the original versions of XP.
As for two operating systems on the same partition being trouble, well, I have sorted out many , in the past, and although it can work O.K, the computers worked far better when cleaned down by formatting, and re-installing.
I thought that you might well have put Xp on a second time, to be able to see the data, and the reason I posted short notes to you was that I had thought you might answer one in between.
I have not the slightest interest in my thread count, and offered only my help .
I happened to say that if I was you, I would save the data, and reformat, purely and simply because, I did not want to encourage you to try anything else, in case you could no longer access the data. That would be my advice , no matter what your level of expertise.
:wave

 

I would be grateful if someone could answer the original post.
To repeat what I have suggested as a solution in my original post, does not explain why a legitimate version of xp, installed on a replacement disk, that is compatible with the machine, should not recognise the hardware.
I have never experienced this issue and I have been installing various different versions of windows on Laptops and PCs for 7 years.

There is NO dual OS, or disk incompatibility issue. The issue is hardware not being recognised, and what Windows setttings I should check, BEFORE I decide to back up data, reformat and reinstall.

and if so, what did you do to get round it?