WinXP Repair Gone Bad

Under hardware update wixard, Select network Adapter, Manufacture Broadcom the choices it is giving me do not exactly match BCM5701 Gigabit Ethernet. There is Broadcom NetXtreme Gigabit Ethernet or thereis BMC 4410 10/100 Ethernet Network Adapter. Nothing else looks like it would even be close.
Maybe I did not do it right.

And you ask about sound and I have NO sound at all.

 

I saved the file you had me download b57xp32.sys on my desktop and when I chose "Include this location in the search: H:/ and clicked Browse it does not show up under Desktop.


New problem. As I said after reinstall of windows I lost all pre installed programs. So trying to get some things I might want back. I downloaded CDBurnerXP and after that I got ATI Catalyst Control Center icon showing up on desktop. When I click on it I have error message. DLI.exe-.NET Framework Initialization Error Unable to find a version of runtime to run this application.

But CDBurner downloaded and installed and looks OK although I have not tried to use it of course. It is not my top priority at this point. Sound is very important though.

 

Weird... We may be talking about different files. The one you download initially should be named win_xp_2k3_32-14.0.0.7a.zip

After you've extracted that, you'll get a folder named "win_xp_2k3_32" with three files in the folder:

b57win32.cat
b57win32.inf
b57xp32.sys

If you put all three of those on the desktop and then go through the same steps again, one of them should be picked up as the driver file. You're doing the process right, Windows just wasn't able to find the file it was looking for.

As for sound... you may have bad hardware there. If you have the right driver, and no beeps or start-up sounds at all, the sound card might not be working right.

Do you want the Catalyst Control Center? You can get it from ATI's website if you want to use it, if not, you can just uninstall it.

 

Sigh... I saved all three to my desktop. I Right clicked on BCM5701 in device manager. I clicked update driver. I chose Install from a list or specific location. I chose Search for best & include C:\Documents and Settings\PeniN\Desktop\win_xp_2k3_32-14.0.0.7a\win_xp_2k3_32
Clicked next. Get this message: Cannot Install this Hardware. The hardware was not installed because the wizard cannot find the necessary software.

As for Catalyst I have no clue what I need it for.

keep in mind I am not that savvy about this stuff. Hence it is why I need your help and appreciate it very much.

I do know the sound card is on the motherboard but that is about it.

 

Okay then its decision time.

Since you have internet on the computer, you technically don't need the Broadcom adapter installed. It's a bit faster than the integrated Realtek one you're using right now, but strictly not necessary. If you want to, we can keep at it and try a few more things, of course, or we can move on to the sound and work on that instead. Let me know.

 

Probably should just deal with one thing at a time from here on huh?
So sound is really important to me so lets deal with that then maybe come back to the other problems.

 

It's easier to work on one thing at a time.

I'm with you on sound being a vital part of a computer! I depend on it so much that lack of sound makes the PC useless to me. If you want to go back to working on the Broadcom later we'll do that, no problem.

So we know that we have an integrated Realtek AC'97 Audio sound card, and since it's in Device Manager we know that your computer knows that. We know the driver is installed correctly since Device Manager is showing no question marks on the sound, and we also know that although you should be getting sound, you aren't. We already went over trying with different speakers/headphones, and reinstalled the driver. Er... just to make sure we covered everything, you did make sure to use the green plug, and not the pink or blue, right? No offense meant... just checking, because I know I make that mistake a lot. :-o

That leaves us with trying a different driver or sound card. Let's start with the different driver, since that doesn't require you to go out and buy stuff.

HP hasn't published any updates to it at all on their website. You can try updating through Windows Update instead, or by using HPs utility, HP Update.

 

I uninstalled Catalyst Control Center using CCleaner. I got two messages after it finished. One says ATI Software Uninstall Utility, You need to restart your computer for changes to take effect. The other says: Windows File Protection: Files that are required for Windows to run properly have been replaced by unrecognized versions. To maintain system stability windows must restore the original versions of these files. Insert your Windows Home Edition CD_Rom now. When I clicked on More Information it says: Possible reasons for this problem: You have inserted the wrong CD.(i.e,a different Windows product CD than the version installed) The CD-ROM drive in your system ix not functioning.
I have not put any CD in so what is going on with this?
Could uninstalling Catalyst Control Center cause this? Or is this a new problem?

I have not done anything about the messages yet.

 

This is a new problem. Removing CCCenter does not break Windows.

Since that is a new problem, the best way to deal with it would be for you to start a new thread. That way, we can focus on the sound here, and in your other thread me and others can look at the problem with the missing files. (Hint: Start by trying to restore the files using your XP disk )

 

During this long process of trying to fix sound I have done this recently ""HP hasn't published any updates to it at all on their website. You can try updating through Windows Update instead, or by using HPs utility, HP Update.""

Do I need to do it again? Just checking.

As for the Error messages am I just to find the CD-ROM files? Do I just put it in and do what. Because I sure don't want to get in to Install all over. Yikes!

 

If you've looked for updates very recently, then I don't think it will make a difference if you do it again. Did the sound stop just from one moment to another, or did you lose it gradually? It's more and more starting to look like your sound card went bad

As for restoring and repairing files in XP, that's really not something that I know a lot about, unfortunately. That's actually one of the main reasons I suggested a new thread, so that issue becomes visible to the other MG members, and you can get help from someone who knows what they're talking about. I'm good with hardware, but I know my limits.

 

It is more like it worked then I noticed one day I had no sound. There was no problems with the sound that I noticed until had none.
As I said in the beginning of this journey with Microsoft Tech I noticed after a windows update. They thought I needed to reinstall windows xp after doing all the troubleshooting steps and nothing helped. Thus the start of one huge headache with the windows reinstall gone bad.

As for the Error I am going to restart and see if I still get it. If so i will post a new thread as you suggested.

 

Then, sadly, I think you might just have a bad sound card. Since its integrated on the motherboard that means a motherboard replacement, or you will need to buy an after-market sound card and use it in your one PCI slot. Neither option is an ideal one, really...Motherboard replacement would be so expensive you might sa well buy a new PC.

Anyone else want to chime in on anything I've missed, or...?

 

I will try that Tim just as soon as I can. Thanks. Life is calling and I have to answer for a bit.

Well I thank you for all your effort Mimsy. Buying a new computer is not what I really wanted to do but I will if it is more cost effective.
Thanks to all who posted on this thread.

 

You can get a current "Version" of your Pacilion for a few hundred USD, if you spend some time shopping around for a good deal, and that's what replacing the motherboard will end up costing you in the end.

Though obviously we're hoping TimW's suggestion works and you don't have to go that far.

 

I ran the check on system files twice and I did not get any messages.
So good thing right?

 

If putting sound on here is as expensive as a new computer it would make no real sense to put money in a old computer. It does not have to be a HP but I don't know what else is a good choice.

Mimsy do you know about black screens on laptops? I have a HP laptop that the screen stays black most of the time. Rarely the monitor will come on and stay lit for a while as long as I don't bump it or shut it. I can hook it up to my monitor and use the computer so I know it works. I hooked it up the other day and updated windows and the virus software.

Irony it does have sound!

 

Can I just suggest you confirm two things here?
1. When you boot the computer, there are no sounds at all. Not even one beep?
2. I'm wondering what Service Pack you ended up with. Would you mind checking please? Start>right click My Computer>Properties, under the General tab, fifth line from the top should tell you your Service Pack number; mine says "Service Pack 3".

 

RE: Black laptop monitor,

That's because either the backlight or the LCD itself is dead. If it's under warranty, send it in. If not, then once again you are looking at a repair that will cost you as much as a replacement laptop.

 

No sounds at all and it is Service Pack 3

 

OK guess in the mean time if I want sound on a computer I will have to hook the laptop up to my monitor.

 

It might be worth checking your BIOS settings before going any further...
To get to BIOS, tap the Delete key while booting.
Two things to check:
1. Onboard Audio setting-
Mine is under Integrated Peripherals>SB200 Onchip PCI Device
Press Enter to get into the menu.
Check that Onboard AC97 Audio is set to [Auto], not [Disabled].
Esc key to get out of that part of the menu
Yours might be a bit different.

2. Check that the Self Test is enabled:
under Advanced BIOS Features
Check that Quick Power On Self Test is [Enabled]

Press F10 to save and Exit BIOS. Say Y for Yes, if it asks.

Again, these things might be different on your PC, so you might have to look around a bit.
Be careful not to change anything you're not sure about in the BIOS. You can end up making it unbootable.



I'm also wondering what sort of speakers you have. Specifically, are they USB connected by any chance?
Try booting without the speakers and see if there is still no beep at startup.

 

The speakers are in the monitor. They connect to the tower with a green plug not usb.

I will check the BIOS tomorrow as soon as I can.
Thanks!

 

This wouldn't be something as simple as turning up the volume on the monitor, would it? Just thought I'd better ask.
It will also be interesting to see if the laptop sound works through those speakers.
Have you tried listening through headphones or anything else? (I had a quick look back through the thread to see if you had mentioned anything about this, so sorry if you have already covered all this.)
As you can see, I'm just wondering if the speakers (or the connection from the monitor) might be the problem.

 

No it is not the volume on the monitor. Actually that was one of the very first things I checked thinking maybe I had accidentally hit it at some point. Then I tried all the regular troubleshooting steps even tried the headphones in the monitor jack before asking for help.
I will try hooking the laptop up to see about sound using it then I will take a look at the BIOS as you suggested. I will report back later.
Thanks!

 

Checked BIOS and Onboard Audio setting everything was right. In Advanced looked for Self Test and somehow I missed it. Did not see it.
Hooked monitor up to laptop and set it to monitor speakers and the sound still comes from the laptop not the monitor.

 

Have you tried booting without the monitor speakers plugged in. There is usually a small speaker in the PC which should give you a beep when you boot.

 

Sorry I forgot to say I had tried that. No sound.

 

OK. Looks like we're back at Mimsi's diagnosis - mother board issues.
There is one more test you might like to try, just to be triply sure:
Disconnect everything - monitor, monitor speakers, mouse, printer...
Then go inside the case and remove the RAM sticks. If you do this, be careful to touch the metal case first to get rid of any static electricity you might be carrying. Also disconnect the CD ROM and floppy drive if you have them.
Then boot. There should be a concert of beeps going on. If not, I'm afraid it might be time to get out the axe.

 

That would suck. I hate when I'm right about bad motherboards.

 

I'll think about trying that.
Thanks again to everyone for all your help. Much appreciated.