Vista Complete Wreck

I bought Vista some time ago and tried to install it. I had used the Beta Vista Office and liked it. I am completely computer illiterate. I tried to install Vista and it gave me a lot of warnings, so I uninstalled it. I thoguht I would wait awhile until there was more support for it. Friday someone came by my shop with a business card and said they could work on computers. I asked if they could install Vista and find all the drivers and everything. They said sure, they could do it in about and hour and it would cost $55. That sounded good to me. They took my PC this morning about 9:30 and I just got it back. They called about halfway through the day and said that the QuickBooks 2003 that had all my business information was not supported in Vista, so I paid $200 for a QuickBooks upgrade. I just paid them $150 and neither of my printers works. All my files are jumbled up. My Outlook doesn't work. Everything's a mess. They said that they could put XP back on it, but they will have to charge me for it. I don't even know how I am going to open for business tomorrow!

The first question is where can I find what I need to get my printers going. I have a Lexmark X63 and a Lexmark X2480. I could at least print receipts if I could get one of them working.

The next question will be Outlook, but I will have to see what's happened with it. I think it has reverted to an older version and it isn't set up to find my Earthlink mail.

How did I get into this?

Rebecca

 

The Lexmark X2480 is supported, still looking for the other printer. It has been discountinued so might not be available.

X2480
http://downloads.lexmark.com/cgi-pe...:569:0:0&searchLang=en&os_group=Windows Vista

Steve

 

See if this helps with the Outlook issue http://office.microsoft.com/en-us/outlook/HA010956961033.aspx

If that doesn't help, just give us the specifics. Does Outlook open, which version, any error messages, etc.

Steve

 

I actually found the Lexmark 2400 driver and downloaded it. It stops in the installation with a step called "Connect Your Computer." It says "Installation will continue automatically when USB cable is connected." DO I need to restart the computer with the USB cable disconnected and connect it at that step? I think I'll fo try that.

Rebecca

 

Nope, that didn't help. I noticed that there looks like there might be two drivers. One for Vista 64 bit and one for 32. I don't know why they would have set it up for 64, but maybe they did. I also don't know how to find out, but it's gotta be here somewhere. I'll go see if I can find out. If you come back, hollar for me.

Rebecca

 

I found that I have Vista Business 32-bit. I think the Office software (including Outlook) has changed back to the XP version. I can't find a Vista disc for the Office software. I'm trying to remember and I think I downloaded the Vista Office. I am looking for a printout from when I downloaded it, but I haven't found anything yet. The only software that shows in Control Panel, Programs and Features is the QuickBooks and Office XP Professional with FrontPage. So I paid them to wipe out everything!

Rebecca

 

It should say in system properties, but about 98 percent of the Vista installs are 32 bit.

Control Panel > System and Maintenance > System

Steve

 

I'm going home. I have a class to teach in the morning at 8:00. So I won't be back here until after ten.

Rebecca

 

Try locating your printer in the Device Manager, right-click and select properties or update driver, then select the location you downloaded the driver and see if it will install.

Steve

 

The printers don't show up in the device manager. It does show under ports the COM1 and COM2 and LPT1. Under "Oher Devices" there is the monitor and "Unknown Device."

Wait, under USB controllers it shows the two printers with yellow question marks. I tried from there and the driver installation gets to the point wehre it says connect all cables and turn printer on and installation will start automatically. It never starts. This is where I was last night when I tried restarting and unplugging and turning on in different combinations but I never got past this screen.

Rebecca

 

Well, I do know that the windows update in control panel updates everything i have connected, printers included. Vista Ultimate. ed

 

Tried it. No luck.

Rebecca

 

Try turning off your anti-virus before trying to update the driver.

If that doesn't help you might consider reinstalling the printer.

Steve

 

I had Norton and AVG, but they didn't re-install either. Unless there is something in Vista I am unprotected now. They actually had some peripherals plugged in wrong and some not plugged in at all. Yesterday I went through them all and I think I have them all plugged in correctly. I think they were so incompetant that anything is possible. How do I reinstall the printers? I will see if I can find it on the web somewhere, but I really need to do some actual work, too!

Outlook is working, but none of my addressbook or distribution lists or saved emails are there. And I still have the problem of XP Office instead of the Vista Office that I had. Do you know how to get the Vista Office back? Some spreadsheets of classes and students were made in the Vista Excel and the XP Excel can't read them. If my Access files and Word documents are somewhere, they probably won't be readable either.

Then I have to find out if there is a driver for my hp DesignJet 650C. It is an old plotter, so I don't have a lot of hope.

Rebecca

 

I found "install printer" and was able to get a peep out of the hp plotter. I have a driver disc for it, but couldn't get it to load. (I wonder if something is wrong with the disc drives?) I couldn't find any drivers to download from the internet for the plotter - not for XP or for Vista. I know I downloaded them for XP before. It did say that there would not be any for Vista, but that XP drivers might work. I was able to download a driver for a different model hp plotter and I succeeded in getting a test page printed. It was in black and white instead of color and parts of it are missing, but I think if I could get the driver off of my disc MAYBE I could use the plotter. There's a glimmer of hope.

I still desperately need to get a regular printer working. Then Vista Office.

Rebecca

 

Try this for the Excel files, https://www.microsoft.com/downloads...70-3ae9-4aee-8f43-c6bb74cd1466&displaylang=en it should let you access the 2007 files using Office XP.

Looking over the other stuff.

Steve

 

You might find the driver here http://h41186.www4.hp.com/country/us/en/support/650C.html

Click on the Drivers and software button and it takes you to a registration page.........good luck there. Do you still have your HP info?

Steve

 

Some other info that might help. I would completely uninstall The Norton product. Go thru Add/Remove in the control panel to remove it, then use the Norton Removal Tool below.

http://www.majorgeeks.com/Norton_Removal_Tool_SymNRT_d4749.html

Then, download and reinstall AVG, http://www.majorgeeks.com/AVG_Free_Edition_d886.html

Steve

 

Under Control Panel, Programs and Features (Is this the new Add and Remove Programs?) neither Norton nor AVG are listed. Doesn't that mean that Norton isn't installed anymore? Before the "work" that was done on my PC, I had to disable part of AVG to be able to receive emails. Was it still doing what I needed it to do?

Rebecca

 

I submitted a question there. What kind of info? I have one driver on a disc and the back of the plotter has the following information:

Model C2859B
SN ESB4A19102
FCC ID BSDC2858

I got the plotter reconditioned and it didn't have a manual.

Rebecca

 

Run the Norton Removal Tool and make sure that "all" the Norton product is removed, it should get rid of most of the left over files. Then install AVG.

That might take care of a few of your issues.

Steve

 

I just noticed from the web page that you had to enter some type of registration info before going to any support or downloads. I didn't know if you still had the product material for the plotter.

On the excel issue. Have you had time to use the compatability program to see if you can access those excel files?

Steve

 

Yes, I can read my files!

I tried to reinstall the 2400 printer. It is connected to a USB port, but I think I remember that it was configured at COM1 or COM2. (The plotter is LPT1.) When I select "Add a printer," I get to "Select a printer port." Do you know what I should select? (By ESP or something.) Or should I just experiment and see what happens?

Rebecca

 

Typical installs of usb printers, require one to not connect the usb printer, until the installer asks for ye to do so.

If this was already mentioned I apologize.

 

I ran the Norton removal tool, rebooted, and started downloading the AVG. It seems to be stuck at 72% downloaded. I'm going home. I think I will leave the download running and see if it has finished tomorrow morning.

Rebecca

 

I came in this morning. Computer was still on with no error messages and the AVG download wasn't running. I restarted and I don't see any sign of AVG. It's not on the bottom bar and isn't in Programs and Features. It doesn't show up in a search. Should I try it again?

Rebecca

 

Where did you save the download too? Maybe the desktop, also look in Downloads on the C: drive.

If you can't find it, download AVG again and save it to the desktop.

Steve

 

Got AVG installed. (Turned off Vista firewall.) Ran a disc scan and it said everything was okay. Still no printer. I have done everything I can think of. Could the ports be configured incorrectly? I am searching the Lexmark technical board now, but haven't seen anything.

Rebecca

 

If you have tried the different ports and still not getting anywhere I would go thru the Device Manager and remove the printer. Just make sure you have the software to reinstall the printer. After you remove the printer, unplug it from the USB and restart. After restart, plug it into the USB and let Vista detect the new hardware and follow the prompts.

You can open Device Manager by double-clicking on the System icon in Control Panel, choosing the Hardware tab, and clicking Device Manager.

Steve

 

I still think there is something weird with the set up of the ports. Where should the printer be? It doesn't show up under Printers in the Control Panel. Neither does the older Lexmark X63. In the device manager under Other Devices, there is Lexmark X63, Monitor, and Unknown Device. Both the Lexmark X63 and the Unknown Device have a yellow triangle with an exclamation point. In the device manager under Universal Serial Bus Controllers are listed:
2400 Series with a yellow triangle and !
Intel(R) 82801DB/DBM USB 2.0 Enhanced Host Controller - 24CD
Intel(R) 8201 DB/DBM USB Universal Host Controller - 24C2
Intel(R) 8201 DB/DBM USB Universal Host Controller - 24C4
Intel(R) 8201 DB/DBM USB Universal Host Controller - 24C7
USB Root Hub
USB Root Hub
USB Root Hub
USB Root Hub

Rebecca

 

Any other ideas? If I delete stuff from the device manager and restart will it magically find what it needs or will it be REALLY messed up?

Rebecca

 

1. Open Printers by clicking the Start button , clicking Control Panel, clicking Hardware and Sound, and then clicking Printers. Should be there.

2. Right-click the printer that you want to remove, and then click Delete.

If you can't delete the printer, right-click it again, click Run as administrator, and then click Delete. If you are prompted for an administrator password or confirmation, type the password or provide confirmation.

Steve

 

If it is not listed Rebecca, you might try the steps below:

Steve

 

That's what I have been doing all week. I can't delete the printer from "Printers," because it's not there. I pick "Add a Printer" and "Add a local printer" and "Choose a printer port" comes up. No matter what I choose there, on the next screen "Install a printer driver," my printer isn't there.

When I put a disc in the drive it says, "The folder you specified doesn't contain a compatible software driver for your device. If the folder contains a driver, make sure it is designed to work with Windows 32-bit systems." The printer came with two discs. When I put the other disc in the drive it acts like it is going to do something, but finally comes to a message that says, "Windows Vista not supported." Sometimes it will start the installation, it gets to a page that says, Connect your cables and turn the power on, "How is the printer connected?" and gives the choices USB cable or shared on a remote server. There are two buttons Cancel and Continue. Continue is grayed out so I can't get past this screen.

This is the printer that I downloaded a Vista driver. The file that downloads is a zipped file. If I click on it, it unzips to C:\drivers\printers\2400. It starts the installation but stops at the same "How is the printer connected." And the same two buttons Cancel and the grayed out Continue are there.

If I click Windows Update, it doesn't find anything either.

That's why I think maybe something else is wrong. Maybe it isn't plugged in the right place, but I think it is in the place it was before the idiots moved it.
That's why I asked if I deleted ports out of the device manager, would they come back correct.

Rebecca

 

What are the choices when you get the How is the printer connected? Is that where the Cancel and greyed out Continue buttons are?

I have never removed ports from the device manager, that I do not know.

Steve

 

I know you helped me before, but I have forgotten where you are in Tennessee. I'm in Kingsport.

The Lexmark technical help suggested that it might be the cable. I switched cables just in case.

The choices are USB cable or shared on a remote server. With either choice there are two buttons Cancel and Continue. And that's where Continue is grayed out so I can't get past this screen.

Am I ever going to get this working?

Rebecca

 

Trying to delete. See other message.

 

OK. Let's try this. Unplug the USB cable from the printer - restart your computer and do not plug the printer USB cable in until prompted.

Go to C:\driver\printers\2400 folder, locate and click on the file > Setup or from the START Menu go to RUN - Open: and type in > C:\drivers\printer\2400\Setup.exe. This will start the installation.

Follow the prompts, it will tell you when to plug the USB cable back in.

Ahh, the Tri-Cities. I like that area. Did some stream and water monitoring for the Kodak plant (I think it was Kodak) years ago. I am just outside of Knoxville, not that far really.

Steve

 

Yep, Kodak spun off the plant in the '90's when I worked there. Now it is Eastman Chemical Company.

Unplugged, turned off, restarted, ran setup.exe - still the same thing. When it prompted to plug in and turn on, I did and the Continue stayed grayed out.

By the way, the ancient plotter that is connected to LPT1 via parallel port is working fine as far as I can tell. The plotter is so old that hp doesn't have ANY drivers available for download online. I just randomly selected a Vista driver to download that was for a color, 36-inch printer. I suspect that the color doesn't work, but I never use color anyway. Too bad it uses expensive 36-inch roll paper!

Rebecca

 

I don't know Rebecca, maybe I am missing something here. Let me get one of the other members who has Vista look at this.

I have it on my lappy and have used my printer, external drives, and camera on the USB's without any issues.

I never asked, just assuming, is this an Vista "upgrade"? I got to thinking the other day that might be part of the problem. But, like I said, it could be something simple that I am missing.

Hang on, might be in the morning.

Steve

 

Okay, I'm about to go home. It was supposed to be an upgrade from XP, but I don't know what they really did.

Rebecca

 

OK. Maybe later on you can have something else to try.

Steve

 

When given a choice a fresh install is always best, provided you have backups of all valuable data. I am running vista ultimate without too many hitches. 3 gb ddr amd 4800 am2 plus, ati 1900 gt video card, asus m2n32 sli vista premium mobo (not a hot rod, but good). it took a little doing to get my photosmart 6180 worikng via usb, creative audigy sound card to work in surround sound. If you are able to a fresh install without sacrificing valuable data, that may be worth a try (but only as a last resort) Make sure you are able to download latest vista drivers. Others may offer alternate advice. Let us know what you decide to before you do it. HTH

Mike

 

I don't know what to do. I let some IDIOTS install Vista and I don't know what they did. I already had Vista Office running with XP, but when I got the PC back from them, I have XP Office with Vista. They apparently didn't make a back up or restore point. When they got the check from me, they said that my printers wouldn't work and I would either have to buy new printers or go back to XP - BUT they added if I wanted to go back to XP they would have to charge me. When I sat down at the keyboard and realized that almost everything I had was gone, I stopped payment on the check I had given them. I finally received an email from Lexmark and the printer that I recently bought (X2480) came with a Vista driver on disc. I have it in my hand right now. But I still can't print. Please, help me fix what they did. As you can imagine, I don't want to let anyone else screw it up worse. I can do that myself.

Rebecca

 

Here is what it said:


Intel® Chipset Identification Utility
System Information
Chipset

Detected Chipset:
Please use version 2.91 of the utility to identify your chipset

Chipset Components

Memory Controller:

Failed to identify your chipset


I/O Controller:
Intel(R) 82801DB I/O controller hub (ICH4)

Integrated Graphics:
Not Detected or Disabled

 

I tried again, same thing.

I bought my computer in 2003, but I bought it from a local place that builds them, so I guess it's not a "bought" one. I looked and there is no tag with model number or serial number.

Did I say before that the IDIOTS that I let work on it said they had to put a new Ethernet card in because the old one wasn't compatible with Vista?

Rebecca

 

Rebecca,

Download and run the utility below, maybe it will give you the info that Halo needs when he gets back on. You will be a step ahead.

Everest http://www.majorgeeks.com/download4181.html

ps. I am almost positive Halo has it working for you, he is very good.

Steve

 

Thank you, I'm downloading it, but it's taking a long time.

Rebecca