Pensionada

The problem is solved. I ran fdisk /mbr and used a copy of the official recovery disc that someone mailed me. Thank you for your help.

Let me add another piece to the puzzle. Because I did not have any other ideas, I tried to install ME (Millenium Edition)and this was accepted as upgrade to 98SE without any problem .... and it is running quite nice, be it somewhat slow, but, hey, this is a 200MHz computer with 32MB memory. I will continue with the installation; then if all continues to go well, check with the owner on Monday and leave the **** thing at ME. Not that I like ME but ... So I will stop playing with 98SE for the moment. Thank you very much for your help and valuable assistance.

I tried to skip the msmouse step and that did not make any difference: it still crashed and I thus conclude that the crash has nothing to do with the mouse. So, I looked at the hardware devices again (in safe mode -configuration screen) PS my naming may be off, as my system is not in English ... and noticed something weird with the network adaptor: it looked installed but on the next line (if you open it up) it did not show any adaptor: that line was empty. So, I de-installed the network adaptor. As I wanted to install by hand, I looked for the CD in "my computer" and then noticed that the system does not see the CD-drive at all, although the software was installed using it... Then, when I tried to start Windows, it gives a series of error messages that have to do with the missing network adaptor, I guess: vnetsup.vxd, dfs.vxd etc. then tells me that it cannot start windows and crashes. Same in safe mode-step by step., but I can still go in safe mode directly. However, what to do? I cannot re-install the network driver, do not see any other peripherals, do not see the audio driver either. Normally, I would say: re-install, but this is a clean install that I have tried several times and always comes up with the same problems. Someone, keeps on telling me that I should simply order and use the Compaq recovery discs, but I am not convinced that if I spent the money, that it would work. Your opinion and advice, please PS I have tried downloading and installing several of the sp's that Compaq indicates on the page that Charles suggested (had already gone through that before I posted) but nothing seems to work. The last install was after I ran SP8875.

Very good suggestion! I tried loading safe mode in step-by-syep mode: the first part goes ok; then it start loading the device drivers of windows: - javasup ok - vrtwd.386 ok - vfixd.vxd ok - msmouse.vxd CRASH So, now we know where the problem might be, but what is the solution ??

The symptoms are a crash at the end of the installation (blank screen: _ cursor blinking at top left); start-up (normal) does the same; however, start-up (safe mode) works, but does not show any missing drivers or other errors. Anyway, I am not very familiair with safe mode. Procedure that I followed was: fdisk, format, boot from W98-CD I tried several times with different CD's (English and Dutch): no difference.

I am trying to re-install W98SE on an old Compaq Pessario 2240. This does not succeed, apparently because the Compaq hardware requires something special. HP is willing to deliver a copy of the recovery discs for only Euro 38.50 but I would like to save money for my (elderly) client. (My services are for free). Can anybody help me how to get around this? Thanks Rob

Sounds like the right direction: I have asked the user to drop his computer at my place and will start checking the drivers. Will come back if that is not the answer. Thank you.

One of my seniorweb clients reports: (Win XP Home) The standby/hibernate button (system turn off) has become grey. When going to <control panel><power options> the hibernate tab has also disappeared as well the bottom options in power schemes (the one that set system standby and system hibernate). It may have happened during the installation of new printer drivers but the user does not want to restore as apparently it took a long time to find and install the correct new drivers. Can anybody advise how to get the power management back?

Ok, clear. I do not work in a company but help senior people with their computers. Mostly old systems and slow stuff. This one is a relatively new laptop (about 3 years old with enough speed, memory and all). I would guess that the Windows Installer is OK as it was updated by the regular Windows update process. That process installs all the Windows XP updates (the weekly ones) without problem (it is genuine) but fails on all Office2003 updates.

Sorry André, I do not understand your question. What is an administrative installation? The installation was done the standard way from a CD: put it in, accept a couple of times, enter the code, etc.

Since some time, my system refuses to install MS Office 2003 security updates. The download (initiated by automatice update or manually; I have tried both) works fine, but the installation fails. Every time, the system sends an automatic messages to MS but I do not get any clue or advice how to install the updates. Typically, the system keeps on offering to install these updates but it never succeeds. Please help

Windows 2000 SP4 Every time the system starts, it will not start the USB driver (ALi PCI to USB Open Host controller): yellow exclamation mark in configuration-system-hardware. My solution is to have the system re-install the driver automatically. That works fine and the connected peripherals (printer and scanner) work OK. But after system switch-off, the problem re-appears. I have looked in the services but cannot find anything appropriate. Any suggestions?

What you may want to do is to load Open Office on your system (http://www.openoffice.org/) The writer in it has pretty much the same features and buttons and is totally compatible with Word and it is free! PS Make sure that you save in Word format!

Could you please explain to me how I should make an XP installation disc with the HP/Compaq files. Should I make a new nlite run and then add them? How do I select an alternate folder? I have not seen that option anywhere during my tries? Thanks Rob Could you please supply subtitles in English? Please have pity with a dumb foreigner. Thanks

Actually I am not even sure which drivers are missing. During the unsuccessful re-installation of Windows it asks for a whole bunch of files that it apparently needs but are not on my XP disc. In other words I do not have a clue which drivers are missing. Anyway, I have ordered the official recovery dics from HP/Compaq which should allow me to re-install. Do you have any advice on how to install so that I would not lose data?

I replaced the Linksys card and the problem disappeared. Conclusion: it was indeed a hardware problem! Thanks for all support

Well thanks for the advice, but it put me in deep, deep s***. I followed up, but the installation misses all kinds of files (this is a Compaq laptop) and crashed. Without those files, only available on official Compaq recovery discs, installation cannot continue. As is, the system cannot be started at all. I have ordered the recovery discs thru HP but once I get them what should I do? I am afraid that when I just boot and install from these, that I will lose the data files and all. Any good advice?

DHCP settings are OK; there is no way to set number of connections I followed up on this; downloaded newer software which did not make much difference. However, when switching off the built-in Win Zero conf client and using the Linksys monitor it does connect, BUT "the Internet cannot be found". So, I disabled the Linksys antenna and put the laptop (BenQ) USB antenna in. After manually starting the Zero config client, it worked fine. Then, I took the BenQ out again and enabled the Linksys. In Windows zero config client, I had the same problem as before (no connection, as it gets no IP address); starting via the Linksys monitor it does connect; IPCONFIG shows the proper IP addresses, but it still tells me: "You are connected to the access point, but the Internet cannot be found". So, is the conclusion that the Linksys antenna is broken or??

I have fooled around a lot with old slow systems as yours. As long as you are not expecting too much XP will run in 128MB, but a much better solution in your case would be to use Windows 2000. I bet that Office2003 would run on W2K. Btw, why would you want Office2003 rather than Office XP or even Office 2000? It really doe not bring much in my (humble) opinion.

I am still struggling with my WiFi set-up: Router is Zyxel 2602HW with the latest firmware (just updated) My desktop is using a Linksys antenna; my laptop uses a BenQ USB-link. Both computers are on XP Pro SP2 and have identical settings for networking. After the firmware change (recommended by the ADSL provider), the laptop works perfect; the desktop has real problems getting on-line. What happens is that although it tells me that the signal is very good, it does not get an IP-address from the network and thus does not function. Just leave it for anywhere between 5 and 100 minutes and all of a sudden, it will get an IP-address and work, for some time. Some time, because without any apparent reason, it loses the connection and seems to have lost its IP-address again. But, after 5 to 30 minutes, it will come back .... Because it always gets the same IP-address (192.168.1.35) anyway, I have tried entering that in the settings instead of having it assigned by the router. That seemed to work: it showed me that I am then connected, but that is not really useful as I cannot get to the internet that way, because it then does not have a DNS address ( I have no idea what to enter for it) The wireless signal is great; I have reloaded the software just to make sure. I have no idea what to do/check next: the settings must be OK, as otherwise I would not get a connection ever and the laptop is doing OK. Any suggestions?

G'day to you all out there. I need advice. I have a friend's laptop which is running XP Pro SP2 (up-to-date with fiexes and stuff) which is refusing to close properly at times. I have not been able to figure out what is causing the problem, so I would like to re-install XP, just to make sure. However, my installation CD is XP Pro SP1, and the system refuses to install telling me that the disc is older, which is true, of course. My questions: 1) how do I overcome this? 2) if I force the re-install, will I have to re-install all other programs? 3) Any other things that I have to take into consideration? Thanks Rob

I found the problem. The installation disc (BenQ) for the USB antenna contains 5 drivers for the same device (heaven knows why; it is not explained anywhere); if you select the 1st one, as will happen if you are not fast enough, the driver will load OK, but not allow connection. All of the others seem to function correctly. This is about the most stupid thing that I have ever seen .... on the BenQ support site I did not find anything. Thank you all for your advices and sorry to have bothered you with something this trivial. Have a great weekend Rob

I have even switched off the whole encryption off, just to make sure. No difference. And, there is no MAC filtering, and even it there was, it would not make any difference, because I have only one USB-antenna which I am using for all systems. Thank you for your thoughts, though. Please, keep the good ideas coming! BTW, when fiddling with the router, I saw a channel setting there (7). Can I set this also in Windows? Does this have anything to do with my problem?

yes, DHCP is switched on yep, set on automatic and just to make sure, I restarted it manually; no luck

Thank you all for the warm welcome! Rob