[Brookston]

I realize my own hurry-up, crude deletion methods got me into this mess...now, as it turns out, I want to give this old Gateway XP computer to a friend rather than simply trashing it. I've been getting an error message that the AHQ files are missing...specifically, all the files (whatever they may be) in the directory path: SharedDLL/AHQ.

That may not be all that's wrong, but it's what I know about so far. The Creative site indicates that this product line has passed into the land of unsupportability. I am presently running a trial version of PC Tools File Recovery to see if anything pertinent shows up...in which case, I'll be over their barrel to the tune of 40 bucks.

Is there any OTHER way to repair this problem without my being responsible enough to have kept a disc where I could actually FIND it?

I'll acccept even discouraging feedback rather than dead silence. Lurkers feel free to pile on.

Perhaps I should recommend a new sound card and accompanying software to my free computer recipient friend.

Just thought I'd shoot this out there to see if anyone knows anything about this kind of thing. Thanks.

[GTechWiz]

Have you tried Windows Recovery?

(ie. Restore)

Have you tried to roll back your driver to an earlier install?

Before you turn to 3rd party software, which by the way you can get most software FOR FREE that you need to fix computers, REMEMBER THIS! www.download.com

There are like a slew of options, doesn't Gateway have Gateway Go Back? I thought gateway made you make a driver disc when you first loaded it up?

Don't tell me you can't get drivers from Gateway, that would be insane!

[Brookston]

All the files I would have needed to perform these things are already GONE. Rollback not possible. GoBack not possible. I suppose I don't deserve the help because I can't find the disks which I painfully realize I should have. I may have already tossed them because...I just wanted to get all personal things off this thing and I thought I'd take it to the dump and the thing would be ravaged for parts. The interest of a friend gave the machine a stay of execution. I can't seem to succeed in getting rid of an SQL error message at startup and a "looking for AHQ" files in SharedDLL directory. If my friend want's this thing, he'll have to hit cancel on those and use what he can. I've alreay spent too much time. Lesson learned: remove files properly. Have a nice day.

BTW: Thanks for the tip on downloads.com. I found some very handy things there. Freeware (belarc?) performed awesome detailed reporting on the machine. Frankly, unless I find the disc(s) for this particular machine, it is as I've said above. Thanks for the input.