[computertriage]

Not sure if this is the right place for this post but here goes. I have an HP Pavilion 551w, was running Windows XP Home, P4 1.60Ghz, 128 Mb RAM. 40 GB HD. We had to reload windows and all went well. When windows was finished loading the video and audio drivers were not loaded. I FINALLY got the drivers from HP. I rebooted the computer and it gets to the Microsoft Windows XP screen with the status bar running across the bottom and will sit there as long as I let it. (3 hours max then I shut it off) I can boot in safe mode ok and go all the way to the desktop and even access the internet. But when I try to boot regular it will not go past the first Windows screen.

I have used 7 different Windows XP Home CD's. I have tried Windows Repair, I have also removed all the partitions and loaded from scratch. Same results each time. I then removed all the partitions again and then tried to load a new copy of Windows XP Pro and got the exact same results.

I know the ram is low but I have never seen it not boot up because of it.

Any ideas would greatly be appreciated.
Thanks so much.

[Byteman]

Hi,

I have an HP 513c and it came with a version of XP Home without Service Pack 2 so, before installing SP2, it was advised to check at the HP support site for some driver updates and program updates which were produced to allow SP2 to install on HP machines. I am not sure, haven't actually looked yet, but this may be the problem since more than likely you have installed XP using a disk including SP2 or possibly, SP3.

The video and sound drivers were 2 of the ones needing pre-SP2 Updates so I would try and see if this is the case for y our machine.....

Your HP has a lot of the same software mine has, which needed Updates before installing SP2

I always use the original Recovery disks....install all the Updates from HP you see at the HP support site for the hardware and programs I have. Install SP2 from a Microsoft CD....and install everything else.



Your system support and drivers are here:

http://h10025.www1.hp.com/ewfrf/wc/s...=77629&lang=en


Here is the document about "What to do before you installl Service Pack 2"

It's one thing that should be available at the main page for Drivers...but isn't!


I see that you are using regular XP Home edition disks...and have tried 7......so why not take a break and use the Recovery disks?

If you do not have them, you can still get them for about $28....not from HP most likely but from a site where I get them from time to time (for Hp and Compaqs only) they have good quality Recovery sets.

www.computersurgeons.com <<That cost includes shipping!

[computertriage]

Thanks Byteman for the info.

All of the CD's I tried that were XP Home included SP2 already. The CD of XP Pro has SP 3 on it.

I went to the site you listed and downloaded everything that was a patch, update, etc. I had been to that site before but had not downloaded any patches just a few drivers from there. I ran everything I downloaded. Most of them errored out because they said I had an incorrect SP on the computer. Two of them did however complete. I rebooted the computer as they suggested and I still have the same problem. I can get to the desktop and work all day long in safe mode but it just sits at the first windows screen and the little status bar runs across the bottom when I try to boot up normally..

I was not provided any restore CD's with this computer. The owner says he has none and there is no recovery partition on the hard drive. That would have been nice. I am suppose to have this ready to go by tomorrow (Friday) or Saturday at the latest so purchasing HP Restore CD's, which is probably a good idea, is not possible.

Is there anyhing else that you think I might be able to try? I do not understand why this is acting this way. Could the low RAM possibly have anything to do with it? I have never seen that affect boot up like this but hey, who knows.

Thanks for your help.

[Byteman]

Hi,

Originally Posted by computertriage

The CD of XP Pro has SP 3 on it.

That would be the problem- SP3 , and if as I think you meant it was the last install made? SP2 alone is enough to
cause problems on these older HP models... the software and drivers have definite problems and it sounds like that has happened to you.

Thes service packs in your case are not removable like they would be if they were added separately after the basic XP install.

The patches are not to be run after the SP2 they are for before you install SP2. They will not correct anything afterward.....

With all the times you have reinstalled it looks like a hardware issue to me....or there was something connected during the install that shoul not be. ONly have a mouse, keyboard and monitor connected during the install. NO other drives, added peripherals, printers, etc.

The original configuration with Recovery partition is long gone....only the Recovery disks can put that back.... It is something that you may have to push a little to get the owner to let you try.....but I think I would try.

The Recovery disks do install some HP items like HP UPdate, which is highly not needed...but those can easily be simply UNinstalled normally.

I suggest you rule out a hardware issue... is the inside of the case clean of dust? All fans working? Cables on correctly....was anything moved or disconnected?

Re-seat the RAM modules (take them carefully out and replace in slots making sure they click down tight).

Blow canned air through power supply, heat sink of processor, clear vents of dust.

Other than that it would be a matter of testing components or replacing them one by one. HP motherboards are also famous for failing due to swollen or leaking capacitors on the system boards....look at especially the rows of caps along the CPU as they tend to start puffing up on top and it only takes one or two to result in non-booting. Eventually if it gets the right capacitor the board will not POST, you see no video at all on screen, but can hear fans running and drives spin but no video at all. That's a blown motherboard. I have replaced these, in HPs, with the exact same HP boards with great success.

I have had HPs that would go through the install like you say and then they would just hang when starting up....eventually, they get to the no video stage. Look for bad caps.