Computer Hope
Microsoft => Microsoft Windows => Windows Vista and 7 => Topic started by: Narutoman14 on December 01, 2007, 10:18:08 AM
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Hello everyone, I am having some major problems with vista.
First and foremost this comp was a hand me down, and somehow many things have happened to it beyond my understanding.
Anways here is my problem, the two seperate hard drives in the computer are on two different OS's the main drive is on Vista while the other is on XP, the big problem I think I have is that all my graphics drivers are on the XP hard drive. So anything requiring any more graphics than flash wont work. I've tried downloading the packs to be able to make my graphics card compatible but it did nothing. SO whtI want to know is 1. Is there any way to downgrade to XP? Should I reformat the computer? 2. How do I reformat Vista? 3. Is there any way to upgrade the XP drive if there is no way to downgrade.
Thanks to everyone that helps me out.
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So, you have a dual-boot configuration on that computer and you can boot either OS, right? In other words, during startup, you can choose which OS to boot?
What problems are you having with Vista? Any problems with XP?
So anything requiring any more graphics than flash wont work.
Is this referring to Vista or XP?
You have a genuine Microsoft Windows XP CD, right?
What are the hardware specs on that computer? Maybe it's not a good machine for running Vista.
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Also, do you really need dual boot?
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I'm sorry let me clarify, the XP does not work at all, when my comp boots up is asks me to choose an OS, but it only gives me the options of Vista and "an earlier version of windows" whenever i try to boot the earlier version it shuts itself down and wont let me access the drive. As for the Graphics card not workig that is a vista problem. I don't know how to get vista to read my Graphics card I tried downloading patches for the card but the programs said the patch was downloaded already and didnt help at all.
edit: Also the dual boot thing was not my Idea when this comp was given to me it was already like that. And the problem is I can't access the had drive with XP at all.
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What are the hardware specs on that computer? Maybe it's not a good machine for running Vista.
...to start with.
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How do i find the system specs?
As of now I think this is what your looking for:
Processor: AMD Athlon 3200+, 2199 Mhz
Total Physical memory: 446.94 Mb
available phys mem: 64.89 MB
total virtual memory: 1.41 GB
available virtual memory: 825.84 MB
I'm not suhow to fnd anything else. -_-
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One way would be to download, install, and run Belarc Advisor (http://www.belarc.com/free_download.html).
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Get Everest: http://www.majorgeeks.com/download4181.html
After install go Computer>Summary, then Report>Quick Report-Summary, save it as text file, and paste it back here. In that text file, you don't need to post anything below Debug - PCI line.
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We posted at the same time. Either one will do.
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operating system: Windows Vista Home Basic (build 6000)
system model:Compaq Presario 061 PC136A-ABA SR1150NX NA430 0nB1411RE101KELUT00
System Serial Number: MXK4241R5R
Enclosure Type: Desktop
Processor:2.20 gigahertz AMD Athlon XP
128 kilobyte primary memory cache
512 kilobyte secondary memory cache
Main Circuit Board:Board: ASUSTek Computer INC. Kelut 2.02
Bus Clock: 200 megahertz
BIOS: Phoenix Technologies, LTD 3.03 02/09/2004
Drives:203.92 Gigabytes Usable Hard Drive Capacity
100.26 Gigabytes Hard Drive Free Space
_NEC DVD+RW ND-2100AD ATA Device [CD-ROM drive]
ASUS CD-S480/AH ATA Device [CD-ROM drive]
Memory Modules:448 Megabytes Installed Memory
Slot 'A0' has 512 MB
Slot 'A1' is Empty
Display:RADEON 9200 SE Family (Microsoft Corporation - XDDM) [Display adapter]
RADEON 9200 SE SEC Family (Microsoft Corporation - XDDM) [Display adapter]
Standard VGA Graphics Adapter [Display adapter]
ViewSonic A71f+ [Monitor] (16.3"vis, s/n P3P044304021, October 2004)
Bus adapters:Microsoft iSCSI Initiator
VIA Rev 5 or later USB Universal Host Controller (4x)
VIA USB Enhanced Host Controller
Maxtor 6L200P0 [Hard drive] (203.93 GB) -- drive 1, s/n L40YPLEH, rev BAH41G10, SMART Status: Healthy
Maxtor 6Y200P0 [Hard drive] (203.93 GB) -- drive 0, s/n Y62WDH0E, rev YAR41BW0, SMART Status: Healthy
I think thats good enough right Sorry it took so long.
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512 MB of RAM should work OK with XP, but it's not enough for Vista. I'd say 1GB minimum, but you'd prefer 2GB.
Then, there is something unclear here:
Memory Modules:448 Megabytes Installed Memory
Slot 'A0' has 512 MB
Display:RADEON 9200 SE Family (Microsoft Corporation - XDDM) [Display adapter]
RADEON 9200 SE SEC Family (Microsoft Corporation - XDDM) [Display adapter]
Standard VGA Graphics Adapter [Display adapter]
Where is 64MB of RAM? It looks to me, that someone installed Radeon video card without disabling on-board graphics. That's how I see missing 64MB of RAM.
Maybe someone else will correct me.
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Yeah I wish I could help I just copied what the program gave me.....
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Go to Device Manager, and post what is listed there under "Display Adapters".
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ok what I see is this
Radeon 9200 SE Family
Radeon 9200 SE SEC family
Standard VGA Graphics Adapter(has a yellow triangle with an exclamation point on the icon over the computer pic)
sorry I have to head out for a moment I'll be back in about half an hour
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If the info at http://www.shopping.com/xPF-Compaq-COMPAQ-SR1150NX-DESKTOP-PC is correct, that computer has onboard video and an AGP slot. I suspect onboard video needs to be disabled, since you have an AGP video card (the Radeon 9200 SE) installed. The 64MB difference between RAM actually installed (512MB) and memory Windows reports (448MB) indicates the onboard is set to use 64MB of system memory, and that has not been disabled.
Can you access the BIOS and look for an option to disable onboard video?
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Standard VGA Graphics Adapter
This is most likely your on-board graphic adapter. Right click on it, and post what options you have there (say also, which ones are grayed out).
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the big problem I think I have is that all my graphics drivers are on the XP hard drive
Why do you think so?
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sorry ill check when i get back
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alright sorry im back, but as to why I thought the graphics drivers were on the other HD was the fact that nothing was working, so i thought that might of been the problem
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oh and on the devic manager when I right click it i see
update driver software
disable
uninstall
scan for hardware changes
properties
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For now, go "disable", restart your computer, and report:
- is yellow question mark still present in Device manager?
- run Belarc again, and repost this section:
Memory Modules:448 Megabytes Installed Memory
Slot 'A0' has 512 MB
Slot 'A1' is Empty
Display:RADEON 9200 SE Family (Microsoft Corporation - XDDM) [Display adapter]
RADEON 9200 SE SEC Family (Microsoft Corporation - XDDM) [Display adapter]
Standard VGA Graphics Adapter [Display adapter]
ViewSonic A71f+ [Monitor] (16.3"vis, s/n P3P044304021, October 2004)
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that nothing was working
What EXACTLY is "nothing"?
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by nothing I meant anything in terms of graphics capability, like games or any programs that required a graphics card, but ill try what you said be back in a moment
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OK
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OS:Windows Vista Home Basic (build 6000)
System Model:Compaq Presario 061 PC136A-ABA SR1150NX NA430 0nB1411RE101KELUT00
System Serial Number: MXK4241R5R
Enclosure Type: Desktop
Processor:2.20 gigahertz AMD Athlon XP
128 kilobyte primary memory cache
512 kilobyte secondary memory cache
Main Circuit Board:Board: ASUSTek Computer INC. Kelut 2.02
Bus Clock: 200 megahertz
BIOS: Phoenix Technologies, LTD 3.03 02/09/2004
Drives:203.92 Gigabytes Usable Hard Drive Capacity
100.09 Gigabytes Hard Drive Free Space
_NEC DVD+RW ND-2100AD ATA Device [CD-ROM drive]
ASUS CD-S480/AH ATA Device [CD-ROM drive]
Maxtor 6L200P0 [Hard drive] (203.93 GB) -- drive 1, s/n L40YPLEH, rev BAH41G10, SMART Status: Healthy
Maxtor 6Y200P0 [Hard drive] (203.93 GB) -- drive 0, s/n Y62WDH0E, rev YAR41BW0, SMART Status: Healthy
Memory Modules: 448 Megabytes Installed Memory
Slot 'A0' has 512 MB
Slot 'A1' is Empty
Display:RADEON 9200 SE Family (Microsoft Corporation - XDDM) [Display adapter]
RADEON 9200 SE SEC Family (Microsoft Corporation - XDDM) [Display adapter]
Standard VGA Graphics Adapter [Display adapter]
ViewSonic A71f+ [Monitor] (16.3"vis, s/n P3P044304021, October 2004)
Controllers:ATA Channel 0 [Controller] (2x)
ATA Channel 1 [Controller] (2x)
VIA Bus Master IDE Controller - 0571
VIA Serial ATA Controller - 3149
Bus adapters:Microsoft iSCSI Initiator
VIA Rev 5 or later USB Universal Host Controller (4x)
VIA USB Enhanced Host Controller
Multimedia:Logitech Mic (Communicate STX)
Realtek AC'97 Audio for VIA (R) Audio Controller
is that everything?
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As soybean said, you may need to BIOS, but before you do so, go back to Device Manager>Display Adapter, right click on Standard VGA Graphics Adapter [Display adapter], but this time click "Uninstall".
Reboot.
- check Device Manager, if it's still listed
- repost Belarc....we just need this section:
Memory Modules: 448 Megabytes Installed Memory
Slot 'A0' has 512 MB
Slot 'A1' is Empty
Display:RADEON 9200 SE Family (Microsoft Corporation - XDDM) [Display adapter]
RADEON 9200 SE SEC Family (Microsoft Corporation - XDDM) [Display adapter]
Standard VGA Graphics Adapter [Display adapter]
ViewSonic A71f+ [Monitor] (16.3"vis, s/n P3P044304021, October 2004)
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alright and sorry reposting the whole thing
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sorry reposting the whole thing
Ehh...it's alright.
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Memory Module: 448 Megabytes Installed Memory
Slot 'A0' has 512 MB
Slot 'A1' is Empty
Display: RADEON 9200 SE SEC Family (Microsoft Corporation - XDDM) [Display adapter]
Standard VGA Graphics Adapter [Display adapter] (2x)
ViewSonic A71f+ [Monitor] (16.3"vis, s/n P3P044304021, October 2004)
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What does Device Manager say under "Display Adapters"?
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Radeon 9200 SE SEC
Standard VGA Graphics Adapter
Standard VGA Graphics Adapter (this has the yellow icon)
and yes it is on there twice
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In that case, you'll need to go to BIOS, and disable it.
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how do I do that?
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I think, it's gonna be F10 key, when your computer restarts. At Compaq logo, at the bottom of your screen, you'll see for very short time, something like "Press F10 to enter setup".
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kk and what do i do from there?
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You'll have to look around. Look for something like "disable onboard VGA"
When you find it, don't forget to save changes, before you exit BIOS.
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should I be worried that the other Radeon thing is off of the device manager?
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Is it off in Device Manager? If it is, leave it that way for now.
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kk ill go and try it
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Good luck..
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hmmm i did not find anything like that..... I did find onboard video adapter but it was on PCI instead of default or soething like that, I didnt mess with it though...don't want to destroy my comp >_<
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I did find onboard video adapter but it was on PCI instead of default or soething like that
I don't want to give any advice about "something" in BIOS.
You need to write it down, with options, you have there, and post it back.
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k brb
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I just found out, that because your Radeon card is AGP type card, upon installing, your onboard video should get disabled automatically.
Don't worry about your BIOS, then.
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alright here is everything I think could have to do with video settings,
1.Primary video Adapter is set to PCI th other selection is AGP/Onboard
2.I don't know what this is but it says onboard 1394 is disabled
3.onboard video memory is set to auto
4.Plug & Play OS is set to on
description said exactly this
"[yes] is using a plug & play capable operating system, select [no] if you need BIOS to configure non-bootable devices
other than that nothing else seemed important or relevant
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oh....ok then, unfortunately I stil dont know what is wrong
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and does that mean that losing the one section on the device manager with the other Radeon card setting is bad?
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Primary video Adapter is set to PCI th other selection is AGP/Onboard
In that case, you'll have to go back to BIOS, and switch primary video to AGP/onboard. Because your video CARD (Radeon) is AGP type, it'll autimatically disable onboard video.
Do that, restart, go to Device Manager, and see what is on, what is off under Display adapters.
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alrighty and once again exit stage BIOS lol
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It takes time, sometimes, to figure things out.
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actually i tried doing what you said and it switched graphics card to its original, so yeah, thanks to a friend it was fixed
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i actaully thought i messed something up till he showed me what to do....
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So, how is everything overall?
Is your Radeon card set in Device Manager on, and VGA display on?
We still need to do something about your XP hard drive, don't we?
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yeah at least I would like to upgrade it to vista case that seems like the only option, caue i dont think its possible t downgrade right, also it says in the device manager that the drivers arent working so im finding the drivers as we speak
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actual my friend thinks he can help so im gonna try his thing and get back on later, thanks for all the help ^_^
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You're welcome :)
Be aware, that there are no Vista drivers for your card at ATI site:
http://ati.amd.com/support/driver.html
You can try either XP driver, or beta driver from here:
http://drivers.softpedia.com/get/GRAPHICS-BOARD/ATI/ATI-Catalyst-Video-Driver-Beta-Vista-RC1.shtml