Summary: There are some steps to try if you need to install hardware and do not have your Windows XP CD.
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I bought an HP 854n media center computer with Windows XP pro. A year later I had to give it to a friend to clean it out, totally, and he said that he could give the comp back to me, but with no sound. In order to get sound, I would need an installation disk. I do not have any "winnt32.exe" like you suggested I look for in an I386 folder. Nothing is there, so what can I do to get my sound back? |
The good news is that there are some steps to try. The bad news is that you may need an installation CD anyway. The good news is that it may be OK to borrow one.
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These are the steps I would try:
Run that add hardware wizard. There is actually a possibility that the software required is already on your machine and that "it will just work". Admittedly a small possibility, but worth trying.
Update the drivers. Or rather, pretend that the hardware was already installed, go visit the manufacturer's site for updated drivers, and follow their installation instructions. In this case, I'd visit either the HP website or the website for the manufacturer of the sound card.
Borrow an installation CD from a friend. Presumably you already have a licensed and working copy of Windows XP and all you're adding is support for additional hardware. There's no piracy involved here; it's quite legitimate to borrow an installation CD and use it when the hardware installation process asks for one.
The moral of the story is simple, though:
Insist on getting a valid Windows XP Installation CD when you purchase your system, even if Windows is already installed.
Save that disk in a safe place. You'll need it in the future. Make a copy to your hard drive if you like, but save the CD.
Related:
Article C2104 - July 8, 2004
I have a pc that needs a fresh installation cd.
Posted by: harry at March 4, 2007 3:10 AMHas anyone any recommendations for where do we get them?
Any links etc would be appreciated.
Also some knowledge on Iso image file as i believe in order to make it bootable it must be an iso?
See this is all fine and well unless your replacing the motherboard and memory.YES replacing the memory not adding some.The recovery cd/dvd you make, when your factory made scam machine with OEM windows tells you to, when you turn it on, is not a windows installation cd/dvd.It only installs based on the factory registered memory, if your memory is changed then you need to borrow someone elses full version cd with there key, to install, then change it back to your key.
Posted by: lookingATlinuxCosWindowsIsAscam at April 13, 2007 2:35 AMWith a most likely illegal however totally nessacary program, before getting updates or you wont get em.Why should we buy windows again?We paid for it with our pc, if we decide to upgrade the memory then we have to pay off more of bill gates yacht?I dont think so.....
Hi.I have a home pc and a laptop.I done a stupid thing when i was restoring my laptop and pulled the battery off as the restore was taking to long and now i keep getting a message saying "STOP: (unable to locate commane)
Posted by: Alex at April 25, 2007 9:05 AMThis application has failed to start because winsrv was not found. Re-installing the application may fix this problem".what does that mean and both computers came with windows xp installed on them so what am i too do?????Please help me as i need my laptop for tafe and it has all my disabled daughters information time tables on my laptop as we use it for the pediatrician visits and speech therapy.
My problem: I deleted the content of folder c:\windows\driver cache\i386 and now (after some time) I accidentaly uninstalled my printer. Now I installed printer back (from my original CD) and the instalation process went without problems. But when I print a document, the printer doesn't print it. I managed to print test page directly from printer, but not from my PC.
Could this problem be connected with my deleting of i386 folder? How to fix it (I don't have the XP CD)?
Posted by: mersault at June 6, 2007 2:29 AMI have a satelite Laptop (L15 S104)and windows xp home edition was preinstalled on it. My computer crashed and states the following; Windows could not start because of an error in the software. Please report this problem as: load needed DLLs for kernel. Please contact your support person to reprort this problem.
Can you please tell me how to resolve this problem without a cd rom?
Thank you for your anticipated cooperation.
Posted by: wayne at December 31, 2007 10:11 PMI have an old computer that broke one day,i got an Windows Vista,but i want my XP back,i need to reinstallation Windows Xp on the old computer,but i don't have an CD..and i don't have the file backed up anywhere,so i Do need an Cd..here is my question,Where do i get one? i don't have an "friend" to get one from,i looked around on the web and i see some for $100.00 or $50.00 but i'm not sure if that is the right price..do they really cost that much? and were is the best place to get on? Thank you
Posted by: Steffanie at September 28, 2008 4:09 PMHi, I need to know if any one can tell me is A Gateway ATX Tower BRO Essential 566c can handle Windows xp, Mine has Windows 98 right now the system has never been upgraded, I would like to put Windows xp on it but do not know how to do it or where i could find the hardware to upgrade it, ANy advice??
Posted by: Betty C at October 22, 2008 9:53 AMI reinstalled my Windows XP and i don't have sound. I can't install drivers of my soun card. Why? Thx
Posted by: nedim at December 19, 2008 7:34 AMI can't get on my computer at all. My gateway won't let me past the windows activation screen and I don't have the cd or activation id. I need to know how to download this information to my pc somehow and transfer it to another pc.
Posted by: ira at March 11, 2009 11:20 PMi have connected my flash disk, and my computer detected it, but i can't have any access to it, even in MY COMPUTER, there's no, removable disk inserted, and i looked in the address bar, but there's nothing in there. it always happen in any of my flash disk, please help me with this.. thanks a lot..
Posted by: Carl at April 26, 2009 11:29 PM