Have you backed up your hard drive lately?

Our hard drive for the shop at Cater Express warned us with "Hard drive failure imminent, press F1 to save any data"...of course F1 did not work, because the hard drive was DOA.

The affordable HP Compaq Presario I opted for was manufactured with Vista. Which did not work with any peripherals at all - zip, nadda, not-a-one. So I put sturdy Windows XP over the Vista operating system so as to have a funtional computer. Alas, the folks at HP decided to make this a feat of hoops not to be surpassed by any other install.

We opt to run our files off of Google Documents, for this reason alone. The access issues from any computer for word, pdf and excel files is priceless.

Here is a quick run down of what an XP install over a Vista machine is...and it doesn't ever work on the first or second try:

COMPAQ PRESARIO F700 AND G6000 SERIES WITH A AMD PROCESSOR (ONLY) XP DRIVERS
Please follow farther down the thread to select your exact seriesCHIPSET:http://www.nvidia.com/object/nforce_...nxp_16.08.htmlDO NOT RUN THE SOFTWARE (SETUP EXE FILE). Instead, download the file and extract the files to a folder. Manually install the SM BUS controller (SM Bus Folder) and the Coprocessor (SMU Folder) through the device manager. DO NOT install the LAN driver. Results will be a BSOD.Download and install, then REBOOT.VIDEO:http://drivers.softpedia.com/get/GRA...Go-15655.shtmlDownload and install, then REBOOT.LAN:http://www.nvidia.com/object/nforce_...p2k_14.10.htmlDO NOT RUN THE SOFTWARE (SETUP EXE FILE). Instead, download the file and extract the files to a folder. Manually install the LAN Driver through the device manager.You should beable to get ON-LINEvia your LAN connection. DO a full MS Update. You will need XP SP2. DO NOTinstall SP3 until ALL your drivers are installed and running correctly.You will also need:Net. Framework 2.0. This can be downloaded here:http://www.microsoft.com/downloads/d...displaylang=enInstall and REBOOT.Once this is done you may proceed:ATHEROS WLAN:http://www.atheros.cz/download.php?a...007EG&system=1Download and run SETUP EXE., then REBOOT.orBROADCOM WLAN:http://h10025.www1.hp.com/ewfrf/wc/g...s&lc=en&dlc=enDownload and run SETUP EXE., then REBOOT.The Broadcom Wlan is untested as most of these laptops have the Atheros Wlan.MS UAA:http://h10025.www1.hp.com/ewfrf/wc/s...3180330&dlc=enDownload and run SETUP EXE., then REBOOT.AUDIO:http://www.mediafire.com/?dg0cmmkm4y4Extract Files to a folder. Run the installer. If it errors upon installation use device Manager.From Device Manager, right click "Audio Device on HD".Choose Update driver.Check no to connect.Install from a list or specific location.Don't search I will choose the driver to install.In the list of common hardware types, scroll down and select Sound, Video, and Game controllers.Remove the check from "Show Compatible Hardware" and click on "Have Disk".Next...browse to the unzipped folder and choose the "WiSVHe5.inf".Ignore XP when it complains.REBOOT.MODEM:http://h10025.www1.hp.com/ewfrf/wc/s...3180330&dlc=enExtract Files to a folder. Manually install the modem driver through the device manager (Similar to the AUDIO Driver)and REBOOTThe following drivers maybe installed in any order:CARD READER:http://h10025.www1.hp.com/ewfrf/wc/g...reg_R1002_USENDownload and run SETUP EXE., then REBOOT.QUICK LAUNCH BUTTONS:http://h10025.www1.hp.com/ewfrf/wc/g...reg_R1002_USENDownload and run SETUP EXE., then REBOOT.


www.Cater-Express.com