HELP!!!!!! IT Advice needed

[eirian]

My DH has managed to contract a virus on his PC. Trouble is, his PC didn't have a validated version of XP on it, so he's not been able to download current virus scans etc to clear it. So we've had to buy a new copy of XP (that we can validate) - and reformat his harddrive.

He's installed his new XP ok, trouble is, he can't seem to get the right drivers - or rather, not been able to install them - he's downloaded the correct drivers (via this laptop), but when it comes to installing them, the install programme doesn't recognise the hardward associated with those drivers! (ie, he's got the right driver for his graphics card, starts to install it, only to have it say 'unable to detect correct hardware for this driver, terminating installation'.

Now, the only thing I can think of is that it's a different version of XP than we had before (Professional x64, this time, think it was just Professional before). I've had a quick look at his set up, and can't actually see what's wrong - although it does seem to be only listing standard stuff (and this was a far from standard PC - it has two good graphics cards in it, but although the display adapters bit lists two cards, they are both 'standard VGA Graphics Adapter' and the second of them has a little yellow exclamation mark indicating a problem with it - listed as 'this device cannot start' in Properties).

As you can imagine, I don't want to start fiddling with it (I'll leave that to DH) until I know what's wrong.

Please can anyone suggest how we can get his PC to recognise the hardware! (before we kill each other)

HELP!!!!!!

[Scurra]

Yes - the problem is that x64 is a completely different version of XP to the "normal" version. And so you can't use the "regular" drivers for the hardware (indeed, there still aren't drivers for some things, which is why I can't use my wireless network card!)

So you need to look for specific 64-bit drivers for the graphics cards etc.

[eirian]

ok, so we've tried that - DH had already found the 64 version, downloaded it, and tried to install it. Unfortunately, the message reads "unable to find drivers for your hardware, setup will now close".

Hmmm.... guess it's not that then.

It looks like the problem is with it spotting the hardware - if it can't do that, then it's not going to know what drivers it needs.
I've tried a selection of options within 'add hardware', but it doesn't seem capable of spotting the graphics cards (haven't even started trying to get it to find the modem...)

Any more suggestions?

[LAT]

Wish I could help but I am useless on such things. And my IT mate at work isn't in again until Monday but I could ask him then if you still need help.

[SparkOut]

I think that the 64 bit issue is likely to be the most significant one.
Having said that, there may also be an issue with having two graphics cards inserted at the time of install, especially if there are any settings in the CMOS (the settings in the BIOS "setup" that you normally access by pressing F2 or Delete etc, before the Windows OS starts to kick in) which may determine the way the cards are detected. They may be causing a problem in that the the underlying hardware is using conflicting Interrupt Requests and thus they are both fighting to use the same "line" at the same time. Disabling one may mean that the other can be installed correctly, and then the other enabled afterwards, whereupon hopefully it will be assigned a new IRQ.

Still - even if that helps, I think you'll probably be facing the 64 bit problems more head on, anyway.

[MBH]

I think that the 64 bit issue is likely to be the most significant one.
Having said that, there may also be an issue with having two graphics cards inserted at the time of install, especially if there are any settings in the CMOS (the settings in the BIOS "setup" that you normally access by pressing F2 or Delete etc, before the Windows OS starts to kick in) which may determine the way the cards are detected. They may be causing a problem in that the the underlying hardware is using conflicting Interrupt Requests and thus they are both fighting to use the same "line" at the same time. Disabling one may mean that the other can be installed correctly, and then the other enabled afterwards, whereupon hopefully it will be assigned a new IRQ.

Still - even if that helps, I think you'll probably be facing the 64 bit problems more head on, anyway.

Message to LAT, Bunnylump, Giraffe, and others.... Don't Panic!!!! I only undestood one word in four of that one

[LAT]

Oh, I understand most of the words. Just not the order they are in. And not CMOS and BIOS.

[MBH]

Oh don't worry - it's just his carp typing.

I'm sure he missed a couple of letters out and was talking about 'settings in the COSMOS' which highlights the importance of how this laptop relates to the rest of creation... then goes on to suggest that BIROS might be more effeciant at putting ink on the paper to get a result (rather than using the computer thingy)...



[How can you tell I'm into software, rather than the hardware of the operating systems]


Sorry eirian - I can't be much help to you.... what do you mean "you've noticed"?

[Bunnylump]

I read about the first few lines of this and now have a big cloud above my head with "LA LA LA" in it! Sorry, Eirian, you know I would help if I could.

[eirian]

I'm with LAT - could understand the words, just not the order!

We seem to have graphics and sound (I think), but the internet still isn't working. There doesn't seem to be a 64 driver for the network card, or for my wireless network adaptor...

Thanks for the help!

[giraffe]

What's a DH?

[SparkOut]

A Dear/Daft Husband?

[kathlyn]

[eirian]

A Dear/Daft Husband?

I'm not specifying which! - although this morning it was definitely daft since he couldn't get my laptop's internet to work, even though he'd been the one to tell me the trick I needed to start it up...
(I suppose the usual shortening is OH meaning Other Half, but I use DH on another board so got into the habit of it)

[giraffe]

I assumed it meant OH, but since the rest of the message was totally incomprehensible I thought I'd stick to the easy bits

[Wulfruna]

DH was a new one on me, too - must make a note of it for future reference

[giraffe]

Help!


I've been getting really weird messages on my computer all day.

Due to insecure Internet browsing your PC can easily get infected with viruses, worms and trojans without your knowledge, and that can lead to system slowdown, freezes and crashes.
Also insecure Internet activity can result in revealing your personal information.
To get full advanced real-time protection for PC and Internet activity, register your antivirus software.

It seems to be trying to sell me something.

Then there is this little red shield in the bottom right corner of the screen which keeps popping up with a message saying my firewall is turned off. (I've no idea what one of those is, but I went into the control panel and it told me the firewall was turned on)

Then messages keep popping up telling me worms might be trying to get in and do I want to download something or other.

Any advice about what is happening? DO I need to summon the little man to check it out?

[MBH]

So far you've done everything RIGHT - not accepted what you've seen, not followed advice from 'unknown' people on the boxes, and shouted for HELP!

Standard scare selling tactics The only bit that concerns me is the red shield saying the firewall (a bit of software that everything must pass through from outside to inside your computer) is OFF. Your check of the Control Panel is far more under your control and that says it's OK.... I don't know the answer to that one - but virus protection is not quite my field.

Download nothing (yet), and have your anti-virus software do a full scan of your computer. What IS your anti-virus software? Is it 'time limited', and could this be the reminder that they want money off you??

Stay calm, and keep your 'Puzzler' head on - you're doing fine

[LAT]

I sometimes get a message that my firewall is turned off when I have left the computer on standby and come back to it. I assume that this is because when I come back it checks for firewall before everything is up and running fully again properly eg internet connection. The message usually disappears before I can even click on it to see what it is suggesting I do. But I don't get the other messages. - well I haven't yet touch wood!

[BassBloke]

Giraffe, and anyone else for that matter.

OK, this may not be everybodies idea of a good solution but, I had a similar thing a couple of weeks ago. I was faffing about all over the internet trying to figure one of this months puzzles when I started getting messages about downloading some anti virus software. I ALWAYS ignore these as they are pure marketing splurb, and I have perfectly adequate PC defences of my own. The infuriating thing was every time after that when I went anywhere on the Internurd I kept getting these blimmin messages over and over and over again. I searched all over the computer so see if I could find where they were running etc. but gave up after a short time (I have very little patience).

I simply rolled my computer back to the day before the trouble started by using the System Restore tool. If you havn't made any changes to the PC, or Installed any software or hadware, since the last Restore Point it usually does the trick.

It can be thought to be a big step to take, and there may be thought to be some risk, so this is not "advice" and I can't be held responsible if something goes wrong. But, I have used this tool on numerous occasions, both at home and professionally, and I am yet to have any problems. Go Start\All Programs\Accessories\System Tools\System Restore. A Wizard runs and presents you with a calendar of system checkpoints. If you have one very recent before the trouble started that would be the one to choose. You won't lose any data from "My Documents" etc. What the restore tool does is rebuild the system Registry to a previous point in time. The whole process is supposed to be reversible, although I have never done that.

Please take this in good faith, carfuly read the messages in the Wizard, and make your own decision. And Good Luck.

Cheers. BB.