MS Sys mgt BIOS driver - poss mssg/corrupt??

[Guest]

The computer is 3 yrs old w/ WinXP (Gateway). Working very slowly, bumping
off of Internet, freezing, shutting down by itself, etc. Restarting with disk
check almost always - but I don't think she ever let it run. They did not
perform any maintenance, but did have NAV2004 program.
I performed lots of sys. maint. incl: disk cleanup, defrag (3X), error
checking (sometimes clean, sometimes fixed errors); I also installed
AdAwareSE (updated ref files) and tried to LiveUpdate NAV. Had to
uninstall/reinstall several times and download the LU file from Symantec 'cuz
there was an internal error, but we finally got it fixed.
The comp was still freezing (no Mouse or kybd) on occasion, and we also
got a Windows Explorer error msg, so I decided to reinstall XP. Did a repair
install, and seemed to go fine (had to skip a video card software install
'cuz not passed Windows logo testing.) It froze and had to redo, but finally
seemed to be all done.
I decided to look at Device Manager to see if any prob w/ the video card,
and that's when I saw the yellow triangle on "Microsoft System Management
BIOS driver". On checking the properties, the msg read, (roughly) "Windows
cannot load the device driver for this hardware. The driver may be corrupt or
missing." I thought the BIOS was software; I didn't think there was any
driver involved. What can I do to remedy this???
Also, any ideas to keep this comp from freezing???

 

[R. McCarty]

Probably these issues are driver related. You need to update the
following:
(1.) Chipset driver - Either be Intel, Via, SiS or NVidia chipset
(2.) Video driver
(3.) Sound Driver
These you can probably obtain from Gateway or use Belarc advisor
to determine which brand of each is in your PC.
Also, all programs periodically have updates & patches. You should
update all your applications, Adobe Reader, Java engine, Office, etc.
Many times drivers and "Unstable" applications can reek havoc on a
PC. Finally, Malware is poorly written code which consumes system
resources and causes instability. Download/Update & Run Adaware
and Spybot.

 

[Guest]

Thanks for first reply. I am wondering where to get "Belarc advisor". Is
that something I can just search on Internet?
We did Windows Update on this computer - did find NVidia driver for video
card that was listed, but lady said that it didn't take. (I wasn't there for
finish of update.) When we reinstalled the OS (XP), it stopped at the NVidia
hardware (loading software for it ) because it said it hadn't passed Windows
Logo testing. After 2nd attempt, we just said don't load software (skip it).
Lady says the computer is still kicking her off Internet (at different
time intervals) and sometimes restarting on its own. We keep on doing
maintenance, although I haven't loaded Spybot yet - (I think I will ASAP.)
Any other suggestions?? Thanks.

Probably these issues are driver related. You need to update the
following:
(1.) Chipset driver - Either be Intel, Via, SiS or NVidia chipset
(2.) Video driver
(3.) Sound Driver
These you can probably obtain from Gateway or use Belarc advisor
to determine which brand of each is in your PC.
Also, all programs periodically have updates & patches. You should
update all your applications, Adobe Reader, Java engine, Office, etc.
Many times drivers and "Unstable" applications can reek havoc on a
PC. Finally, Malware is poorly written code which consumes system
resources and causes instability. Download/Update & Run Adaware
and Spybot.

 

[Ken Blake]

In

Thanks for first reply. I am wondering where to get "Belarc
advisor". Is that something I can just search on Internet?

Belarc Advisor www.belarc.com/free_download.html