Replace XP Pro with XP Home

[Bob Williams]

On January 15th I bought a HP/Compaq nx9010 Notebook and a
HP psc 1350 all-in-one printer, scanner, copier. It came
with XP Pro (SP1) now SP2. I then installed MS Works and
Money. No problem with hardware or MS software.

The HP software however, has been a nightmare. System had
a fatal crash on February 8th due to HP Memories Disc
software and the problems have never stopped. HP software
is not even compatible with HP software, and so I had to
re-install the all-in-one software many, many times before
I got that straight. The HP software update system fails
on an update but considers it completed and therefore the
update is no longer available, etc., etc.

Is it possible for me to: 1)Remove XP Pro (SP2) which
includes HP software, and then 2) Install XP Home
purchased from Microsoft which does not have any HP code.

Will the notebook still function, or does it require the
HP code for notebooks in the O/S?

Bob W.

 

[Gary R.]

You should be able to go to hp's support site and download the drivers for
the laptop components. I've done this on Compaqs and others with success,
and in fact it's generally a big improvement over all the garbage they
install by default.

You should be able to type in your machine's serial number at the website
and get a list of all drivers and updates. There also may be some buried on
a driver disk...you may have to prowl through some oddly named folders, but
should be able to find everything. There also may be some on your hard
drive in named folders. Make sure you get video, sound, touchpad or ?,
display, network, wireless, modem, chipset if needed, and whatever else is
included. You don't necessarily need to install everything, some may be
unnecessary, so read what they're for. Put them all in one place, such as a
CD.

Then format and install XP and updates, and install only what you need and
want, and you should be a lot better off than with the original junk. I
like to do this on any mass-produced machine, Dells, emachine, Gateway,
whatever. One snag I can think of which is probably not on laptops, is that
Compaq at one time put a hidden partition with tools etc, and the
motherboard bios was designed so that it would only work configured that
way; not sure it was ever done on HP, but I've never seen a laptop
configured that way anyhow, so it seems unlikely.

Gary

 

[Michael Stevens]

On January 15th I bought a HP/Compaq nx9010 Notebook and a
HP psc 1350 all-in-one printer, scanner, copier. It came
with XP Pro (SP1) now SP2. I then installed MS Works and
Money. No problem with hardware or MS software.

The HP software however, has been a nightmare. System had
a fatal crash on February 8th due to HP Memories Disc
software and the problems have never stopped. HP software
is not even compatible with HP software, and so I had to
re-install the all-in-one software many, many times before
I got that straight. The HP software update system fails
on an update but considers it completed and therefore the
update is no longer available, etc., etc.

Is it possible for me to: 1)Remove XP Pro (SP2) which
includes HP software, and then 2) Install XP Home
purchased from Microsoft which does not have any HP code.

Will the notebook still function, or does it require the
HP code for notebooks in the O/S?

Bob W.

Did the notebook come with an XP CD , or resrtore disks?
--
Michael Stevens MS-MVP XP
(e-mail address removed)
http://michaelstevenstech.com
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[rob]

bob-
i have a hp 4110 all in one, which worked great in 98se,
but has been a disaster with xp pro, Also i have a
desktop not a laptop. I just got the aio to work properly
(it's been 2 months), my problem was the hp director and
the wia service butting heads and causing the system
numerous problems including lockups, not able to see my
drives under my computer (for about 5-10 minutes), not
able to recognize the scanner/printer,etc..... What i
found out for me that works is to turn the printer off and
then allow windows to boot, seems the wia service needs to
go first, then turn the printer on and everything is
recognized and everything works. Use the scrubber (it's
on the hp website, use it for removal of the hp program,
the regular uninstaller leaves remains of the previous
load, and can cause problems when reloading), When
reinstalling follow the directions EXACTLY for installing
the software (tip: ensure you turn the printer off), if
you don't have them they are also on the hp website. I've
searched the databses on hp and windows and each are
saying that it's the other persons fault. Hp is a great
printer but the compatability stinks. good luck.

rob