My HP pavilion still won't hardly boot

[Paul H]

Originally (2/6/2009 11:09 AM) I posted:

I installed Pinnacle software (that I now find is no longer supported) on my
HP pavilion ze4600 that has XP Pro w/sp3. Now it will not boot. Can I
obtain a rescue CD that will enable me to uninstall that bad software or
somehow fix my problem? Scan for a virus or spyware or whatever? TIA, Paul

Now it will boot, sometimes, after I power down, then up. It sits for a
minute or more, not making any attempt to read the CD or hard disk, then
finally comes up normally. I did "uninstall" the Pinnacle software. But
the icon stayed, and when I tried it, it worked. So I manually deleted
their entire directory structure under "program files". The drivers are
probably still installed, but I have no idea how to remove them. But since
the laptop makes no attempt to read anything, it must be a hardware problem.
How could installing their crappy software cause a hardware problem?

 

[Paul H]

Originally (2/6/2009 11:09 AM) I posted:

I installed Pinnacle software (that I now find is no longer supported) on my
HP pavilion ze4600 that has XP Pro w/sp3. Now it will not boot. Can I
obtain a rescue CD that will enable me to uninstall that bad software or
somehow fix my problem? Scan for a virus or spyware or whatever? TIA, Paul

Now it will boot, sometimes, after I power down, then up. It sits for a
minute or more, not making any attempt to read the CD or hard disk, then
finally comes up normally. I did "uninstall" the Pinnacle software. But
the icon stayed, and when I tried it, it worked. So I manually deleted
their entire directory structure under "program files". The drivers are
probably still installed, but I have no idea how to remove them. But since
the laptop makes no attempt to read anything, it must be a hardware problem.
How could installing their crappy software cause a hardware problem?

 

[Noel Paton]

Have you installed/attached any USB devices?? - I've found my USB modem can
make the boot process stall (usually during POST), so I have to detach it
before booting.

--
Noel Paton (MVP 2002-2006)
(CrashFixPC)

Nil Carborundum Illegitemi
http://www.crashfixpc.co.uk

 

[Paul H]

Nothing that wasn't there before. A mouse and two printers via a powered
USB splitter plugged into a USB 1.1 port.

Have you installed/attached any USB devices?? - I've found my USB modem can
make the boot process stall (usually during POST), so I have to detach it
before booting.

--
Noel Paton (MVP 2002-2006)
(CrashFixPC)

Nil Carborundum Illegitemi
http://www.crashfixpc.co.uk

 

[Noel Paton]

Hmmm - not sure what to suggest, then.
If you're confident in BIOS, then I'd have a look in there and see if
there's a setting awry - otherwise left best alone!

--
Noel Paton (MVP 2002-2006)
(CrashFixPC)

Nil Carborundum Illegitemi
http://www.crashfixpc.co.uk

 

[Bob I]

Originally (2/6/2009 11:09 AM) I posted:

I installed Pinnacle software (that I now find is no longer supported) on my
HP pavilion ze4600 that has XP Pro w/sp3. Now it will not boot. Can I
obtain a rescue CD that will enable me to uninstall that bad software or
somehow fix my problem? Scan for a virus or spyware or whatever? TIA, Paul

Now it will boot, sometimes, after I power down, then up. It sits for a
minute or more, not making any attempt to read the CD or hard disk, then
finally comes up normally. I did "uninstall" the Pinnacle software. But
the icon stayed, and when I tried it, it worked. So I manually deleted
their entire directory structure under "program files". The drivers are
probably still installed, but I have no idea how to remove them. But since
the laptop makes no attempt to read anything, it must be a hardware problem.

You have identified the side the problem is on.

How could installing their crappy software cause a hardware problem?

Pure coincidence.