aldboomer said:
i reformatted ..and reinstalled windows xp....because wasn't able
to start up computer, and couldn't go to safe mode, etc..
installation seemed to go ok...didn't see any problems as it was
installing. But now the only thing on my desktop is the "trash
can" ...no sounds...and i don't know how to go about getting
windows to find my internet connection... i use Fios (fiber
optics)...and it can't find any connections. In my "Device
Manager", there are yellow questions marks by: Ethernet
Controller, Mulitmedia Controller, PCI Simple Connection
Controller, SM Bus Controller, and Video Controller.
Will I have to try to re-install it again?? I might have made a
mistake deciding on doing a restall... I have never attempted it
before..
Any help or suggestions would be greatly appreciated!!
Thanks sooo much !!
I'm sorry.. still unable to get anything done with my computer, any
step by step instructions from anyone?
First - your desktop sounds like it looks like it should. It may be in the
wrong resolution - but overall - the general look sounds right. Right-click
on the background (anywhere where there is nothing but the background color)
and choose "Properties". Then choose the "Desktop" tab and at the bottom of
that window, click on the "Customize Desktop" button. At the top - put
checkmarks next to the items you would like to see on the desktop.
If you were expecting any of your files and documents - nope - not unless
you backed them up. All gone. All your Internet Favorites, all of your
emails, all of your contacts, all of your files and documents - they get
erased when you format.
You need hardware drivers. Looks like you will need Network first - or that
will be your best choice. And obviously - if you do not have a CD or set of
diskettes that came with this machine - you will need to use whatever
machine you are using to post on these newsgroups to go and get the drivers
and burn to CD/write to a media you can transfer over to the other machine.
From your description, you need:
- Motherboard Chipset
- Network Card
- Video Card
At the very least. Possibly dial-up modem drivers and any other cards
(firewire? etc) you have in the machine.
As for being able to give you step-by-step.. Not really. You haven't told
us what type of computer it is. Only you have the original receipt and/or
access to open the machine and see what each of those components are. If it
is a Dell/Compaq/etc - just visit the manufacturer's web page and they
usually have downloads based off the model number.. That's easiest to get
you up and going. Otherwise - you will need to figure out the manufacturer
for each of the components above (at least) and visit the manufacturer web
page and get the latest Windows XP (32 bit) driver for each of them and get
it to the machine in question by whatever external means you have (external
USB drive, CD, etc.)
Once you get the drivers - you will need to install all of the updates and
such. Before you connect to the Internet - be sure the Windows Firewall is
turned on. Then head straight to
http://windowsupdate.microsoft.com/ and
install all critical updates.
Once you have visited that page a few times and there are no updates
left --> time to reinstall your applications (Office, Antivirus,
Antispyware, etc) and setup your email and newsreaders and such. Once that
is done - you should customize your desktop and start backing up your system
periodically.
(