Help for a numptie following install of XP

blissfulbabe

Hi Guys...am throwing myself on your mercy here...

The short version of a long story - my brother (who I could quite cheerfully throttle at the moment) sold my fifteen year old son a computer as my brother is spending this year travelling and "discovering himself".

The computer itself is a teenage boy's dream, with all sorts of fancy gadgets, but has turned into my nightmare! Basically, my brother reformatted the hard drives before he dropped off the computer - not only did he 'forget' to mention this, but he didn't reinstall an operating system or give my son any disks.

I have just spent £80 :mad: on a copy of XP Pro and have installed it, but now the problems have started! The computer is not recognising several devices that I know are there, like the wireless adapter, video card and audio device. I can't download the drivers for these because I don't know what they are. My brother built the computer himself so I can't go to the manufacturer's website and my brother is currently in Thailand and ignoring my emails.

How can I find out exactly what hardwear is present so that I can download the appropriate drivers? Any help would be appreciated as I am sorely tempted to chuck the darn computer out of the window!

colin79666

Go here: http://www.gtopala.com/
Download the free version which should identify all the devices in your PC.

You can also try running Windows Update as it will often get drivers automatically - although it works better on Vista.

HoofeHearted

Use Start -> Run -> winmsd

Expand +Components and then select Problem Devices

You will then see all the devices that are not installed correctly.

Each will have an identity string similar to "PCI\VEN_nnnn&DEV_xxxx"

nnnn is the VENdor code and xxxx is the DEVice code.

Now use Google to get the relevant info and find the correct drivers.

Hope that helps.

Geoff

GreenNotM

try the free/lite version of Sandra http://www.sisoftware.net/

Alt. Have alook in the BIOS - if you do not want to take the back.top off and read the label ...

ormus

http://www.belarc.com/free_download.html

i use this prog all the time when fixing peeps puters. highly recommended.
itll tell you all you need to know about your HW. and SW.

blissfulbabe

Dear all - thank you so much for the speedy responses. Am now armed with a list of drivers to download - I have wrestled my wireless adaptor from my daughter (who is now having an almighty sulk, but should be writing two essays for uni, not downloading from the net) and can connect my son's computer to the net which should make it a bit easier to get the drivers (have already installed Zone Alarm & Avast Anti-virus).

I just wanted to say thank you again - the speed of response and the straightforward language used has solved a problem in minutes - I've spent the last two days trying to understand 'techie speak' on other forums.