Help with a new computer

[cantputt04]

OK well it's not new, it's my brother's. His computer was messinging up on him big time and we sourced the problem down to his new Hard Drive. He can't do a normal reboot of his computer since the hardware doesn't match it when it was bought, I think. So it keeps messing up. We decided to get him his own copy of windows. So we formatted it and installed windows, but to activiate windows we need to get on the internet apparently and it's not letting us on, probably because the BIOS aren't updated and as such the ethernet isn't either, so I would understand why it wouldn't be working. But my question is, where do I go from here? It's a Compaq Presario S4110CL. Or so says the case.

EDIT: If anyone saw that post before it was edited, I'm sorry, I copy and pasted from another forum

[telegramsam]

Open your device manager and see what hardware isn't installed. Unless you have those device drivers on a disk, you will have to download them from hp.com--assuming that the problem you're having is the driver for your NIC isn't installed.
Windows, however, may have a generic driver available for it. So try updating/reinstalling the driver. Once you get that running, you should be able to get on the internet.

[piXel]

Originally Posted by telegramsam Open your device manager and see what hardware isn't installed. Unless you have those device drivers on a disk, you will have to download them from hp.com--assuming that the problem you're having is the driver for your NIC isn't installed. Windows, however, may have a generic driver available for it. So try updating/reinstalling the driver. Once you get that running, you should be able to get on the internet.

Yeah your right, i had this problem when i built my PC i forgot to install my onboard drivers.

[cantputt04]

Yeah so um I couldn't reinstall the drivers... And like, it's really weird. This is a new copy of windows on a new partition on a new hard drive, but I keep getting errors left and right. As soon as I turn it on it gives me the "Windows has encountered a serious problem" etc. and I can chose to send it in or not send it. I'm like "what the?". I barely even turned it on. I tried to go into the control panel, it gives me and error and restarts the computer. Ummmmm? Anyone have any idea why it would be giving me errors for no reason?

[telegramsam]

That's most likely driver issues. Don't panic yet.

Do you have those drivers on disk? If you couldn't get them from Windows you'll have to get them from the internet and burn them to a CD.

Also, that Compaq should have come with a restore disk that has the drivers loaded on it for video, NIC, etc. Are you able to locate that? If you can find it, try to get the system up, and reinstall drivers from the device manager. You'll have to point the wizard to the CDROM drive.

[cantputt04]

Ok I can't find the system restore disks and I don't know what I need to download. From Compaq.com this is what they give me when I tell them my product number http://h10025.www1.hp.com/ewfrf/wc/s...product=340201

Not sure which one of those fixes the ethernet controller though... which, if I can get that running, I'd be golden.

EDIT: I just found something interesting.. Ok so he uses an external hard drive for stuff idk what, but it's not really connected... and when I go into his My Computer he has a C drive with only Windows on it.. and then I go to this D drive, which has 4.85 GB of total space, and there's Documents and Settings, Program Files, and another Windows folder... I don't really know what that means or what to do with it, but it can't be too good...

[flanzig1]

The specs on the PC you linked doesn't list ethernet drivers. Is the NIC on-board or an added card. If an added card,you need to look at the card to get the brand and model number.

[cantputt04]

Originally Posted by flanzig1 The specs on the PC you linked doesn't list ethernet drivers. Is the NIC on-board or an added card. If an added card,you need to look at the card to get the brand and model number.

I'm pretty sure it's connected to the mobo. Yeah it's on-board... And I keep getting errors from the D drive.. but it's not even connected!

EDIT: Yeah I can get on the internet now. But I try to update windows and the site tells me it can't display the stuff. I try to install firefox and it tells me the file is corrupt. Windows is apparently isntalled twice on this hard drive and I don't know what to do about. It keeps shutting off randomly. It even started up with and, you know how it says "Windows XP" with the little bar undernieth it signalling that it's loading... Well 2 of those came up side by side and proceeded to boot up but it wouldn't do anything to help me. Some help right about now would be REALLY nice since this is the most frustrating thing I could possibly be doing on my last day of being 17.

[flanzig1]

There is probably a second partion on the HD. If that has stuff left over from the Compaq instal, that is probably the reason for the conflicts.

[cantputt04]

Ok yes but what do I do about it??

[telegramsam]

Go into your control panel and then Administrative Tools. Find the disk management folder and open it. This will list all connected drives and partitions with their format type.

Also, go into your device manager and see if everything is installed and working. Don't be trying to install Firefox or anything else until you get the system stabilized. That's just going to add more problems.

Post back what you find there.