Compaq Presario 5717 drivers and recovery CDs

[sqrob]

Just inherited the Presario 5717. On start up, a blue screen kept saying to hit ctl+alt+del or that Windows had to be reinstalled.

So, after reformatting C: I reinstalled Win98SE from an Microsoft CD. The install appears to work, ie was asked the serial number, did the reboot, detected some hardware and another reboot or two and I got to the desktop.

When I checked the settings for the screen I only have the option of 2 or 16 colors and cannot change the resolution. Then noticed that the modem and sound cards and other perhipherals were not installed/detected. I tried to re-do the Windows add new hardware but nothing new was found (not sure why this is as only 2 months ago, I saw this unit running properly at the original owners place). Unfortunately, I am unable to say what since caused the problem with the unit.

The Compaq user manual keeps telling me to double click on the System Restore (or Recovery) shortcut on the desktop but it is no longer there, so I have no way of knowing what the shortcut lead to. (I would have to guess a batch file on the CD somewhere...)

When I booted with the Recovery CDs (boot sequence CD, floppy, HD) they warned that everything would be overwritten and I accepted. It appears that they only copied a series of files (several with numbers as names) to the D: partition and left my OS intact.

I have tried numerous times to use the compaq.com site tonight but it appears to be having server difficulties. From what I have read here at pcmech, I might need something called a softpaq but I cannot find them on the recovery CDs nor can I guess at which ones I should search for. I did notice a post that said I could enter my serial number on the compaq.com site and it should give me all of the hardware originally installed on the system. Obviously, I will have to wait for their site to come back up.

This whole situation just seems to be more difficult than it needs to be. Am I missing a third and/or fourth recovery CD? Is there something terribly simple that I am overlooking? (I already know of several your opinions on Compaq and that it is a proprietary machine). Or, is the simplest solution to find a Compaq service center in Canada and have them attempt to fix it?

Any help will be greatly appreciated by this first-timer on this forum.

Thank you in advance.

sqrob

[foghat46]

I don't see any reason to go traipsing off to a service center with your wallet open just yet. You should be able to get all the drivers you need from Compaq's web site. There are also a couple of websites that have drivers for just about anything, If you're interested I'll look up the links and post them for you. I'm not sure they have Compaq drivers, but you could look and see.

[sqrob]

foghat46,

Do you beleive that just 'getting' these drivers will be enough, eventhough the OS seems to be ignoring the very existance/presence of the hardware?

If so, I will open up the machine and figure out what components are installed and then check driver guide.com or other such sites.

Thanks.

[Alfie]

The system is now ignoring the hardware as they now exist.
As you've formatted the drive and have installed your own OS,the Compaq recovery disks are moot.
What you need are the drivers for the devices.
The procedure is to download the drivers,in device manager remove the devices(you may want to do this in safe mode and remove any and all references to device)
Restart the computer,Windows will detect the hardware and will ask you for the drivers,point it to where the drivers are and they will be installed.
If the drivers are sent zipped,you will have to unzip them,prior to installation.
If it's a agp video card,it's advised to go to display properties-advanced- and change the card to standard vga card(click on display all devices) and restart.
Then install the video drivers.
If you download Belarc adviser,it will show you the hardware setup for your computer and then you can get the drivers for said devices from the original manufacturer of the device(s).