Big Problems From Win XP Pro Upgrade

[MarkTwain]

Yesterday I upgraded my PC OS from W2K to Win XP Pro. After the install, I discovered the upgrade failed to recognize a number of my disk partitions (on two separate drives). The system recognized C: (NTFS) and D: (FAT32) on one HD, but none of the rest of the partitions on the first and second HDs (E-I, also FAT32).

The upgrade also knocked out my cable-modem connection--I kept getting a "cannot find server" message after I started IE 6 or Firefox.

(The upgrade also stuttered at my Nvidia GeForce 7300, claiming it didn't have a proper MS "signature," causing frequent reboots 'till I finally went to Safe Mode. I reinstalled the display driver and the display finally worked)

a) Can I get system recognition of my other drive partitions, and;

b) How do I reestablish the server connections to my cable modem?

[glc]

Look for your partitions in Disk Management - I suspect you may need to use the "import foreign media" function. Have you reinstalled ALL drivers, including motherboard chipset and Ethernet?

Have you installed at least SP2 or SP3 in XP?

[MarkTwain]

Have not reinstalled MB chipset or Ethernet (Downloadable? From...?)

Upgrade of XP Pro did contain SP 2....

[Spools]

You could also try running the Network Connection Wizard to reconnect.

[toomyg]

Not to be a stick in the mud but I my self have never seem an upgrade over another O/S go 100% without some kind of problem I always just do a complete install of the newer OS.



EDIT: I bought XP pro awhile back and did the upgrade over XP home and it seemed OK but there was a few little problems and I don't remember what they were now but I say hell with this and used the upgrade CD todo a complete reinstall of XP pro sp1 and it and been 3 years with 2 sp updates and still working good. It let me do the complete reinstall as long as I had the XP home CD

[MarkTwain]

Originally Posted by Spools You could also try running the Network Connection Wizard to reconnect.

I could only find a "New Connection Wizard," NOT a "Network Connection Wizard" in Win XP Pro....

[Spools]

Sorry, I should have been more specific.

Try this:

Start -> My Network Places -> (under Network Tasks panel on left) Set up a home or small business network

or

Start -> Control Panel -> Network Connections -> (under Other Places panel on left) -> My Network Places -> (under Network Tasks panel on left) Set up a home or small business network


I found a decent walk through on this site.

[MarkTwain]

I did manage to re-establish my network connection by reinstalling my MOBO chipset & Ethernet drivers...but my anti-virus update service still "cannot find server."

I can get onto the Internet OK with IE 6, though.

[MarkTwain]

...more ominously--I can't get my copy of XP Pro authorized on the Microsoft Web site due
to more of this "can't find server" business!

And my use of my copy of XP Pro EXPIRES in 28 days, unless...

My MOBO is an Asus A7V880, using a Marvell 88E8001 Gigabit LAN driver.

How can I get my network connection to properly connect to the Microsoft web site so I can
get my XP Pro authorized? And ditto my A-V update service....

[glc]

With 28 days left, I wouldn't start sweating yet.

Uninstall all antivirus and security software and turn off any and all firewalls, and run a registry cleaner such as CCleaner. If this restores connectivity, make a system restore point and start reinstalling the necessary stuff.

If you are using a cable modem directly connected to the PC, this is a bad idea, you should get a router for security reasons - it acts as a hardware firewall.

[MarkTwain]

GLC, what is the lowdown on the Import Foreign Media function?

[glc]

Open up Disk Management and stretch the window so you have no scroll bars. Take a screen shot, resize and compress as necessary to get it under 100k filesize, and post it as an attachment. Mine is attached so you can see what we need to see.

[MarkTwain]

Thanks, will do this tonight on home PC....

[MarkTwain]

Brief update on drives not viewable in My Computer...Disk Management displays these drives E-I as "Healthy," but having "Unknown Partitions"....

E-I also display as FAT; F-G, FAT32, H-I FAT.

[glc]

Please post the screen shot, I need a better visual than what you are telling me.

[MarkTwain]

Couldn't post last night...at work now, will post tonight for sure.

Thanks

[MarkTwain]

Originally Posted by glc Open up Disk Management and stretch the window so you have no scroll bars. Take a screen shot, resize and compress as necessary to get it under 100k filesize, and post it as an attachment. Mine is attached so you can see what we need to see.

GLC, here's a screen shot of those "hidden drives," E-I....

Thanks!

[glc]

Looks like they might have hidden themselves, you may not have set them up appropriately to begin with (primary vs. extended, etc.). I seriously question the wisdom of using FAT32 partitions in Win2K/XP.

http://www.annoyances.org/exec/forum/winxp/t1067269196

Read the post that starts with:

re: Healthy but Unknown Partition
Wednesday, November 21, 2007 at 11:01 pm
Posted by Nerys (3 messages posted)

See what Testdisk does for you.

If you have a copy of Partition Magic, you might want to see what it has to say.

Before doing anything to change the disk geometry, you may want to use data recovery software to recover what's important.

[MarkTwain]

Thanks - I'll give Testdisk a run...

Can you recommend a good (cheap? freeware?) data-recovery program?

[glc]

The only freeware I'm aware of is PC Inspector. Others cost money, but most will allow you to download a free demo which will tell you what you *can* recover if you buy it.

[MarkTwain]

Originally Posted by glc With 28 days left, I wouldn't start sweating yet. Uninstall all antivirus and security software and turn off any and all firewalls, and run a registry cleaner such as CCleaner. If this restores connectivity, make a system restore point and start reinstalling the necessary stuff. If you are using a cable modem directly connected to the PC, this is a bad idea, you should get a router for security reasons - it acts as a hardware firewall.

I did uninstall all security software and ran CCleaner (& then reinstalled security programs)--but the "server not found" message still appeared during auto A-V updating...

On a hunch, I disabled the built-in Win XP firewall and installed Zone Alarm firewall. Bingo! A-V was able to automatically update, no "server not found" message!

Now, on to the missing-disk problem....

[glc]

Now that is rare - usually it's ZA that screws things up and Windows firewall works fine!

[MarkTwain]

Finally, a friend & I looked over the "missing" drives E-I with Testdisk, got a reading on their status, then unhid them with Paragon Partition Manager.

They are now fully functional, and show up in My Computer OK.

Kudos to all who helped me out with this, especially GLC for recommending Testdisk.

Your informed feedback makes PCMF the place to go on the Web to get the answers we need!

Thanks a million.