Major problems with laptop - Tilted Forum Project Discussion Community

Meditrina · 06-12-2005, 05:30 PM

everything is gone. everything. I just reinstalled windows xp. now how do I get it to connect to the internet? It is wireless, and my desktop has a router.

Please, I hope someone can help me.

Hardknock · 06-12-2005, 08:08 PM

I just did a reinstall on my laptop yesterday. Now, when you reinstalled XP, it asked you if you wanted to format the partition that the old windows installation was on. If you did format that partition, you're SOL. If you chose the option "leave current file system intact", then all you stuff is just laying dormant not on the desktop. For example, look under C:\program files. Is all your stuff still there?

You have to remember where everything was and place it back on the desktop or wherever you had it.

Meditrina · 06-12-2005, 08:29 PM

Thank you. I ended up calling Dell. While on the phone for over an hour, with a very patient man, I had downloaded the missing drivers from dell onto a disk, using my desktop, then installing them on the laptop. I lost files, but at least it is working again.

MiSo · 06-12-2005, 11:59 PM

thats weird, if the laptop came with integrated wireless the recovery disk should've put the driver back in.

but good to hear everything is okay now.

portwineboy · 06-13-2005, 05:55 PM

Dell recovery disks aren't.

They suck. I couldn't believe the first time I dealt with one.

Basically you get a driver disk with some wonkey IE based installer or other poorly written html thingee and a Win XP disk that is bootable. No nice ez recovery boot disk here. Reinstall windows, reinstall the drivers.

I use Ghost for what I need to do so it doesn't get me much, but once in awhile it's a pisser.

soccerchamp76 · 06-13-2005, 10:37 PM

Recovery disks are bullshit. If you buy a computer that has Windows XP (Home or Pro) you should also receive the actual Microsoft WindowsXP installation CD. So if you want to do a clean install on your computer without the tons of absolute shit that Dell/HP/Compaq/atc put on your computer. I mean, just because I buy a Dell computer doesn't mean I need 30 of Dell-supported programs, my boot screen to be dell, the shutdown screen to be dell, the Windows support to be Dell, the IE bar to be Dell.
That is why I built my computer with a nice clean copy of Windows.

But for your question: Go to the Dell website and download the drivers.

portwineboy · 06-14-2005, 12:04 PM

Recovery disks have their uses...like when I have 40 of the same laptop for which I have an image and someone walks in with the 1 different one purchased 2 years ago by the drug-addled former IT guy, and I need to get it up and running in 30 minutes...

Also if one of my freelance clients has borked their home machine with viruses and spyware...it gives me a "faster" option to present them.

Recovery disks have their uses.

Meditrina · 06-14-2005, 07:39 PM

little update: it crashed again. Luckily when I panicked yesterday I had emailed Dell before I called them. They had already sent me a new hard drive and it got delivered today! I was going to return it, thinking I did not need it. I am so glad I didn't.

and guess what? I was able to install it, Windows, and all my drivers all by myself!

06-12-2005, 05:30 PM	#1 (permalink)
Meditrina Junkie Location: LI,NY	Major problems with laptop everything is gone. everything. I just reinstalled windows xp. now how do I get it to connect to the internet? It is wireless, and my desktop has a router. Please, I hope someone can help me. __________________ "Toughness is in the soul and spirit, not in muscles." ~Alex Karras

06-12-2005, 08:08 PM	#2 (permalink)
Hardknock Republican slayer Location: WA	I just did a reinstall on my laptop yesterday. Now, when you reinstalled XP, it asked you if you wanted to format the partition that the old windows installation was on. If you did format that partition, you're SOL. If you chose the option "leave current file system intact", then all you stuff is just laying dormant not on the desktop. For example, look under C:\program files. Is all your stuff still there? You have to remember where everything was and place it back on the desktop or wherever you had it. Last edited by Hardknock; 06-12-2005 at 08:15 PM.. Reason: edited for simplicity

06-12-2005, 08:29 PM	#3 (permalink)
Meditrina Junkie Location: LI,NY	Thank you. I ended up calling Dell. While on the phone for over an hour, with a very patient man, I had downloaded the missing drivers from dell onto a disk, using my desktop, then installing them on the laptop. I lost files, but at least it is working again. __________________ "Toughness is in the soul and spirit, not in muscles." ~Alex Karras

06-13-2005, 05:55 PM	#5 (permalink)
portwineboy Master of No Domains Location: WEEhawken, New Joisey	Dell recovery disks aren't. They suck. I couldn't believe the first time I dealt with one. Basically you get a driver disk with some wonkey IE based installer or other poorly written html thingee and a Win XP disk that is bootable. No nice ez recovery boot disk here. Reinstall windows, reinstall the drivers. I use Ghost for what I need to do so it doesn't get me much, but once in awhile it's a pisser. __________________ If you can read this, thank a teacher. If you can read this in English, thank a veteran.

06-13-2005, 10:37 PM	#6 (permalink)
soccerchamp76 Go Cardinals Location: St. Louis/Cincinnati	Recovery disks are bullshit. If you buy a computer that has Windows XP (Home or Pro) you should also receive the actual Microsoft WindowsXP installation CD. So if you want to do a clean install on your computer without the tons of absolute shit that Dell/HP/Compaq/atc put on your computer. I mean, just because I buy a Dell computer doesn't mean I need 30 of Dell-supported programs, my boot screen to be dell, the shutdown screen to be dell, the Windows support to be Dell, the IE bar to be Dell. That is why I built my computer with a nice clean copy of Windows. But for your question: Go to the Dell website and download the drivers. __________________ Brian Griffin: Ah, if my memory serves me, this is the physics department. Chris Griffin: That would explain all the gravity.

06-12-2005, 11:59 PM	#4 (permalink)
MiSo Psycho	thats weird, if the laptop came with integrated wireless the recovery disk should've put the driver back in. but good to hear everything is okay now.

06-14-2005, 12:04 PM	#7 (permalink)
portwineboy Master of No Domains Location: WEEhawken, New Joisey	Recovery disks have their uses...like when I have 40 of the same laptop for which I have an image and someone walks in with the 1 different one purchased 2 years ago by the drug-addled former IT guy, and I need to get it up and running in 30 minutes... Also if one of my freelance clients has borked their home machine with viruses and spyware...it gives me a "faster" option to present them. Recovery disks have their uses. __________________ If you can read this, thank a teacher. If you can read this in English, thank a veteran.

06-14-2005, 07:39 PM	#8 (permalink)
Meditrina Junkie Location: LI,NY	little update: it crashed again. Luckily when I panicked yesterday I had emailed Dell before I called them. They had already sent me a new hard drive and it got delivered today! I was going to return it, thinking I did not need it. I am so glad I didn't. and guess what? I was able to install it, Windows, and all my drivers all by myself! __________________ "Toughness is in the soul and spirit, not in muscles." ~Alex Karras