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my first notebook...question

post #1 of 4
Thread Starter 
I've had desktops all of my life and they have typically been family computers so I haven't messed around with them.

I'm fairly good with computers - no slouch, but not IT dept expert either.

My dv5000z should be arriving soon. I was wondering, does it make a substantial difference to wipe it out and reintsall so that I don't have all of the things HP loads on? How long does the process take to reformat, reinstall windows, drivers, etc? Will it be way over my head or are there good guides on this site (haven't fully explored all of the forums)

Thanks in advance.
post #2 of 4
Quote:
Originally Posted by cezieg03
I've had desktops all of my life and they have typically been family computers so I haven't messed around with them.

I'm fairly good with computers - no slouch, but not IT dept expert either.

My dv5000z should be arriving soon. I was wondering, does it make a substantial difference to wipe it out and reintsall so that I don't have all of the things HP loads on? How long does the process take to reformat, reinstall windows, drivers, etc? Will it be way over my head or are there good guides on this site (haven't fully explored all of the forums)

Thanks in advance.

I would like to see the answer to this question as well
post #3 of 4
It's well worth the time to do a fresh install... At least with the Z series you shouldn't have to worry about the issues that arise when trying to install to a SATA hard drive. It's well worth the $$$ to buy a Apricorn EZ-BUS-DT*-KIT as I've linked to before ($24.99 right now for the USB version), adding a 250 gig hard drive ($50)... to be able to BACK-UP and IMAGE the hard drive, your data as needed. http://www.notebookforums.com/post2241180-6.html Here's an outline of the process: http://www.notebookforums.com/thread158093.html
Quote:
Originally Posted by tph
GUIDE TO REFORMATING THE HP DV2000T... with the Intel Core Duo A guide, which is what I actually did in order to format my drive and reinstall Windows XP. What u need is: - A Windows XP installation disc (I used a Windows XP Professional SP2 ENG disc) - BACKUP of your C:\\SwSetup folder - SATA driver (which I guess might be found in SwSetup or on Intels Website) - nLite program (google.com) So, heres what Ive done and what made my laptop work properly right now: 1. I burned the whole C:\\SwSetup onto a DVD and backed it up in the LAN (to another CPU, a desktop one) - just in case anything happened to the DVD 2. I used nLite to slipstream SATA drivers onto my WinXP installation disc. The only options you need to check are: Integrate Drivers and Create Bootable ISO. When it prompts you which driver to choose, you basically have to choose the one looking like ICH7M or something like that. Then you create an ISO file and burn it using e.g. Nero. 3. I did not back anything else up, however if you feel like doing so, go ahead. As you all know, there are two types of people: the ones that are making backups and the ones that are going to. 4. I put the new WinXP disc in the drive and rebooted the unit. Windows installer has easily found my disc and asked what to do (meaning where to install it). When I was doing it for the first time, I left the HP_RECOVERY partition, but the second time I removed it anyway - its useless. Dont tuch the NTFS 1028MB partition which is Quickplay and which will prolly be useful. One more thing - create ONLY the system partition at this moment (prolly round 15GB), leave the rest unpartitioned so that quickplay installation may go rapidly. 5. Then I let the installer do what is supposed to, meaning install all that crap and so on. It managed, with no problems. 6. After the reboot, the almighty Windows came up. Heres where SwSetup folder comes in handy. You might either copy it at once to the drive, but I guess I would wait with that till everything works just in case you wont have to copy it again if something goes wrong and you want to repartition, reformat, whatever. 7. The first thing I instlled was Swsetup\\QPW, which is the first part of QuickPlay. After thar, I installed SwSetup\\HPQPDP thich is Direct Play part of QuickPlay. Thins one should create a whole partition and set everything up. It does take some time to do all of that, so be patient. After you install those two, I would shut the system down and try to load the QP using e.g. the DVD QuickPlay button on the notebook itself. If it does work (QP runs), then youre on good way. 8. After that run Windows again and install following directory contents (all from SwSetup): - Video (GM950 drivers for me) - WLAN2 (wireless lan adapter) - NETWORK (only right click on the e100b325.inf file and run Install.. which will make it automatically work) - Chipset (loads of intels chipset drivers) - QLB (function buttons and quickplay buttons drivers) - MISC2 (which is the Ricohs driver for the Media Card Reader) - Touchpad (not really necessary, but useful) - BTOOTH (if you do have BT) 9. Now the audio and modem are the tricky ones. You first need to run the setup from SwSetup\\1UAA folder. Its some microsoft drivers or whateva. Then you need to go to Control Panel->System->Hardware tab->Device Manager and click on System Devices. A dropdown list prolly appeared and should have one PCI device something icon with an orange exclamation mark. Right click on it, check properties, then reinstall driver and then let windows look for it in the SwSetup\\Audio directory. I should find it in no time. After that just run the Setup file, which should find, install drivers and activate audio in you notebook. The same thing should be done with the setup.exe file stored in SeSetup\\modem folder. 10. And here you go, the notebook should be working properly, so does Quickplay and HPRECOVERY. ATTENTION 1. Before installing HP, DO NOT TOUCH the quickplay buttons or you will have to reinstall the whole WinXP again. That is why I told you to install those drivers as the first thing you do after the reformat. 2. If you found that review helpful and you got a dv2000t and want to reformat it, and you would somehow like to say thanks, well.. If you could please upload me the WALLPAPER that came originally with the laptop (and I accidentaly lost it during the format), showing those "Waves" that the laptop has on the lid and an HP logo on it. 3. The unit after the format does actually run/boot up/whatever in a matter of seconds. It is truly remarkable and worth it all. WEARENOTALONE: Thank you very much for all your help without your guidelines I would probably not have the balls to format it! As you can see, it worked so I owe you. Cheers and cu. PS. Could any1 stick this one?
post #4 of 4
Quote:
Originally Posted by cezieg03
I've had desktops all of my life and they have typically been family computers so I haven't messed around with them.

I'm fairly good with computers - no slouch, but not IT dept expert either.

My dv5000z should be arriving soon. I was wondering, does it make a substantial difference to wipe it out and reintsall so that I don't have all of the things HP loads on? How long does the process take to reformat, reinstall windows, drivers, etc? Will it be way over my head or are there good guides on this site (haven't fully explored all of the forums)

Thanks in advance.


BTW: One of the FIRST things you should install after a fresh format is your firewall. One of the computer mags did a test and found the average computer is infected within 6 minutes of being connected.... They did a FRESH install, then connected to download the drivers.. and the machines were infected within 6 minutes...

Download, backup what you need first... do the format, install your anti-virus, anti spyware, and your firewall BEFORE connecting to the net. One firewall I really like was Sygate Personal Firewall Pro... because it did an excellent job of keeping stuff from dialing "out".... The standard XP firewall allowing any app to "dial home"... any trojan...
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