HP and Windows 7 from Microsoft - Solving BSOD after a clean Windows 7 installation

[Marblehead99]

Just an FYI in case this helps anyone else upgrading their Pavilion to Windows 7 . . .

I had installed and tested Windows 7 RC2 without any issues on my HP Slimline s3100e (in a dual boot configuration), and being somewhat experience, I felt pretty confident that the install would be straightforward and uneventful.

After backing up my files via Windows Easy Transfer (which works very well if you haven't tried it yet - just save to an external hard drive) and as added insurance, a full backup image to an external hard drive using Acronis, I proceeded to perform a Windows 7 upgrade.

The upgrade seemingly went well. 

• But I quickly I started experiencing some intermittent freeze ups where the computer became totally unresponsive, requiring a forced power-down/reboot.
• When the computer wasn't locking up, I noticed while applying some Windows 7 updates requiring a reboot that the shutdown process was taking forever - maybe 10 minutes or more.
• Soon I experienced a few BSODs (Blue Screens of Death) and took note of the error message at the top " DRIVER_POWER_STATE_FAILURE." Typically BSODs relate to hardware and drive issues.

So with backups and Easy Transfer in hand, I decided to wipe the hard drive clean and do a clean install.

• Windows 7 RC2 worked fine installed that way in a separate partition and maybe some legacy settings or driver from Vista was causing the conflict.
• The clean install seemed to go well until its first full bootup when a dialog box popped up indicating Windows had recovered from a serious error. This was before and Windows Updates were applied, any programs reinstalled or the Easy Transfer files and settings had been restored.
• So doing the clean install vs. an upgrade of Windows 7 made no difference as far as resolving the issue.
• My first thought was what hardware on this system was unique and might be the source of the conflict - and I figured it could be the TV Tuner card.
• Without getting too technical, I was able to confirm that there was an issue with xcbdaV.sys, which pointed to the ViXS PureTV-U 48A3 (NTSC/ATSC Combo) that came with my s3100e.

The fix:

• Well at least for now, I simply disabled the ViXS PureTV-U 48A3 TV tuner card in device manager (located under Sound, video and game controllers).
• The freeze ups, slow shutdowns and BSODs immediately stopped and I have had zero issues the past few days.
• Since there is not a Windows 7 option for Support and Drivers currently for my S3100e, I will patiently wait a bit and see if this does eventually become an option for this and similar 2 year old HP Pavilion PCs. My initial search for a Win7 driver direct from the card manufacturer came up empty. I have several Pavilion m8000n PCs that do not have Windows 7 drivers listed yet either, though they do have a different TV Tuner card (Hauppauge) that looks like it might be supported via Windows Update .

Hopefully this helps someone else encountering similar issues.

[jim603]

Nobody's crying , it is just that I have an expensive paper weight sitting here waiting for HP to come true on there promise , the new machines all have windows 7 on them so I don't see what the problem is. I think HP sold these machines and now they don't give a dam about the people that bought them .

We cant bring them back because of the 30 day time period is up . so we are the fools for trusting HP to do what they promised.

Just beware when buying a machine from HP because are actions speak louder than words and as you can see they , are doing nothing for the people that are in this limbo right now .

[jim603]

Staples add said that you would get a free Upgrade to windows 7 , when it was released . now it didnt gige a date , but when you submitted your paper work for the so called free upgrade that will cost you $ 13.00 it said you would get it October 22,2009 when the national release was going to happen or shortly after .

 well they are not isn any hurry to give it to anyone. I would like to take the machine back and just go buy one with win 7 already on it I think HP sucks for what it is doing to its customers The VISTA  machine does not work ,it is just sitting there waiting for w7 if I don't get it within the next few weeks I will put XP on it and sell it on craigs list and buy a Dell .

[jimmy1one]

---

jim603 wrote:

Staples add said that you would get a free Upgrade to windows 7 , when it was released . now it didnt gige a date , but when you submitted your paper work for the so called free upgrade that will cost you $ 13.00 it said you would get it October 22,2009 when the national release was going to happen or shortly after .

 well they are not isn any hurry to give it to anyone. I would like to take the machine back and just go buy one with win 7 already on it I think HP sucks for what it is doing to its customers The VISTA  machine does not work ,it is just sitting there waiting for w7 if I don't get it within the next few weeks I will put XP on it and sell it on craigs list and buy a Dell .

---

jim

I'm just a HP customer with nothing to gain.

1.Your problem may lie with Staples their info is wrong IMHO,  there is no  fee for the upgrade AFAIK if you go through the HP upgrade site. If they have their own upgrade package they are still to blame.

2. See my first post it is a quote from the confirmation letter you receive when your request is confirmed. You also receive a second email asking you to verify any change of address

3. While you can perform a Custom upgrade it is not recommended if you read the 22x22 instruction sheet. Everyone and their mom is recommending a Clean install. I see it all over the net even on the Windows 7 forum. Problem is most don't have an HP machine and have not completed the upgrade so IMO are just regurgitating what they've seen elsewhere. A Custom install means you better know what you are doing.

4. I'm a Windows user since 3.1 this is the most complicated upgrade I've seen. I'm thinking why not just tell us what programs the upgrade would not over write. Delete the software in question,  give us the Windows 7 upgrade disk then go to the HP upgrade site and reinstall all the HP software.They choose a different route and it's a bear. Why they choose this route I have no idea, but this is one time to follow directions.

5. When you finish you find you'll have to roll back to Vista if you ever have to reinstall Windows 7, this sound nuts but it what it is. I'm not the coldest beer in the pak but if I had a complant this would be it.

Message Edited by jimmy1one on 11-15-2009 06:17 AM

[GPA]

Emailed Avarto three days ago. My order status on their website indicated pending for some time. They emailed indicating the order was accepted and status was updated to accepted. It will be shipped as soon as possible. I will update here when something happens.

[noobchick]

I submitted my proof of purchase online, and was told via the website it would be three to five business days before it would be approved, and then processed.

Try two weeks before I heard anything. Then, the email I got said my Windows 7 upgrade would be shipped out in three to five days, and I would get another email when it was shipped. Two weeks go by, and still nothing. I checked the web site for my order status, and it said it had been shipped, with a DHL tracking number. Yet, the DHL database said no such shipment with that number had been recieved. I email Avato about it, and no response. So, last night I spent 40 minutes on hold waiting to talk to someone. I am told by the Avato rep that they don't know what happened, and my issue would be sent to the "Escalation Department", who would contact me within three to five days. I am not holding my breath.

In the meantime, my two month old HP monitor goes bad, and I try to get a hold of HP by telephone. After explaiinng to the rep several times what the problem was, and that I had indeed tried the troubleshooting tips on the HP website, I get disconnected. I was finally able to get a hold of someone via online support, and again had to say three times over that I had tried all the troubleshooting tips. Then, I am told that I will have to give my credit card number as " collateral" so if I did not return the defective monitor within a certain amount of time after geting the new one, I would be charged. Then, I have to wait arouind for a supervisor from HP to call me to get the number. He called an hour past the requested time I had asked for, and then asked me several times over if I wanted to pay for shipping the new one so I would get it faster, even thought I told him the free ground shipment was fine.

This has gotten very old....

Message Edited by noobchick on 11-18-2009 10:23 AM

Message Edited by noobchick on 11-18-2009 10:27 AM

[jim603]

Your first mistake is believing what they tell you, HP has not been honest with this upgrade , they have turned it over to a third party so they can shift the blame away from themselves but the longer the discontent goes on and the mishandling is happening of this Windows 7  upgrade the more the blame is shifting back to where it should be , HP is not concerned with the sales they have made only future sales they will not keep their promises .

They have proven to me they are a company I will not do business with .

I own 5 HP machines and one Dell , and the Dell customer support is light years above HP , I am sorry I believed HP would acutely send me the upgrade when promised , I should of bought a Dell .

[Rockbar]

So, what is the state of the art of delivery? Have not got the upgrade kit so far. It really sucks. I am not willing to pay 25 EUR for getting a product 4 weeks after official release. I know HP is not arvato. But, come on, how difficult is it for hp to note an official apogolize for the delay in the forum, since it is their hardware. By now, it would be easier to keep Vista on the notebook, since a lot of things are installed so far. Who pays me the extra time for the installation of the Win 7, in the case it should ever arrive?

[PC_Tester]

OldMiller,

The unknown device for your (assuming a1620.uk) system is no longer used in Windows Vista or Windows 7. If you want to get rid of the yellow bang, go to

windowsupdate.microsoft.com  (Check for updates, opt to install all recommended and optional driver updates available) 

It will install a null driver for this device so it looks normal and will never prompt you to install a driver for this device again

[essex52]

I recently did a clean install of Windows 7 Home Premium 64-bit on my HP Pavillion a6632uk desktop PC and apart from having to use a workaround to prevent the error message "Display driver nvlddmkm stopped responding" every time I sent a document to my Epson R220 printer with the print preview selected, I am absolutely thrilled at the vast improvement in speed and productivity I am now getting from my PC!!!

I have been very pleased with this HP Pavillion a6632uk ever since I purchased it from the HP website. But with Windows 7 64-bit installed it's now even better!