Issues with HP 8540p notebook hardware / drivers: sound, usb, network, cd don't work

[user556677]

Hey all, yesterday I got my old notebook out to check if it's still ok. Some time ago (last year?) I reset everything and set it all up. I noticed that it was weirdly slow, so I figured that I might forgotten to install the chipset driver when setting it up. I went on HP's homepage and got the chipset driver and BIOS update along with some other drivers. After updating the bios and installing the chipset driver the notebook runs much smoother but some of the crucial hardware components do not work anymore: network, wireless, usb, sound for example. Unfortunately I didn't get those drivers from the HP homepage. So I'm stuck with a notebook that has no internet and no usb ports. This means I cannot get the needed drivers on the NB those ways. The CDR drive doesn't seem to work either. At least I couldn't get a CD with music running. I might have Knoppix somewhere on a USB flash or even on a cdr. Would it help to boot Knoppix from one of those - if this would even work without the drivers installed? What else could I try? Resetting the notebook would be my last option since there are some files on it I'd like to secure first.. Any thoughts?

EDIT: FIXED! After rolling back sound drivers sound started working. After uninstalling all USB devices and drivers and installing USB 3.0 Host Controller Driver (which I luckily had in my downlaod folder) USB ports are back to operational

[Huffer]

Can we see device manager? If drivers are missing it could explain some of this. You can boot to Knoppix even if drivers are not installed in Windows. The Knoppix Live will provide drivers. This way you can test hardware function. The CD drive may just need to have the lens cleaned. The laptop is very old but still should be useable as long as hardware has not gone bad. 

[user556677]

Thanks for your reply.

CD-Drive: I cleaned the lens and tried another disc. Now it shows the medium and files. Thanks!

Device-Manager: Sorry, I forgot to give this info in the original post. According to the manager there are recent drivers installed (USB, sound, network adapters)

I'm not able to find the CD with Knoppix on it. I'll get a copy next week then try again. Thanks so far!

[Huffer · Accepted solution]

If all drivers show as being installed (no error marks in Device Manager) and yet components do not work, I would next try to run a hardware diagnostic on it. This is similar to doing the Knoppix thing, but you never know if Knopix actually has an included driver for all your devices (probably does). You can download an HP diagnostic  bootable thumb drive which will test all the hardware and give you a 100% reliable test. 

https://support.hp.com/us-en/help/hp-pc-hardware-diagnostics

[user556677]

Thanks! I fixed some issues by partially rolling back the last driver and device installtions (see edit in original post). I will do the diagnosis you're suggesting as well just in case