Rip Van Winkle--problems with win 7 and dv2500

[Turkey2]

I need some assistance/advice/reality check.

I inherted a Pavillion dv2500 notebook with Vista home premuim installed.  I decided to upgrade it to win7 premium home edition, downloaded the program from a 3rd party installed it the custom way (clean format) and it worked.

I then noticed that all the programs that were installed were gone.  I knew this would happen but I guess I didnt know the extent.  Regardless, it is done and I do not have the vista recovery disks as the notebook is a hand me down from a deceased relative

So win 7 seems to be working good for a day.  I get a notice that I dont have virus program and being cheap I see if my internet provider (AT&T) provides McAfee.  It appears I installed this on the laptop and another pc some time ago.

I attempt to install the mcAfee download and the problems start.  I get the blue screen of death, and a repair prompt, I choose it and pc goes blank.  After turning it off for the night I start it up and it gets past this screen and attempts to repair it but can't. It says it can't repair.

SO I am thinking of re-installing windows 7 and trying again.

Is this crazy?  I used to be pc savvy but not anymore and I am getting the feeling that this model may be older than I think and I have botched.  Are the odds against me to get this to work?  Should  I take a hammer to it, buy a new one, or give it another go?

Any insight would be helpful.

[Paul_Tikkanen · Accepted solution]

Hi:

I would just use the free Microsoft Security Essentials program which is a combination antivirus/antispyware program.

http://www.microsoft.com/en-us/download/details.aspx?id=5201

The dv2500 is not supported by HP for W7.

You should be able to use most of the Vista drivers on the support page for your specific dv2500 model (there are hundreds of variations based on the product number).

You can also read this unofficial forum guide for how to get W7 to work on the dv2xx model series.

http://h30434.www3.hp.com/t5/Notebooks-Archive-Read-Only/Windows-7-Upgrade-Guide-for-dv2000-models/t...

[Turkey2]

Thanks Paul,

I guess what you are saying is try to reinstall 7, read the guide and use the free microsoft antivirus?

[Paul_Tikkanen]

You're very welcome.

Yes, that is correct.

Use the Vista drivers for whatever the guide doesn't tell you to do.

You should be able to manually install the vista graphics driver after you close out of the error window you get that states unsupported operating system when you run the file.

To find the exact support page for the dv2500 model you have, enter the product number in the box at the link below and you should be directed to the support page.

https://h22207.www2.hp.com/us-en

The product number can be found on the same sticker as the serial number.

If you need any help finding drivers, I will be happy to try and help out.

[Turkey2]

I will give it a try tomorrow night, sounds like I can handle this, or at least I have another try in me.  Thanks again, and I will let you know if it worked or not.

[Turkey2]

Paul,

Your suggestions worked.  Thanks.

Now I have another issue.  My DVD drive is not recognized in windows explorer or device manager yet is in bio boot order.  I have seen this is a common problem and am attempting to install new drivers but I cannot find dvd drivers for this pc.  I thought it was a dv2500 but upon entering in the product number, HP tells me it is a dv2900.  Either way when I go to the support area for this type of pc I cannot find a driver for this.  There are drivers but not for dvd drives.  SO I think it is in one of drivers but I dont know which one.

I actually took the drive out, it is an HP DS-8A1H dvd drive.  I google that part number and read of similar problems. Any idea what I am doing wrong?

[Paul_Tikkanen]

You're very welcome.

There are no standalone DVD drivers.  They have been included in all versions of Windows since Windows 2000 came out.

See the link below, and run through each of the Steps.

https://support.microsoft.com/en-us/help/314060/your-cd-or-dvd-drive-is-not-recognized-by-windows-or...

Method 6 usually is the one that fixes the problem you are experiencing.

[Turkey2]

Paul.

I tried these with no success.  I am beginning to think the drive is bad.  This is what happened with each method:

Method 1 --ran troubleshooter, listed coprocessor driver, and 2 base system device drivers missing and something about a hardware change.  Attempted to install drivers but could not.

Method 2--checked bios.  ATAPI CD/DVD drive is listed in boot sequence. I think this means it is seen, but I read somewhere that bios should list the exact type of DVD drive and not sure ATAPI is it.  I took it out it is a DS-8A1H dont know the make.

Also I dont know how to check for the chipset drivers.

MEthod 3 --could not reinstall drivers because the drive is not listed in the device manager

Method 4- Attempted this there are 2 channel 0, channel 1's and 2 standard dual PCI controllers.  I can uninstall 1 of each, but attempt the other one and am told to finish removing I need to restart pc.  I would have to do that 3x's, this doesnt seem right

Method 5--I dont see upper or lower filters in this item

Method 6--Tried this doesnt change anything.

I understand that the missing drivers in method 1 might be it, and I was not able to completely do all of these, or it didnt work. but I think I need to verify that it indeed is operational.  Dont know how to do this, currently looking up how to get a copy of HP vision diagnostics.  Maybe something I have said above will give a clue as to what I am doing wrong.  I could by a USB CD/DVD drive for $39 down the road, or a replacement to this drive for $47.  The former would solve it, the latter maybe not, but hte Engineer in me wants this thing fixed.

Any help is appreciated .

Jim

[Paul_Tikkanen]

Hi:

You need these drivers for the coprocessor and base system devices...

This package provides the driver for the NVIDIA nForce Chipset in the supported notebook models and operating systems. Provides Chipset Driver MCP67M (32-bit and 64-bit combined).

Restart the PC after you install this driver.

http://ftp.hp.com/pub/softpaq/sp36501-37000/sp36607.exe

This package contains the driver and host controller for the Ricoh 5-in-1 Card Reader for the supported notebook models and operating systems.

http://ftp.hp.com/pub/softpaq/sp37501-38000/sp37614.exe

Since the BIOS 'sees' the drive, the drive may be bad.  At least it isn't the motherboard.

Models with the nforce chipset are notorious for overheating issues and the most common problems are that power is cut to the DVD drive, audio and wireless.  Then the video chip goes out.

I'm not a PC repair tech by trade or training, so I wouldn't have any idea how to test a drive to see if it is bad.

Perhaps the coprocessor driver (nForce chipset driver) will install some motherboard drivers and get the DVD drive to show up.

[Turkey2]

Ha!  I stumbled across the same chipsets on the HP web after I sent my reply and was tempted to download but wanted to wait....I will do these and see what happens