Can’t connect to internet

[Bobbyml]

I have a HP dv9000  with XP sp2 and can’t get it to connect to my internet. I can get it to partially connect with an ethernet cord . By partial I mean I can get to CNN but once I click on a subject matter I get an error.

My friend gave me this laptop, it belonged to his mother who passed away. I hate to throw it away because it’s like brand new condition. It only has service pact 2 installed and I’m sure the browsers haven’t been updated.     HELP

[Paul_Tikkanen]

Hi:

One of the main problems is that hardly any website works on IE8 anymore.

What model wifi adapter does your notebook have?

If you don't know, go to the device manager, click to expand the Network adapters device manager category, and there you will find the name and model number of the wireless network adapter.

I suggest you install Firefox, which is the only browser that I know of that still works half decently on WXP.

Download Firefox Browser — Fast, Private & Free — from Mozilla

You can also upgrade to XP SP3 by downloading the file directly from the Microsoft update catalog.

First file listed.   The automatic Windows update doesn't work anymore for XP or Vista.  Microsoft shut it down.

Microsoft Update Catalog

[Bobbyml]

Hi Paul,

Thanks for trying to help me.

The network connector is  Intel (R)  PRO /wireless 

3945 abg.

The problem is I can’t download anything because 

I can’t connect to the internet.

I want to upgrade this laptop but I understand that it needs to be working to upgrade it.

If I connect ethernet cord and use the Netscape Browser I can connect to like CNN but can’t go any further without an error popping up.

Thanks Again for your help

[Paul_Tikkanen]

You're very welcome.

What you have to do is download the files from another PC, copy the exe files to a USB flash drive and then install them on your notebook.

That is the only way you can do it now since the internet doesn't work right on XP, and even W7 for that matter, although at least Windows update still works on W7.

Here is the info for how to download firefox for XP.

How can I get the latest version of Firefox on Windows XP or Vista? | Firefox Help (mozilla.org)

Here is the latest XP driver for the wifi adapter your notebook has. 

I am not sure if you need to have XP SP3 installed or not for this driver to work.

https://ftp.hp.com/pub/softpaq/sp50501-51000/sp50724.exe

[Bobbyml]

Paul

Again thanks for your help.

I’ll try that with the firefox  browser. If I can get the Firefox browser to download I should be able to get it up and running and then start upgrading it.

Have you heard of the Mypal Browser for XP?
I’ll post what happens.

Thanks

Bob

[Paul_Tikkanen]

You're very welcome, Bob. 

No, I have never heard of that browser before.

[Bobbyml]

Hi Paul

Again thanks for your help.

I was able to do everything you said . I got it running with the ethernet cord however I’m not able to use the wifi, it says that it can’t acquire a network address. I saw some things to try but I

don’t have run in my start menu so that slowed me down. I went to properties in the start menu and run box was checked. Any ideas you have on that would be appreciated.

Also , what would you suggest I do for an upgrade go to W7 then upgrade to W10 or go directly to W10.

As far as hardware goes what do you think for memory and hard drives. Right now it has 2 hard drives 86 GB for the os and 100 GB for data . The data drive is empty and os drive only has 25 GB

taken up.

After I got it running I downloaded the advast 

antivirus.

All your ideas were certainly appreciated.

Thanks

Bob

[Paul_Tikkanen]

You're very welcome, Bob.

Were you able to update XP to SP3?

I don't think you can connect to a router with WPA security with SP2 installed unless a specific security patch was installed, which I doubt can be found anymore.

Unfortunately I don't know what you can do to get the run command to show up in XP.

What is the product number of your dv9000?

Use this guide to find that information...please do not post the serial number.

HP Notebook PCs - How Do I Find My Product Name or Number? | HP® Customer Support

The notebook is not supported by HP for W7 or W10.

If you can install W7 for free and get it activated for free, then I would go with W7, and then take the free upgrade to W10 if you want to try it out.

Are there actually two hard drives in the machine or just one hard drive with a few partitions?

[Bobbyml]

Hi Paul

I was able to upgrade to SP3 and the newer version of Firefox. My laptop is a pavilion dv9000.

I opened up both hard drive compartments and each one had a hard drive. Also I was able to change to the classic start menu and now I have a run in my start menu.  Now I can give a shot to a couple of the things I saw online to try to get my Wi-Fi working.

I saw a Windows 7 product code for $19 - figured it was worth giving it a try and  like you said upgrade to 10 for free. From what I’ve read it seems like there’s enough memory hard drive and speed to handle 10.

Thanks Again 

Bob

[Paul_Tikkanen]

Hi, Bob:

All the dv9000's indicate dv9000, but there are almost 1000 variations of the model which is why I need the product number so I can let you know what hardware it supports and if there are any BIOS updates you can install.

You can't update the BIOS unless you are running XP or Vista, so you would want to do that before installing W7.

The product number should be on the same label as the serial number, and is arranged like the example on the link I posted.

5ES85EA#ABA

Or you can find it in the system information window.