It's reformat time AGAIN!

[RichR]

Well, wish me luck. I am looking at reinstalling Windows XP (second time in just over a year). All my USB ports and controllers just decided to stop working. Re-installs of their drivers gives me error messages saying the driver files are missing some information. I even tried system file checker and got no help in fixing the problem. Either all 8 of my ports are shot or my windows OS is completely dis-com-bobulated (is that a word?).

I might try Windows 7 but I would prefer to go to 64 bit since my CPU is 64 bit and running a 32 bit OS. Maybe that's my problem. Anyone know if I can migrate to 64 bit when my previous OS was 32 bit?

Ugh, I hope Aria is out soon. I can't wait to re-install Kontakt 2 Player again. I wonder how many installs I have left? hmmm.......

Luckily, my wife has a computer that will at least get me to the internet so I can check in out the forum.

Cross my fingers... here I go...

[rwayland]

Well, unless the gremlins attack in force, I expect you should be able to install without loss of data. Seems like an hour or less ought to find you up and running.That does not alter the fact that your problem is a real pain to overcome!

Richard

[LFO]

I have a piece of technical advice that will save you from these miseries.

Get a Mac. :wow:)(~~|:p;):)

Sorry, I couldn't resist. ;)

Good luck with the reinstall, I hope it works out well for you!

-Kevin

P.S. Crossing your fingers isn't the best solution given your situation. I suggest activities involving chicken bones. ;)

[RichR]

LFO,

mmmm, I love chicken...:)

I remember the Apple IIe ... no thanks ~|:p

Richard,

I think if I change to the new Windows 7 RC 64 bit from my XP 32 bit it will involve re-formating my C: drive and there goes all my software and it will need to be re-installed.

I may just try your idea first and re-install windows XP over my present mess. If that works, then you are correct and it will be a minor hassle.

Thanks for the comments and support.

[RichR]

I already had a PCI to USB card and it is not recognized either. I have 6 MoBo USB ports and 2 on a PCI card. I also have a powered hub with 7 more slots. None work because the drivers seem corrupt in Windows. I get an error message when installing the drivers for the USB controllers.

Something must be totally amiss since my Acronis backup image will not recover the image to the hard drive that I have saved as backup for the system.

Thanks for the comments. It looks, though like I will be wiping this hard drive clean and reinstalling Windows XP or jump and try installing Windows 7 64 bit.

[NeoDavinci]

Hi Rich,

Not sure if you're looking for technical advice, but if you're going to reload anyway, I strongly suggest replacing that hard drive since there are only so many places these types of problems originate.

Mark

[RichR]

Mark,


I strongly suggest replacing that hard drive since there are only so many places these types of problems originate.


That is an interesting point but I'm not sure why the drive needs to be replaced. Cannot a reformat effectively clean the hard drive?

Thanks for your help.

[Skysaw]

I don't know the answer to your last question, but I do know that drives are very cheap these days.

[Craig F]

Mark,

That is an interesting point but I'm not sure why the drive needs to be replaced. Cannot a reformat effectively clean the hard drive?

Thanks for your help.That was also what I would suggest. If your system is *THAT* messed up, it would indicate a possible hardware problem. The hard disk being the most likely culprit. A bad HD will cause data corruption.

Another issue might be the drivers themselves. Flakey drivers can cause all kinds of problems. If your 3rd party drivers have an uninstall, try uninstalling all of them. Then disconnect all your controllers and reboot. See if your system recognizes your USB ports now.

[keithjfuller]

I have a piece of technical advice that will save you from these miseries.

Get a Mac. :wow:)(~~|:p;):)

Sorry, I couldn't resist. ;)

Good luck with the reinstall, I hope it works out well for you!

-Kevin

P.S. Crossing your fingers isn't the best solution given your situation. I suggest activities involving chicken bones. ;)

AGREED!!!

I also couldn't resist.

[RichR]

Thanks Keith :) I can take a hint!

[davecos]

I have a piece of technical advice that will save you from these miseries.

Get a Mac. :wow:)(~~|:p;):)

Sorry, I couldn't resist. ;)

Good luck with the reinstall, I hope it works out well for you!

-Kevin

P.S. Crossing your fingers isn't the best solution given your situation. I suggest activities involving chicken bones. ;)

I have had to re-install OS X a couple times on my Macbook so even Macs are not perfect....but they are closer than PC IMO..)(~

[RichR]

Well, perserverance and a little luck paid off. I solved the problem and had to do no re-format! YAY!

It turns out that a RAM: performance enhancing program I installed recently was the culprit. I did the old trial and error method and started removing background programs from my taskbar. Low and behold after removing that little piece of software and rebooting, the pc found its USB ports and happily re-installed everyone of them. That'll teach me to leave well enough alone. I am always trying to squeeze a little more out of my 32 bit machine than I probably should. I guess that I will eventually move to a 64 bit OS but then I would have to re-install all my software.

Thanks for all the help and sympathy (Especially you MAC guys ~|).:)
)(~

[Steve_Karl]

You might want to look into an imaging program.
Drive Image, Norton Ghost, Acronis etc.

That way before you make changes you can image your drive and have a fall back.

[rwayland]

Well, perserverance and a little luck paid off. I solved the problem and had to do no re-format! YAY!


Well, two of my children live in Ohio (Baldwin & Newark). I will ask them if they heard your sounds of rejoicing!

Richard

[LFO]

Thanks for all the help and sympathy (Especially you MAC guys ~|).:)
)(~

It's not too late! Joooooin uuuuuuuus.....JOOOOOOOIIINNNN UUUUUUUSSSS! :wow:

Glad you got it all sorted out!

-Kevin

[dudefromthebronx]

Reformatting the entire hard drive is sometimes called the "doomsday fix." I'll do it as a last resort when nothing else works, but first, try using the Windows installation CD on startup or, if your PC came with a restoration disc, see if there's a repair routine on it that you can use. You should get a screen asking if you want to "Install Windows or repair the current installation. Choose "repair" and keep your fingers crossed. You could also get into your PC's BIOS and see if something in there concerning the USB ports that needs to be changed. You might also try flashing the BIOS.

Hope that helps.*()