dv9700t SP2 issues

Hey everyone, i'm loving my new dv9700t and trying to downgrade to XP for performance reasons. (seems like that's the universal reason for all).

However, I have a problem. It seems like everytime I try to install service pack 2, my computer goes into this automatic reboot everytime i reach the startup screen.

I can hit safe mode just fine, and even restore back to the original XP before SP2 and it runs just fine in normal mode. but anytime i even touch SP2, my computer is unable to support it... which sucks because SP2 does have a lot of advanced features which i would like to have. (plus some programs require SP2)

can anyone shed some light??

~Jvc21

 

I can pretty much guarantee it is a driver compatability problem and my guess is it is the video driver.

If you can boot into safe mode with SP2 installed, try to install the video driver from the HP download site for your notebook. I'm quite sure that SP2 installed a driver it thought you should have.

You might want to download some of the drivers like video and sound ahead of time so you have them to install or install from the c:\swsetup folder if you can determine which file is which. You can determine if SP2 is changing your drivers by writing the driver info down prior to installing and then check the version after installing SP2.

I have this same problem trying to install SP3 on a Sony desktop.

 

So what would you recommend first? should I install sp2? or should I install the drivers first, then install sp2, and then rewrite them before i reset?

(The PC is still usable after installing sp2, but before i reboot my PC.

Argh, this is killing me.

 

I would check my driver versions of the main components like video, sound, etc. and write them down. Then install SP2 but do not reboot and check the driver versions again to see what has changed. At the very least re-install the video driver from the download site before you re-boot and see if this corrects the problem. If not, well, hmmm let me think about it.

Time for others to chime in here!!

You shouldn't have to do any of this, it should just work.

Edit: I just took a look on the driver site for this notebook and I couldn't find a video driver for XP. Where did not get your XP drivers?
Here is some driver info for you: http://www.laptops-drivers.com/hp-laptop/installing-xp-on-hp-pavilion-dv9700t.html

 

i'm reinstalling windows right now.

i'm going to write down all the drivers and see what changed.

then installing sp2 then installing the video driver, (it seems that i can't even make it past the blue startup screen without it restarting so it's most likely a video driver issue)

wish me luck!


~Jvc21

 

If it doesn't work you might also try booting into safe mode and see if that works, that way you can do some experimenting with drivers, etc. without uninstalling SP2.

 

safe mode works, but normal mode doesnt.. when using sp2.

I just installed XP and it works fine. Now i'm trying to install sp2.

I'm going to bed though, so i will tell the results tomorrow.

 

i tried my path, and it didn't work.

now i have sp2 on, and it keeps rebooting. safe mode is just fine.

frustration is settling in.

any ideas??


~Jvc21

 

Jvc21, where did you get the XP drivers for your dv9700t? They are not on HP's site. Are you sure you downloaded all the correct drivers for the XP install before doing the downgrade from Vista? I know it is a driver problem. Don't count on XP installing the correct drivers automatically, it won't! You need to search with google or ? to find out what drivers others have used for the XP downgrade or you will never succeed.

You might try the link I posted above for a few of the drivers you need in case you haven't. You should be able to install them in SAFE mode.

 

- I used drivers that were universally used by other dv9700 users. here's the link:

http://forums11.itrc.hp.com/service...47626+1217728526821+28353475&threadId=1228039

-All other dv9700 users seem to have success but my own laptop, which is very frustrating.

- I installed Windows with SP1 Intergration and that is up and running. But whenever I install XP with sp2 or sp3 intergrated, my laptop just loop reboots even before i get to the first time customized settings/welcome screen.

Gah!

 

OK, great! You should install each of those drivers after installing XP SP2, but before you reboot your PC. Did you? Do you have any yellow exclamation points on any devices in device manager?

Maybe I am confused here, are you able to install XP SP2 and it works OK until you first reboot your PC or you cannot complete the SP2 install process because of the reboot problem?

One thing just came to mind. You don't have any external devices plugged into your notebook like printers, USB devices, anything, do you? If so make sure they are unplugged before any OS or service pack install. A USB floppy is OK in case that is how you are loading your Sata drivers.

I am running out of ideas. Per chance do any of your friends have a XP SP2 disk that you can borrow and install the SP2 version right from the start instead of SP1 then install SP2 service pack? I think you should still be able to use your product key but I am not sure.

 

- Before i say anything else, i want to thank you for helping me out with my lappy problems.

- I'm able to install sp2 fine, but after i reboot when prompted, i fall victim to the auto reboot before reaching the welcome screen.

- Basically the first initial screen (the windows and the loading bar), i am greeted with a mouse cursor and a blank screen before auto restarting (which makes me believe that there's a video driver issue).

- I have an XP disc with sp2, and a xp disc with sp3; neither of those work. the only disc that works is my sp1, and i can't upgrade to sp2 without it auto rebooting.

- I tried using the sp3 xp disc the other day with nlite uploading my video drivers and that didn't work either.

- argh!

- I may be forced to use the HP's vista...

~Jvc21

 

Your Welcome. I am out of ideas, it sounds like you have done everything correctly, more than once!!

I left Vista on my laptop so I could play with it but run XP on my Sony Vaio dekstop, its not compatable with Vista anyway (typical Sony).

Vista runs quite well on my laptop, I am pleased for the most part. I turned off a few of the Vista features, looks and runs more XP like. No crazy on screen sidebars. I don't game so that was not an issue with compatability. Any program I run works well on Vista.

Below is just a few of the things I had to do to make Vista more friendly. Feel free to ask more questions, there is a Vista guide on the forum, maybe the OS forum.

I don't know about XP but on Vista you will probably want to turn off HP Quickplay and HP QuickTouch on Screen Display in MSconfig, Startup. You can still start Quickplay from the programs menu and that On Screen volume display drives some programs crazy. I also had to turn off User Account Control, it drove me crazy having to give administrator privleges everytime I wanted to run certain programs. If you were used to syncronizing between your notebook and another computer using XP briefcase, it will drive you crazy in Vista (slooooow is an understatement). Use Microsoft SyncToy 2.0.

Good luck!

 

-lol, i just don't get it anymore. what is wrong with my dv9700 and sp2 (or even sp3)?

- i've googled it around and it seems like no one else has this issue but me. I've searched sp2 issues, but none of them seem to apply to me.

- I'm just about ready to give up. either i'm sticking with sp1, or moving to vista...

~Jvc21

 

I don't think sticking with XP SP1 will be an option in the long run, eventually you most likely will run into problems with certain programs not having SP2.

If you haven't given Vista w/SP1 a fair chance yet why not try it? I am not gung ho on Vista but my system runs like a dragster compared to my old Sony laptop PIII with XP and 512MB max memory (before it died). Again, maybe if I were a gamer I would have a different opinion, don't know.

My laptop with Vista gives my 3.2GHz p4 desktop with XP a good workout and I haven't found any non-fixable issues that would warrant a downgrade to XP at this junction. Just my .02.

 

Just move to vista. It's really not nearly as bad as everyone claims it to be. I run Vista Home Premium X64 with Service Pack I and it's been incredibly smooth running for me. In fact my only issue really has been the latest version of firefox acting wonky at times.

If I had to guess I'd definitely say it's a driver issue, though not necessarily the video drivers. Have you tried installing XP and just using the basic drivers it provides to install SP2 and SP3?

I've also had no problems with file transfers between Vista and XP just by turning on sharing of certain directories.

 

- alright, it seems like i'm going to jump on the vista bandwagon. the laptop was designed for vista anyway, so i might as well hug it with open arms...

- once again, thanks for everyone's time to help me through this!

- now, i just hope my HP recovery disc still works... lol.

- I do have a home premium somewhere as part of a thank you from a local computer store sweepstakes... hope i can find it!


~Jvc21

 

Oh, I am sure it will work, although your notebook may just keep rebooting over and over :twitcy:

 

...

~Jvc21

 

- alright, now i'm having a serious issue.

- i'm getting the BSOD (error 0x00000124 stuff), everytime i log into vista now. i've tried multiple copies of vista (HP recovery discs, home premium), and i can't make it past the login screen.

- THis time, i can actually see a few screens before the BSOD takes over.

- the only other option i have left is my XP sp1 disc, which seems to be the only OS working for me.

-FYI, my BIOS is f.45, and i see a new one posted. should i attempt to upgrade to that if that may help? or will it just cause more frustation?


~Jvc21

 

I think you have a problem with your dv9700. If you contact HP they are going to have you upgrade to the latest BIOS as part of their help process so you may as well. Wait, is your system stable enough to attempt a BIOS upgrade? After re-reading your post I don't think so.

If you can't install Vista from the recovery disks you made, unfortunately, I think its time to call HP for either a replacement or warranty service
(I know how much I would dread that). Forget about XP SP1.

You are having way too many problems with a NEW notebook. I would just explain that you were getting BSOD's and tried to recover using your recovery disks but are unable to do so.

 

- lol, ewww... HP customer service? hearing all the stories of repairs from HP coming back with dents and scratches and still coming up empty. doesn't seem like a good option (but, probably the only option.)

- i might try one last thing. in all of these errors, i'm able to get into safe mode okay. so i may tinker with some stuff there before i resort myself to the mercy of HP.

- sigh.

~Jvc21

 

Still some things left to try:
1. Run a comprehensive memory test with Memtest.
2. Remove and re-install the memory.
3. Boot into Bios and run the HD diagnostic test.

HP would make you do items 2 and 3 anyway.

Other than the above, I am tapped out! Best of Luck!!!

 

Go ahead and try. Are you doing a quick format or a full (long and slow) format on these installs because it sounds like something is messed up on the hard drive.

 

- i've done both quick and full formats. (more with quick for time issues). same results.

- Update: I did update my BIOS, i'm at f.58 now, and i think i made it worse... for the first time in almost 30 hours, i actually logged into vista cleanly. So i figured i'd update the BIOS, which i did. And now vista won't even load, and each re-install does nothing as it gets stuck loading vista.

 

- alright so, after working on it for 6 hours, I have determined this below:

- the only OS that's operable are my XP with sp1, and the HP's recover disc (home premium). Any other OSs I have (XP sp2, sp3; vista business) do not work at all.

- I have switched out one memory to test and both came back with no errors.

- HP has agreed to send in free mail in service, but i don't know what they are going to do about this. Should I put HP's original OS on there? should I even bother sending it in??


~Jvc21

 

- Am I understanding this correctly: Vista Home Premium now works as it should when re-installed from the restore DVD's you made, and that was the OS you purchased with your notebook?

- What OS do you have on it at the present time? The first thing they will most likely do is re-image your harddisk with the OS that it shipped with. I wouldn't waste my time installing more OS's.

- If the original shipped OS is now working and after HP re-images your harddisk it is still working I would imagine they will just return your notebook to you, although I am just guessing. I don't know what HP does if you try to upgrade Vista (such as to business) and it doesn't work?. I would be really interested to find out. Although it wouldn't surprise me if they didn't refer you to Microsoft saying it was their problem.

If you can now get it working with the OS as purchased it is a real hard call as to whether to send it in or not. What did HP have to say about your problem?

 

-They just told me to send it in. That's all. Home premium is nice and all, but it's loaded with HP stuff that took me forever to scrub off. I'm thinking about purchasing windows vista ultimate, but I'm afraid that it may not work on my laptop.

- I'm currently running XP sp1 atm, which is working fine. I'm avoiding sp2 at all costs, but i can't install about half my programs because of the necessity of sp2.

- sigh, what a week.


~Jvc21

 

Update: It's been almost 3 weeks since my issue with this lappy. I have toyed around with sp1 for a bit, but it seems like i'm out of options because of the incompatiability of many programs needed for sp2. HP won't send me a free in-service repair even though one said they would. and now they don't even recognize that we chatted before... shame.

i'm going to try sp2 again, and try my friend's vista ultimate that he got from his company. hopefully that'll work. I need sp2 or vista eventually.

again, if anyone has any ideas, please let me know!


~Jvc21