I cannot get an older printer to work with Windows XP

Cause: Hardware, such as a printer, has to be compatible with Windows XP. You may be able to get an older model printer to work with Windows XP, but you will often need an updated driver.

I installed a new driver and the Device Wont Work

Cause: If this happens, you either installed the wrong driver, or the driver is corrupt. In either case, you want to go back to the original driver so that you can try to install it again, or try to use a different driver. Fortunately, Windows XP has a rollback feature that will make this process easy.

I can’t uninstall a device

Cause: At some point, you may want to uninstall a device from Windows XP. For example, let’s say that you replace your keyboard with a newer model. Windows XP should detect that the old keyboard is no longer attached to the system and remove it. Sometimes, though, Windows XP may not get the message that a hardware device has been removed, and the device may keep showing up on your computer.

I can’t use an older hardware device with Windows XP

Cause: In order for any hardware device to work with Windows XP, there must be a driver that will work with Windows XP. The problem with older hardware devices is that a new driver for the device may not be available. You can check out the manufacturer’s Web site and see if a new driver software is available. If not, you may simply be stuck.

Windows XP does not detect my new device

Cause:  

If you attach a new device to your computer and Windows XP does not detect and automatically install the new device, there are several different possible solutions. First, you need to carefully check the device to make sure you have plugged it into the correct port. Devices usually work with some type of port found on the back (or even the front) of your computer. Common examples are parallel ports (printers), serial ports (mice, keyboards, modems, and so on), and USB ports (for all kinds of devices). Some devices even work with infrared wireless ports (called IrDA ports), if your computer has one. The trick is simply this: 

• You have to plug the device into the right port in order for it to work, so check the device documentation to make sure you have it hooked up correctly before going any further.

• Once you are sure that the device is attached correctly, restart the computer. Even though Windows XP can usually detect devices without a reboot, the reboot may help get the device installed. If this doesn’t help, do the following:

1.  Check the device’s documentation for instructions. If a device came with a CD or floppy disk, follow the manufacturer’s instructions to install it.
   
2.  Check the HCL
   
3.  If both of these options do not help, use the following Pain Killer.

Installing and Uninstalling Hardware

Let’s say you buy a new mouse for your computer. You open up the box, read the instructions, attach to the correct port on your computer, and begin using the mouse right away. How? Simple enough. Windows XP works with your computer hardware to detect changes. When you attached that mouse to the port on the computer.

• Windows XP detected that a new hardware device had been attached to the port.

• Understood that the device was a mouse.

• Grabbed a file, called a driver, from an internal Windows XP database that enables XP to manage and use the mouse. This driver is a generic driver designed to work with several mice. You may have better results installing the manufacturer’s driver.

• Installed the driver for the device.

To you, it looks like nothing happened. You plugged in the mouse and began using it, and that’s the way it should be. However, in some cases, Windows XP is not able to detect the hardware device you attach, or the hardware device may not work well without the correct driver. Again, a driver is a piece of software that enables Windows to communicate and manage, or drive, the device. You can think of a driver as the steering wheel in your car. The steering wheel enables you to drive the wheels so that the car goes where you want it to go. In the computer system, a driver enables Windows XP to drive the hardware so that you can use it with the operating system. With all that said, you can experience some problems installing and uninstalling hardware.

Update Drivers in Windows XP

Why should we update hardware driver`s in windows`s Xp?

Each hardware device installed on your Windows XP computer has drivers that run it. These drivers can be updated by the manufacturer of the device in order to help the device run better or to fix issues with software or other devices. Go to the manufacturer`s website to download the newest version of these drivers. Sometimes drivers are downloaded as self-executing files that install automatically when you click them. Other times, you may need to use the Windows Device Manager to update the driver files.

Verify Unsigned Device Drivers in Windows XP

You can use the Windows XP Signature Verification tool (Sigverif.exe) to find unsigned drivers and verify device drivers in Windows XP. This can be helpful for troubleshooting system instability, error messages, boot problems, and so on.

Verify Unsigned Device Drivers

1. Click Start--> click Run--> type sigverif, and then click OK.

2. Click Advanced.

3. Click Look for other files that are not digitally signed.

4. In the Look in this folder box--> type x:\Windows\system32\drivers--> where x is the letter of the drive where Windows XP is installed.

5. On the Logging tab--> make sure the Save the file signature verification results to a log file check box is selected--> and then click OK.

6. Click Start.

NOTE: The log file is named Sigverif.txt, and it is saved in the Windows folder. Third-party drivers that are unsigned are displayed as "Not signed." Use the drivers in this list as your troubleshooting starting point.

Disable Unsigned Device Drivers

A common problem is power management features, and Microsoft requires power management support to certify drivers. Many third-party unsigned drivers lack this support, resulting in power management problems (such as problems going into or coming out of hibernation and standby).

After you find unsigned drivers, you can disable them by using any of the following methods:

1. Disable the device in Device Manager (you may have to click Show hidden devices on the View menu, and then disable the device under the Non-Plug and Play Drivers branch).

2. Uninstall the software that installed the third-party driver by using the Add/Remove Programs tool in Control Panel.

3. Rename the driver in the Winnt\System32\Drivers folder.

Uninstall Service Pack3 From RECOVERY CONSOLE In Windows XP

The following article will help you when you are unable to boot your computer including any of the Advanced Boot Menu after installing Service Pack 3

1. Boot to the Recovery Console using the Windows XP disc
2. Type in the Administrator if you are prompted to and then hit ENTER.
   Note: This Password is of the Local Administrator. If you have not set a password, just hit ENTER leaving the password space blank.

You would be taken to C:\WINDOWS\>

3. Type in cd $ntservicepackuninstall$ and hit ENTER
   You would be taken to C:\WINDOWS\$NTSERVICEPACKUNINSTALL$>
4. Now type in cd spuninst
   You would be taken to C:\WINDOWS\$NTSERVICEPACKUNINSTALL$\SPUNINST>
5. Now type in batch spuninst.txt and hit ENTER
6. Now the SP3 uninstallation will go on for about ten minutes and after it is complete, you would be taken back to C:\WINDOWS\$NTSERVICEPACKUNINSTALL$\SPUNINST>
7. Type Exit and hit ENTER

The computer would restart and take you to the desktop of Windows XP with Service Pack 2

WINDOWS ADVANCED OPTIONS MENU - Enable VGA Mode

The Windows Advanced Options Menu or the The Windows Advanced Boot Menu helps to boot the computer in safe mode, safe mode with networking, the DOS mode etc.

The primary objective of the The Windows Advanced Options Menu is to let the computer to boot with minimal drivers and services when there is any problem for the computer to boot normally.
One Important feature of the The Windows Advanced Options Menu is the Enable VGA Mode

The Enable VGA Mode option enables the computer to boot Winodws in normal mode but with 640 x 480 display mode using the current video driver installed on the computer like nvdia or ATI

The screen might look similar to the safe mode where VGA.sys video drivers are loaded. But in fact it is the current driver that is loaded.

In a nutshell, This mode helps you to get the computer booted even when the monitor is unable to display high resolution of your video.

Update or change a device driver In Windows XP

Ensure the latest device driver for each of the devices is loaded in Windows XP. Manufacturers frequently update their drivers to fix problems and take advantage of operating system features. These drivers are usually available from the manufacturer's Web site, and Microsoft also maintains driver files for many devices on its Web sites.

Upon downloading drivers, read the manufacturer's instructions before attempting to use the files to update the device. Often, downloaded driver files are compressed into a self-executing file that needs to be extracted in order to use the driver. In the Hardware Update Wizard, click to select the Have Disk option, then click the Browse button to locate the driver files.

Install a new driver from Device Manager

1. Double-click the type of device you want to update or change.

2. Right-click the specific device driver you want to update or change.

3. Click Update Driver to open the Hardware Update Wizard. Follow the wizard instructions.