One Thing That COMPAQ/HP User always confused!

I found that there are still many people didn't know the difference between series and product number. To make it easier to understand. Let me make it clear that HP on 2001 merged with Compaq but instead of merging and come up with only HP or etc, they keep it separate which you will find there are products start with HP compaq notebook, Compaq notebook, and HP etc.
There are 4 levels you need to know to know exactly what is the product number for the laptop:

Level 1 - Type: Notebook PC

Level 2 - General Product : (all product for notebook and tablet PCs)

1. Compaq Armada Notebook PCs ›
2. Compaq Concerto PCs ›
3. Compaq Contura PCs ›
4. Compaq Evo Notebook PCs ›
5. Compaq LTE PCs ›
6. Compaq Mini PCs ›
7. Compaq Notebook PCs ›
8. Compaq Portable PCs ›
9. Compaq Presario Notebook PCs ›
10. Compaq ProSignia Notebook PCs ›
11. Compaq SLT PCs ›
12. HP 500 Notebook PCs ›
13. HP Compaq Notebook PCs ›
14. HP EliteBook Notebook PCs ›
15. HP ENVY Notebook PCs ›
16. HP G Notebook PCs ›
17. HP HDX Notebook PCs ›
18. HP Home Notebook PCs ›
19. HP Mini PCs ›
20. HP Notebook PCs ›
21. HP OmniBook Notebook PCs ›
22. HP Pavilion Notebook PCs ›
23. HP ProBook Notebook PCs ›
24. HP Special Edition Notebook PCs ›
25. HP TouchSmart Notebook PCs ›
26. Rugged Notebook PCs ›
27. Ultrabook ›
28. Voodoo Notebook PCs › 

Level 3  - Specific product

Let say you pick Compaq Presario Notebook PCs from the list , you will see another list of compaq presario product such as :

Compaq Presario CQ40
Compaq Presario CQ45
Compaq Presario V3000 and much more (if i list down all of them here you will be tire scrolling down)

Level 4 - Product Number

Then now you know you own let say you have Compaq CQ40 (you can see it written on your notebook). BUT that is not the exact product number you need to know, it may help you to seek for technical support but you have to know that there are hundreds of CQ40s. So, you must be more specific.

Now, look at the back of the laptop, you will find a sticker. Your exact product number will look like this (exe: compaq CQ40)

Compaq Presario CQ40-XXXAA (X = number A = letter)
example: Compaq Presario CQ40-123TU, Compaq Presario CQ32-110XX

There are lots of people asking for technical help especially drivers, and leave with a general product number such as V2000. If i listed all the V2000 here you find it longer than you house's door. So take your time and i leave you with this link:


How to identify your product number.

have something to share? leave your comment below.

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Windows 8 Driver

Like always, when there are new Windows, most of us want to try it even it still BETA release. I blog for drivers about 3 years now, and a lot happen after the windows 7 release. The most common problem is no support for old model use old devices.
So, i try windows 8 this week, I'm not really interested on the OS but to see what did we need a new drivers for windows 7?

Let us go to the Vista age for a while to look to the whole situation,
When Vista released, you can't use driver from windows XP, and most of the model design for Vista did not have support in their official site for windows XP. Later, many Vista User dissatisfied with the performance and want to use XP. Then the big problem is, you can install XP, but where is the driver?
Similarly when windows 7 comes, people still want to use XP or Dual-boot , so where is the driver? this is the reason i build this blog, as my journal, my reference, to gather drivers and solution for this type of problems.

Now comes windows 8,
There are no problems for newer model that design for windows 7, practically windows 8 driver are similar to those windows 7. I hope you guys don't misunderstand me, if you want to talk about direct X 12 or else, it is different from my intention. Example, after installing windows 8 you have no audio, so I'll try to find the driver so you get your audio in windows 8, but if the audio Quality is not as great as windows 7, it is a different topics.Not that i don't want to help, but i know myself, i know few things, and i don't speak something that I'm not really know about it.

I spent most of my time study the drivers and thousands of model, I'm not study the hardware specification in term of performance. The strength of window 7 is it automatically install most of your driver, and i believe this Microsoft enhance this feature,like em my desktop, after windows 8 installation, all driver installed properly.


Here i have initial opinion about the drivers:

CHIPSET/Motherboard etc:

INTEL
Inte 3,4,5 and 900 installed automatically, or by windows update. You can also use windows 7 drivers from intel website.

AMD:
South bridge Driver and Co-processor;
Windows 7 and vista drivers will do.

Nvidia:
Use windows 7  and vista drivers. For Older model, you modified inf to get it work.
XP driver may work on some model, the difficult thing is to get the right version. (laptopvideo2go is the best place to start)

GRAPHIC:
the pain is on older Intel graphic, like 82825/852GM GME and 915 graphic chipset. The method for windows 7 requires several steps to complete. Sadly in windows 8 the file in system are different and yet i still didn't found the solution. The best thing to do is look at microsoft update catalog, search for you chipset and install it manually.
For other graphic chipset, manual installation using Vista or 7 drivers normally work.

OTHERS:
card reader, bluetooth, LAN, Wireless,
You fuys don't really have to worry about this, from my experience, this driver not bring to much problems for users. Commonly these drivers installed along with windows installation.

I only tested with my desktop and not with any laptop yet.
This blog work with comments, all article and driver base on request, test and feedback, if you have something to share, I'm so grateful for that.



(p/s: again sorry for my English, as long as you understand my message)

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Application Crash/Freez general solution

This is general post about application that crash/freez. I write this post as a reply to this comment:

waris said...

hi, i read u r reply and i feel that u can help me out, plzzzzzzzzzzz when i start working on MS word after some time my system get freez and it become hang in that situation no option remain except direct power off through power button plz help me wat i do

1.Uninstall and reinstall.
-One of the common thing to do is  to unistall and reinstall the software. Restart your PC and see if it fix it.

Complete unistall guide: (make restore ponit first!)
Unistalling via control panel is not completely remove all the files.
(example ms office)
-unistall from control panel. -office 2007
-remove form program file -c:\program files\office 2007
-remove from registy (click start select run and type REGEDIT) and the rest read here

2. System Restore:
-this is also a popular solution. You can read it here.

3. Low memory capacity and background running program:
- RAM require to support any application that run in your system. If there are too many application running at the same time, it will consume your memory and causes crash/freez/slow performance. Some of you maybe know or don,t that when you start your PC, there are programs that automatically start. The solution is

a. Remove unnecessary startup program:  
- Click start and run type MSCONFIG (win xp)  click start and type MSCONFIG on search box (win 7)
-  Select STARTUP, there you will see many programs that run when your PC start.
-So, remove any unnecessary programs by uncheck the checkbox. It will speedup your PC and may solve your crash problem.
-NOTE: it is important to differentiate which is the system file and which is not. Example AdobeARM - you can remove this.


b. END process at Task manager.
-open task manager by right click at taskbar and select Task Manager or press CTRL + Alt + Del
-select Process, look if there high memory usage. Right click on unncessary program and select end task.

The good thing and The bad thing abou A and B.

Good:
-it will speed up your pc
-and it may solve your problems.

Bad
-there are problem to check which you have to terminate and not to.
(normally i use google to check it)

4. High temparature: -well get urself a fan.

5. Virus - antirus etc( suggestion: avira and malwarebyte)

thats all, have anything to share? leave your comments

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Install Ubuntu Inside Windows (WUBI)

In this tutorial I will show how to Install Ububtu inside windows (dual boot windows and ubuntu)

===========================
CONTENTS:
===========================
I. Downloading ISO and WUBI file
II. Selecting Partition
III. Installing Ubuntu
IV. Some Notes
==========================

I.  Downloading ISO and WUBI file

1. Ubuntu ISO file : Download here
(select the latest version from drop down menu and select 32-bit if you are new to ubuntu)
(note that the latest is 10.10 and over time there will be other release)

click on the picture to enlarge

2. WUBI Installer: Download here

Save both file and wait until. download finish.

II. Selecting Partition

1. You can use any partition you want because it will not clean up your data on the selected partition.
2. You can easily remove ubuntu installation via add/remove program from control panel.
3. Make sure you partition have at least 17GB free. (minimum space is 15GB)

III. Installing Ubuntu

1.  Here i select one of my partition -  D partition, and i rename it with ubuntu.

2. After finish download both file, palce them in D drive (or any partition you want to install ubuntu)

3. Double click on WUBI and you will see this screen.

by default, it will select C partition as installation drive, so you have to change to drive you want to install.

4. change the following:

1- Installation drive : change it to the partition you want to install ubuntu.

2 - select the size of your ubuntu installation, minimum 15GB (make sure after installation the space not less then 2GB.

3 -Insert password, it a must to continue installation.

---click Install--- 

5. After clicking install it will begin to install:

6. When it finish, you will be prompt to restart, restart your computer to continue installation.

7. After restart, on the boot selection select ubuntu.

8. After that, a screen will appear with a countdown 5, 4.... and at this part, you do not need to do anything, just wait it install untill it reboot. After reboot your ubuntu installation is complete.

IV. Some notes

1. So after finish installing, every time you turn on your computer you will see the OS selection, to use ubuntu simply select ubuntu.

2. You can remove ubuntu installation from control panel -add/remove program.

3. After log in to your ubuntu - run updates first.

------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------

P/s: nothing important here, just if you want to read something (^^)

Ubuntu provide wubi to install ubuntu, i try wubi and it took me like forever to install it. I notice that wubi will first downloading the ISO file for installation (about 1-2 hour to wait). So, my idea is to download the ISO and place it with the wubi, so it will not download the ISO but instead use the ISO i downloaded earlier and it WORKS. I also notice that downloading ISO separately are faster the WUBI downloading it.

--------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------

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Check Your Driver In Windows 7

Anonymous said...
I am using Compaq Presario CQ41-110AU and Windows 7, but I have no idea whether any drivers already installed or not :(
because I asked my friend to re-install my laptop.
How to find out what drivers have not been installed yet? and I also need MS Office for Win 7, how to install it?
Thank you in advance.

This guide will show you how to check your computer device driver so that you can identify which driver you need to install. This guide apply for windows XP, Vista and 7.

1. First we use device manager to check our devices. To open device manager click start and on the search box type DEVMGMT.MSC

2. Then a device manager will open. There you will see list of devices of your computer.

a) A computer with all the drivers installed will show no yellow mark in the device manager

b) while the computer with incomplete driver will show yellow mark. But for your graphic (Display), it will show Video controller with yellow mark or under the display adapters it will show Standard VGA Graphic adapters.

3. So now you can identify weather your computer driver is missing driver or not. So the problems is how to get the right Driver.

a) If you know yor computer model say Lenovo Ideapad s10, so just type "Lenovo Support" on google and enter the support site. So browse for your driver there.

b) If it appear that you didn't know what is your model. You can get the hardware ID for the devices and search the hardware ID on google.

c) Lastly, You can request your driver here in Request section.

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Disk Management COnsole View is not Up to Date

This problem occur often in windows 7 when you insert card ready or other storage (USB) in your computer.
In this post i will describe:

1. Overview : some information regarding the problems
2. Solution: To overcome the problem


---------------------
1. OVERVIEW
---------------------
Normally this happen when you insert CARD READER or Other storage (2ndary storage) and your computer failed to detect it. This normally happen in Windows 7 and may occur in other Operating system. Regardless of 32 bit and 64 bit the solution is still the same if you having the problems which i describe above.

So to see if the storage detected or not we open disk management to check the devices. for those who don't know how to open device manager, click start and type in DISKMGMT.MSC

After that the disk management windows will open and you can see your storage appear but when you right click you can't format, change driver letter or path or even select properties:

Here is the error you will get when you try to format or select properties.

---------------------
2. Solution
--------------------

1. Open device manager by click start andtype DEVMGMT.MSC

2. A device manager windows will open, click VIEW and click at the SHOW HIDDEN DEVICES.

3. After that look for UNKNOWN DEVICES devices list, if you can't find it, expand the storage volumes list.

4. Ok, next right click on the Unknown devices, select uninstall,
5. Then right click again on any place there, select scan for hardware change.
6. The a new hardware Wizard will appear, follow the on screen instruction.

Your PC will detect the card reader after the installation finish.

If you have any question or suggestion to improve this post, please leave your comments.

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Check Devices Driver in Windows 7

In this tutorial I will show how to check your device driver in Windows 7.

TO check PC or laptop have all the drivers it need, you can use Device manager.

OPEN DEVICE MANAGER
Click start and on the search box type DEVMGMT.MSC

CHECK THE HARDWARE
If there are drivers which yet not installed in your system, you will see the list with yellow mark.
For Graphic, it will show the exact graphic driver model, if it show Standard VGA means you need to update your graphic driver.

If you have any problems or questions leave your comments.

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SOLVED: Windows Media Player cannot play this DVD because a compatible DVD decoder is not installed on your computer.

OK, this afternoon, a guy from FIJI asked me about the DVD problem. He said that he cannot play the DVD with the error

"Windows Media Player cannot play this DVD because a compatible DVD decoder is not installed on your computer."

OK this cause by missing decoder or the decoder not installed. If you browse Microsof website the solution is:

click start - run - type dvdupgrd /upgrade

OK, for me there is another solution that i like and my favourite which is installing codec packs. The price is FREE.

I recommend installing these codec pack to solve the problems:

K-lite codec pack (FULL)
XP codec pack
Tiger Player/MPCstar

Not necessarily you need all of those, in my PC I install Klite Codec pack, tiger player, Real Player, Real alternative and Windows Media Player Classic.

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Acer driver for windows 7

After windows 7 arrived, many acer laptop user including me try the beta version and now there are several version available. So, the question after the installation of windows 7 is the driver.

HOW TO GET ALL DRIVERS FOR MY ACER (WINDOWS 7)?

Before we do some installation, please run automatic updates and see if there are any updates for your driver.
to check your driver installed or not, just simply click start, on the box type DEVMGMT.MSC and press enter, you should see a windows open with list of your devices. If you see any yellow mark,then you need to find driver for it.

1. Ok first of all the new model shouldn't worry about it because Acer provide the drivers (if you don't have ot or dont find it just leave your comment, ill list it for you) - it all should be listed in acer support page.

2. for bit older model - your vista driver may work. If not try right click on the installer and select properties, then select compatibilities and select windows vista, the click apply. After that right click again and select run as administrator.

3. Find the drivers on the components manufacture site. Every model has it own manufacture, sch as audio eg: Realtek . So if acer just provide a vista audio driver for realtek. just simply go to realtek site and download the latest driver for windows 7.

4. For very old model - maybe quite difficult for you to find several driver. and some of you can't event enable aero. Ok for this one i can assist you, just give me your model and your hardware ID.

P/s: if you like to do some experiment, why not try download driver from other model but with same manuufactre component, and same model, say atheros AR5xxxx, download and test, but please if you new to hardware and driver, please don't try this experiment on your laptop. cheers

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Compaq Audio Driver

Compaq have many model that equipped with certain manufactures audio components. From my experience working with Compaq/HP, there are 3 major type of AUDIO component they use which is REALTEK, IDT - high definition audio devices and conexant.

The problems occurred When Windows Vista arrived, many laptop such as CQ40 and CQ35 model have problems with windows XP installation and installig the Driver especially AUDIO. However i have write posts to solve the problems which you may refer here:

Slipstreaming Guide To install Windows XP

Slipstreaming guide here is a method for those who do not have external floppy drive. And for those who have the external floppy drive may install the XP directly without the slipstreaming process.

For the Audio especially for compaq CQ40 and CQ35 (may also work with vista bae model which use IDT),
I write 2 post how to install the audio driver:

General Audio Installation

and for those who have problems with audio disappear after restart this poost may help you.

• Audio Disappear After restart - part 1
• Audio Disappear After restart - part 2

For those who use realtek you just need to download the latest realtek driver from the realtek site.
Hope this article help and if you have any question feel free to leave your comments.

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How to check your laptop and computer driver

For those who new to computers and drivers, simply drivers needed to connect your hardware and your operating system,
example you have the card reader slot, card reader device/slot is a hardware that equipped in most notebook and laptop.
So after your laptop installed with Operating system, you need to install the card reader driver to enable your windows to recognize your hardware so that you can use it.

DO MY COMPUTER/LAPTOP HAVE ALL THE DRIVERS NEEDED?
-So, if you are thinking do your laptop/computer have all the driver needed? There is a software/tool to check and manage your devices and drivers which already installed along with windows, it is DEVICE MANAGER.
This tool is very useful especially when you have problems to install drivers and also to check weather your laptop have all the driver needed. So to check your drivers, first we need to know how to open device manager.


OPEN DEVICE MANAGER AND CHECK YOUR DRIVER:

1. Click start and select run.

2.. Type DEVMGMT.MSC and press Enter

For windows Vista and Windows 7
-click start and on the search box type DEVMGMT.MSC-


3. A new windows will open and you can see your devices listed there.

This are the picture show all driver installed correctly.

-------------------
This picture show there are missing driver, how do we know that there are missing driver? Just look at the device manager, if there are yellow exclamation/Question mark on the list like the picture below means the driver still missing .

So now, open your device manager and check it now =)

p/s: Installing all driver is NOT A MUST, example you do not want  use your LAN/ETHERNET connection, so no need to install that.

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