Very Computer

I just upgraded my Compaq Presario 1200 laptop from
Windows 98 to Windows XP. I now have a large paperweight.
The install seemed to go well, but now, after rebooting,
the built in pad to move the cursor does not work. I have
an external mouse hooked up and when scrolling the pointer
around the screen, there is very erratic response as well
as very unpredictable results in the operation of the PC
including displaying many of the 'pop up' menus. The tab
key works and I am able to shut down the PC. That's about
it. I am trying to avoid performing a restore back to
Win98 and reloading other software and I'm afraid that I
will loose the data files that I have. Any suggestions
besides removing my head from where the sun doesn't shine?
Thanks.

Before installing xp you should have gone to the ms site to let the site do
a compatibility test
on your computer.  It tests both the hardware and the software for
compatibility.

It sounds as if you have probably both hardware and software compatibility
issues.

Quote:> I just upgraded my Compaq Presario 1200 laptop from
> Windows 98 to Windows XP. I now have a large paperweight.
> The install seemed to go well, but now, after rebooting,
> the built in pad to move the cursor does not work. I have
> an external mouse hooked up and when scrolling the pointer
> around the screen, there is very erratic response as well
> as very unpredictable results in the operation of the PC
> including displaying many of the 'pop up' menus. The tab
> key works and I am able to shut down the PC. That's about
> it. I am trying to avoid performing a restore back to
> Win98 and reloading other software and I'm afraid that I
> will loose the data files that I have. Any suggestions
> besides removing my head from where the sun doesn't shine?
> Thanks.

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You also need to visit the Compaq site and see if they have any updated
drivers and RomPAQs for your model and WinXP.  Youshould have done this
prior to installation, as well as doing the compatibilty test.

Bobby

Agree w/ the compatibility tests, but of course, that doesn't solve your
immediate problem.  If you find that WinXP is NOT compatible, you can apply
my recommendations below to a Win98 rebuild as well as WinXP.

Anyway, this is a great example of why I NEVER do upgrades, hate 'em, only
fresh installs. Just too many things can go wrong, have been using Windows
since 3.0 back in '90, I have NEVER, EVER done an upgrade, absolutely
unnecessary, way too much risk and headaches for too little benefit.

That said, as long as you leave things "as is" and plan carefully, you won't
lose any data (and by data, I mean Word and Excel docs, digital pics, mp3
files, etc., NOT OS configuration details).

Obviously it' hard to know exactly where you are, you have a messed up
upgrade to WinXP, but essentially, your data is intact, correct?  Here's one
strategy you could employ.  I say, forget the upgrade process, consider it a
loss and lesson learned.  Had you backed up Win98 to CD-R/RW (or whatever)
before the upgrade, we'd at least have a restart option, that's history now.

What we'll do is keep the current partition w/ Win98/WinXP around as a
"data" partition, and install WinXP as a NEW partition.  To do that, go to
http://www.terabyteunlimited.com and DL BootIt NG.  This is multi-boot
manager that comes w/ its own partition manager. All were interested in is
using the partition manager features for resizing your existing partition
and then adding a new partition.  DL BootIt NG and create the bootable
floppy (or CD w/ ISO option if you prefer).  Boot the floppy/CD and you'll
be presented with a welcome screen and an option to either have the program
automatically install the boot manager, OR, let YOU install it.  Choose YOU.
This will take you to the main console where you'll see an option to manage
partitions.  Click it, and you should see all the details about your
partitions, presumable it's just one big C: partition that's consuming the
entire HD.  Using the resize feature, reduce the size of the C: partition as
much as possible (when you attempt to resize, it will give you an indication
of the minimum size it can be reduce to).  It's sometime a little off, so
choose something a little bit bigger than the minimum.  Once it's resized,
SLIDE that partition to the END of the HD (specify 0 bytes after the
partition and it will go to the very end).  Once done, you should see
freespace at the head of your HD!  It is HERE that we will install XP..  At
this point, you have two choices -- you can either CREATE a NEW partition
which consumes this freespace and chose a type (suggest FAT32 for now,
unless its greater than 32GB, we'll convert it later), or just let the
Windows XP install do it.  Once you decided whether or not to CREATE the new
partition in the freespace, exit the partition manager, remove the floppy,
and CTRL-ALT-DEL.

Let's stop for a second and review.

So what we have now is TWO partitions, one FAT32 and empty (C:) followed by
the old partition (now D:).  Note that we never did actually install BootIt
NG, we merely took advantage of the fact that it exposes its partition
manager in preparation for an install, so that you can move partitions
around so *it* has a place to install.  We took advantage of that to
manipulate the partitions, but for OUR own sneaky purposes.  When you hit
CTRL-ATL-DEL, that ended the install.  BootIt NG was never installed, but we
got what we wanted.  Why did I choose this product, this way?  Because
BootIt NG can be used freely for this purpose, is HIGHLY reliable, very
powerful, and just as important, it's MY boot-manager, so I'm intimately
familar w/ its operation.  Most people would insist on a backup of the
Win98/WinXP partition before any such manipulation, but I never do (and
since you didn't EITHER when upgrading, well..., I don't feel all too bad
about it ;). In three years of constant use, it has NEVER failed or
corrupted a single partition.  I trust it completely.  But if you feel
uncomfortable, by all means, copy your partitions with whatever tools you
have on hand.  BootIt NG provides its own CD-R/RW imaging features as well,
but I don't recall if they're enabled BEFORE install, you could check, and
if you have a CD-R/RW device available, you could copy the partitions to
CD-R.  If you have a UPS available, or if this is a laptop with a
dependable, fully-charged battery, then that's great and highly recommended,
regardless if you backup or not.

Returning to the process, now go into your BIOS and change to boot from
CDROM.  Insert the bootable XP CD, and reboot.  Proceed as normal.  When the
XP install runs, just choose the freespace (or new partition, whichever way
you went) and install.  When XP setup completes, your old Win98/WinXP
partition will just be a data partition called D: within the WinXP
environment (now showing as C:).

Yeah, sounds complicated, maybe overwhelming, but its harder to explain than
do.  It will preserve your data partition while making way for the new XP
install.  If after XP is up and running, and you've copied all your
important files from D: over to C: , and you decide you don't want the D:
partition anymore, you can just run the BootIT NG install again, access the
partition manager, and delete it!  You can then expand the new C: partition
to full capacity if you like by consuming the freespace left by deletion of
the D: partition.

Whalla, fresh install, one C: partition w/ WinXP, and all your data
preserved!

If you have questions, shoot away.  And yes, there are many other ways to
approach this, other partition managers, some freeware, some commerical,
etc., this is just ONE way I KNOW will work and is VERY dafe.  But if you
have doubts, feel free to ignore all of it ;)

Btw, of course, if you decide WinXP is incompatible w/ your laptop, you can
follow all these same steps, you'll just select your Win98 bootable CD for
install instead of WinXP.

Good Luck!

HTH

Jim

Quote:> I just upgraded my Compaq Presario 1200 laptop from
> Windows 98 to Windows XP. I now have a large paperweight.
> The install seemed to go well, but now, after rebooting,
> the built in pad to move the cursor does not work. I have
> an external mouse hooked up and when scrolling the pointer
> around the screen, there is very erratic response as well
> as very unpredictable results in the operation of the PC
> including displaying many of the 'pop up' menus. The tab
> key works and I am able to shut down the PC. That's about
> it. I am trying to avoid performing a restore back to
> Win98 and reloading other software and I'm afraid that I
> will loose the data files that I have. Any suggestions
> besides removing my head from where the sun doesn't shine?
> Thanks.

Laptops ARE special cases, often the hardware is a one-off
and the only drivers available are for the factory original
setup and OS.

See what Compaq has on their website, maybe they have XP
drivers for the touchpad and other problems.

| Agree w/ the compatibility tests, but of course, that
doesn't solve your
| immediate problem.  If you find that WinXP is NOT
compatible, you can apply
| my recommendations below to a Win98 rebuild as well as
WinXP.
|
| Anyway, this is a great example of why I NEVER do
upgrades, hate 'em, only
| fresh installs. Just too many things can go wrong, have
been using Windows
| since 3.0 back in '90, I have NEVER, EVER done an upgrade,
absolutely
| unnecessary, way too much risk and headaches for too
little benefit.
|
| That said, as long as you leave things "as is" and plan
carefully, you won't
| lose any data (and by data, I mean Word and Excel docs,
digital pics, mp3
| files, etc., NOT OS configuration details).
|
| Obviously it' hard to know exactly where you are, you have
a messed up
| upgrade to WinXP, but essentially, your data is intact,
correct?  Here's one
| strategy you could employ.  I say, forget the upgrade
process, consider it a
| loss and lesson learned.  Had you backed up Win98 to
CD-R/RW (or whatever)
| before the upgrade, we'd at least have a restart option,
that's history now.
|
| What we'll do is keep the current partition w/ Win98/WinXP
around as a
| "data" partition, and install WinXP as a NEW partition.
To do that, go to
| http://www.terabyteunlimited.com and DL BootIt NG.  This
is multi-boot
| manager that comes w/ its own partition manager. All were
interested in is
| using the partition manager features for resizing your
existing partition
| and then adding a new partition.  DL BootIt NG and create
the bootable
| floppy (or CD w/ ISO option if you prefer).  Boot the
floppy/CD and you'll
| be presented with a welcome screen and an option to either
have the program
| automatically install the boot manager, OR, let YOU
install it.  Choose YOU.
| This will take you to the main console where you'll see an
option to manage
| partitions.  Click it, and you should see all the details
about your
| partitions, presumable it's just one big C: partition
that's consuming the
| entire HD.  Using the resize feature, reduce the size of
the C: partition as
| much as possible (when you attempt to resize, it will give
you an indication
| of the minimum size it can be reduce to).  It's sometime a
little off, so
| choose something a little bit bigger than the minimum.
Once it's resized,
| SLIDE that partition to the END of the HD (specify 0 bytes
after the
| partition and it will go to the very end).  Once done, you
should see
| freespace at the head of your HD!  It is HERE that we will
install XP..  At
| this point, you have two choices -- you can either CREATE
a NEW partition
| which consumes this freespace and chose a type (suggest
FAT32 for now,
| unless its greater than 32GB, we'll convert it later), or
just let the
| Windows XP install do it.  Once you decided whether or not
to CREATE the new
| partition in the freespace, exit the partition manager,
remove the floppy,
| and CTRL-ALT-DEL.
|
| Let's stop for a second and review.
|
| So what we have now is TWO partitions, one FAT32 and empty
(C:) followed by
| the old partition (now D:).  Note that we never did
actually install BootIt
| NG, we merely took advantage of the fact that it exposes
its partition
| manager in preparation for an install, so that you can
move partitions
| around so *it* has a place to install.  We took advantage
of that to
| manipulate the partitions, but for OUR own sneaky
purposes.  When you hit
| CTRL-ATL-DEL, that ended the install.  BootIt NG was never
installed, but we
| got what we wanted.  Why did I choose this product, this
way?  Because
| BootIt NG can be used freely for this purpose, is HIGHLY
reliable, very
| powerful, and just as important, it's MY boot-manager, so
I'm intimately
| familar w/ its operation.  Most people would insist on a
backup of the
| Win98/WinXP partition before any such manipulation, but I
never do (and
| since you didn't EITHER when upgrading, well..., I don't
feel all too bad
| about it ;). In three years of constant use, it has NEVER
failed or
| corrupted a single partition.  I trust it completely.  But
if you feel
| uncomfortable, by all means, copy your partitions with
whatever tools you
| have on hand.  BootIt NG provides its own CD-R/RW imaging
features as well,
| but I don't recall if they're enabled BEFORE install, you
could check, and
| if you have a CD-R/RW device available, you could copy the
partitions to
| CD-R.  If you have a UPS available, or if this is a laptop
with a
| dependable, fully-charged battery, then that's great and
highly recommended,
| regardless if you backup or not.
|
| Returning to the process, now go into your BIOS and change
to boot from
| CDROM.  Insert the bootable XP CD, and reboot.  Proceed as
normal.  When the
| XP install runs, just choose the freespace (or new
partition, whichever way
| you went) and install.  When XP setup completes, your old
Win98/WinXP
| partition will just be a data partition called D: within
the WinXP
| environment (now showing as C:).
|
| Yeah, sounds complicated, maybe overwhelming, but its
harder to explain than
| do.  It will preserve your data partition while making way
for the new XP
| install.  If after XP is up and running, and you've copied
all your
| important files from D: over to C: , and you decide you
don't want the D:
| partition anymore, you can just run the BootIT NG install
again, access the
| partition manager, and delete it!  You can then expand the
new C: partition
| to full capacity if you like by consuming the freespace
left by deletion of
| the D: partition.
|
| Whalla, fresh install, one C: partition w/ WinXP, and all
your data
| preserved!
|
| If you have questions, shoot away.  And yes, there are
many other ways to
| approach this, other partition managers, some freeware,
some commerical,
| etc., this is just ONE way I KNOW will work and is VERY
dafe.  But if you
| have doubts, feel free to ignore all of it ;)
|
| Btw, of course, if you decide WinXP is incompatible w/
your laptop, you can
| follow all these same steps, you'll just select your Win98
bootable CD for
| install instead of WinXP.
|
| Good Luck!
|
| HTH
|
| Jim
|
|
|


| > I just upgraded my Compaq Presario 1200 laptop from
| > Windows 98 to Windows XP. I now have a large
paperweight.
| > The install seemed to go well, but now, after rebooting,
| > the built in pad to move the cursor does not work. I
have
| > an external mouse hooked up and when scrolling the
pointer
| > around the screen, there is very erratic response as
well
| > as very unpredictable results in the operation of the PC
| > including displaying many of the 'pop up' menus. The tab
| > key works and I am able to shut down the PC. That's
about
| > it. I am trying to avoid performing a restore back to
| > Win98 and reloading other software and I'm afraid that I
| > will loose the data files that I have. Any suggestions
| > besides removing my head from where the sun doesn't
shine?
| > Thanks.
|
|

While your instructions are quite explicit and accurate I kinda doubt that
this user will be able to implement them.  Nice try anyway.

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Thank you for the replies. I did a goof by not doing the
compatibility test and such, however, that's all water
under the bridge now. This laptop is an expensive paper
weight right now and I'm going to study the replies and
give it a try. If I fail at trying, then at least I tried.
An education always comes at a cost. I appreciate the
detail Jim. Regards, Dave M
upgrades, hate 'em, only

process, consider it
option, that's history
Win98/WinXP around as a
partition.  To do that, go to
were interested in is
floppy/CD and you'll
that's consuming the
sometime a little off, so
CREATE a NEW partition

exposes its partition
advantage of that to
purposes.  When you hit
never installed, but
HIGHLY reliable, very
don't feel all too bad
you could check, and
partition, whichever

install again, access

Win98 bootable CD for