downgrading compaq presario C700 laptop

[charles lai]

Hi,

i've just bought a compaq presario C769TU laptop and it comes with vista home basic.

I would like to know when will all the drivers for windows xp for that model be out so i can downgrade to vista without any problems?

Thank you.

[Binay Kumar]

Hi,

U can downgrade to win xp without any problem reply me if not done in my mail ID i will provide u the links for drivers in win xp

Mail ID bikky_jsr@hotmail.com

[Binay Kumar]

First download and install the UAA driver from the following link:

ftp://ftp.hp.com/pub/softpaq/sp33501-34000/sp33566.exe

After installing this, download and install the audio driver from the following link:

ftp://ftp.hp.com/pub/softpaq/sp36001-36500/sp36090.exe

This will create a swsetup folder in c drive ("C:\swsetup\sp36090")

Installing this driver may result in an error. But continue with the following steps to get the audio driver installed correctly.

1. Click on Start and select Run. Now type devmgmt.msc and press enter.

2. Right click on "Audio device on High Definition Audio Bus" and click Update driver.

3. Select "Install from a list or specific location"

4. Click Next. Then select "Don't search, I will choose the driver to install"

5. Click Next and then select "Sound, video and game controller" from the list.

6. Click Next and then click Have Disk.

7. Click Browse C:\swsetup\sp36090.exe folder and select the .inf ) file and click open and Continue with the onscreen instructions.

Conexant HDAUDIO Soft Data Fax Modem with SmartCP Driver:

ftp://ftp.hp.com/pub/softpaq/sp37501-38000/sp37982.exe

ALPS Touchpad:

ftp://ftp.hp.com/pub/softpaq/sp31001-31500/sp31075.exe

Intel PRO/Wireless Drivers:

ftp://ftp.hp.com/pub/softpaq/sp35501-36000/sp35989.exe

Broadcom Wireless LAN Driver:

ftp://ftp.hp.com/pub/softpaq/sp34001-34500/sp34152.exe

Wireless Assistance:

ftp://ftp.hp.com/pub/softpaq/sp34501-35000/Sp34510.exe
Realtek RTL8139/810x Family Fast Ethernet NIC Driver

ftp;//ftp.hp.com/pub/softpaq/sp32001-32500/Sp32105.exe

Intel Chipset Installation Utility for ICh8

ftp://ftp.hp.com/pub/softpaq/sp36001-36500/SP36492.exe

Mobile Intel 965GM Express Chipset Family Video Driver

http://downloadcenter.intel.com/confirm.aspx?httpDown=http://downloadmirror.intel.com/15766/a08/winxp_14331.exe&agr=N&ProductID=2800&DwnldId=15766&strOSs=All&OSFullName=All%20Operating%20Systems〈=eng

[Andre_vdM]

Hey, was reading your thread and is busy doing the same with my notebook. But when I inserted my XP CD and pressed "enter" to setup XP on the hard drive, it told me that I do not have any hard drives installed. How is that possible? Please will you help me in this regard, thank you

[Paul Tikkanen]

Hi:

You need to load the ACHI SATA drivers before you can install Windows XP, using the F6 floppy drive utility (if you don't have a USB floppy drive you can copy the driver files onto a USB flash drive.

Or you can go into your BIOS and change the Enhanced SATA Mode from enabled to disabled, install XP and then load the ACHI SATA drivers afterward and change your BIOS setting for the Enhanced SATA Mode back to Enabled.  You cannot change it back until you install the drivers or the notebook won't boot.

Here is your BIOS setup guide. Changing the Enhanced SATA Mode is found in the System Configuration Menu.

http://bizsupport2.austin.hp.com/bc/docs/support/SupportManual/c00820092/c00820092.pdf

Here is the link to download your ACHI SATA drivers for the F6 Floppy utility: As I wrote above, you can install in the beginning using a USB flash drive (Press F6 when prompted at the beginning of the XP setup).  Or you can install these after you install XP (after changing the BIOS setting).

http://downloadcenter.intel.com/Detail_Desc.aspx?agr=Y&DwnldID=18860&lang=eng

Here is a link to a tutorial on installing SATA drivers using different methods of installation.  If you choose to install the drivers after you install XP, then that information begins on Page 12. You must install the chipset driver first! Disregard the references to the SWSETUP folder. You can create your own folder to put the ACHI drivers you installed above into.

http://bizsupport1.austin.hp.com/bc/docs/support/SupportManual/c01600726/c01600726.pdf

Lastly, here is the link to your chipset driver:

http://h20000.www2.hp.com/bizsupport/TechSupport/SoftwareDescription.jsp?lang=en&cc=us&prodTypeId=32...

Good luck with your installation.

Paul

[Andre_vdM]

Thank you so much Paul for the reply. Now that XP is loaded, it seems that I can't find all the correct drivers, this is such a mission, hehe. Some links on the list above doesn't exist anymore. Is it possible for you to help me with that as well?

Thank you in advance

[Paul Tikkanen]

Hi:

Hopefully, we will get them all.

Please let me know what you are missing in the device manager, and then on the device details tab of each missing device, post the string of characters from the beginning to, but not including, &SUBSYS.

That string of characters lets us know the device manufacturer (VEN) and the specific device type (DEV). We can plug those codes into a database and try to identify each, and then attempt to find the appropriate drivers.

Paul

[Andre_vdM]

This is giving me a headache :smileysad:

I'm having big time trouble with the audio device, in Device manager it states that it's working properly, but if I play something in win media player it tells me the device could not start. In the audio settings, it says that there is no device installed, huh?

The chipset is still missing, I downloaded the one you said before and installed it, but still no cigar

Mobile Intel(R) 965 Express Chipset Family

Details: PCI\VEN_8086&DEV_2A02

Ethernet Controller

Details: PCI\VEN_168C&DEV_001C

Audio

Details: HDAUDIO\FUNC_01&VEN_14F1&DEV_5051

How do I get the wireless working again as well?

[Paul Tikkanen]

Hi:

Let's see what we can get running:

1. My info is correct that you installed the right chipset driver but you still need to install the graphics driver which is what the first device you posted is stating:

Install the graphics driver first:

http://h20000.www2.hp.com/bizsupport/TechSupport/SoftwareDescription.jsp?lang=en&cc=us&prodTypeId=32...

Next is the audio:  You have the Conexant Conexant HD-Audio SmartAudio 221 according to the database.

But first you need to install the MS UAA driver.

MS UAA driver: You need to have XP SP3 installed.

http://h20000.www2.hp.com/bizsupport/TechSupport/SoftwareDescription.jsp?lang=en&cc=us&prodTypeId=32...

Conexant High Definition Audio Driver:

http://h20000.www2.hp.com/bizsupport/TechSupport/SoftwareDescription.jsp?lang=en&cc=US&swItem=ob-455...

You may have an issue with this driver, but try it and if it doesn't work, try this:

1. Click on Start and select Run. Now type devmgmt.msc and press enter.

2. Right click on "Audio device on High Definition Audio Bus" and click Update driver.

3. Select "Install from a list or specific location"

4. Click Next. Then select "Don't search, I will choose the driver to install"

5. Click Next and then select "Sound, video and game controller" from the list.

6. Click Next and then click Have Disk.

7. Click Browse C:\swsetup\sp34200 folder and select the .inf (wis30b2a)
file and click open and Continue with the onscreen instructions.

Network card:  According to the database you have the Atheros AR5007EG WiFi Chip;

You can try this driver and hopefully it will work.

http://h20000.www2.hp.com/bizsupport/TechSupport/SoftwareDescription.jsp?lang=en&cc=US&swItem=ob-754...

As PC's evolve, trying to get them to work on XP will be more and more difficult.  Just think of trying to get Windows 95 or 98 to work on yours. It's not going to happen.

In my opinion you would have been much better off upgrading to Windows 7.  :smileyhappy:

Paul

[Andre_vdM]

Thanx a lot, it works, yeah!

One last problem I experienced is now the built-in mic is extremely soft, is there a way of fixing that?

I fully agree with you on the Win7 part, the whole reason why I downgraded the notebook is that it only has 1gig memory in it, and Vista killed it.

thank you once again

[Paul Tikkanen]

Hi: 

My understanding from reading other folks' posts they had issues with the microphone. I don't think there is a fix, but I could be wrong.

One other thing you can try is installing this audio driver which is a slightly different (newer) version than the one I gave you earlier:

http://h20000.www2.hp.com/bizsupport/TechSupport/SoftwareDescription.jsp?lang=en&cc=us&prodTypeId=32...

I suggest you visit the HP consumer forums and do a search in the notebook audio section to see if anyone has a solution for microphones with the conexant HD audio on XP. I don't think it matters what model laptop. None of the drivers I obtained were specifically for your model notebook, but I figured they would work.

Here is the link to those forums.

http://h30434.www3.hp.com/t5/Notebook-PC-Sound-and-Audio/bd-p/Sound

I am happy most of your notebook is up and running. I love Windows 7. I have it on most of my HP PCs but they all have 4 GB of memory.  I also have Vista Business on a d530 desktop with 4 GB of memory. I see no difference in how it works as compared to W7. Seems just as good to me.

Paul