PohTayToez

Here is the situation:
My boss got an HP s7727c PC a while back for the restaurant I work at... mainly it's used for creating and printing menus and other such items with Office 2007. Recently, she has had a problem where she will come back to the computer, and a file that she has opened and printed many times before in the same way will be a '.docx' (which should still be readable by office) instead of a '.doc' file, and when attempting to open it, it will provide an error message, suggesting that the file is corrupt or inaccessible, and to use the text recovery. Opening with text recovery provides no results, and the only way we are able to save the file is by opening it with Word Pad, but the formating and images are lost.

This, combined with other Vista related frustrations, brought her to ask me to downgrade it back down to Windows XP. I installed Windows XP Pro SP2 on the computer for her, but then ran into another problem. The computer was built to only run Vista, therefore there are no XP chipset drivers available on the website... so I cannot use the onboard NIC to connect to our network (the biggest problem), the graphical power sucks because I have no onboard graphics drivers, and the sound will not work as well.

The board is an ASUS A8N-BR, which must have been made just for HP, as there are no drivers on ASUS's site either.

The only thing I can think of to do is to get a cheap $50 microATX motherboard to replace it with, which seems like a waste as the other board functions just fine.

Any comments/suggestions?

PC eye

The model board used there is a Socket AM2 micro atx model that runs on DDR2 533 memory 2gb max. http://h10025.www1.hp.com/ewfrf/wc/d...14&lang=en&y=0

For an equivalent Asus model that should drop right in for the memory and cpu already seen, http://www.newegg.com/Product/Produc...82E16813131036 $57.29 To get into a better model that will need DDR2 667 or 800 memory upto 4gb, $74.99 takes away the Asus model with an NVidia chipset not VIA as seen at http://www.newegg.com/Product/Produc...82E16813131040

PohTayToez

Update:

Just got through chatting with a HP rep... pretty fruitless but a little amusing:

Debson K: WelcomE tO HP ToTal CarE. My name Is Debson. How may I assist you today?
PohTayToez: Hi
PohTayToez: I have a problem with a s7727c that you'll probably not authorized to solve, but I'll try anyway.
Debson K: Please proceed.
PohTayToez: It's my boss's computer actually, and she's got to the point where she can't stand Vista. I downgraded to XP for her, but the problem is that you don't have the chipset drivers for XP, only Vista, and I'm guessing ASUS makes their boards just for you, because they don't list the A8N-BR on their site.
Debson K: HP does not recommend upgrading the Operating System. We support only the pre-installed Operating System
PohTayToez: That's what I figured... to bad the pre-installed OS was corrupting files left and right.
PohTayToez: The board is just a standard microATX board, right? So, theoretically, I could swap it out with a microATX board that is supported for XP?
Debson K: Let me know are you changing the motherboard?
PohTayToez: Not that you could condone such a warranty voiding action, only that theoretically, it would be possible
Debson K: I am unable to answer that.
PohTayToez: Yeah, that's what I figured... don't most HP systems use parts you can buy off of the shelves though?
Debson K: You can not upgrade the motherboard.
PohTayToez: Why would that be? What makes it different that any other microATX motherboard?
Debson K: Hp has not tested it.
PohTayToez: So what you mean is, "I don't recommend upgrading the motherboard", correct? "Can't" is a very strong word.
Debson K: Yes.
PohTayToez: Ok, thanks anyway. I'll let you get back to talking to people who's problems can be solved by telling them to restart or showing them where the power button is.
Debson K: Your welcome PohTayToez.

EDIT:

Yeah... I know all of that... but replacing the motherboard is kinda a last resort... I'd like to be able to use this one.

PC eye

To save the current board along with the preinstalled Vista you would have to search around for a Vista ready program that will perform the same tasks as the problem software. The problem could also be software driver related where reinstalling the same application could see the problem resolved? The response you would expect to hear from HP is no different then the thread on "Dell H--- whatever" someone started lately! They will tell what they are instructed to respond with!

PohTayToez

Are you not reading my posts? First of all, I've already stated that we wont be using Vista, and second, the problem software is Microsoft Office 2007. It that is not Vista ready then what the hell is?

Vista is not really an option anymore... the other day she went to go print off new menus about 30 minutes before we opened, and the file was corrupt... we had to get a new menu created in about 15 minutes, and that kind of instability in unacceptable in a business.

PC eye

Then your employer will have to purchase a new full install copy of XP and wipe the existing installation of the hard drive. Then your problem will finding the XP version of drivers for the board and hardwares on it? None found at HP! The only ones seen there were for the 32+64bit versions of Vista. But you are forgetting one other thing namely DUAL OSING! The XP dual boot would be for the menus while the Vista side would the default OS with the driver support available.

Creamy Italian

wjy dont you go on nvidias website and search for xp drivers for the NVIDIA GeForce 6150 LE

PC eye

You couldn't be referring to these could you?




Oh by the way, Welcome to the Computer Forum! Official Welcome Thread and the remnder given to all other new members to be sure to review the Forum Rules

madcap4u2

You can get the display drivers off of the nvidia website. When selecting which drivers to use use the geforce6 series ones. For the chipset you can get them from asus's website. Use the a8n-vm ones (they work i am using them). I didn't look for the wifi drivers cause I am not using it. I installed the vista drivers for the modem and they seem to work. Hope this helps

valkyrie-mt

I know this is an old thread, but I just had to comment. The MicroATX is actually much too BIG for this computer. I am fairly certain that this model computer accepts a MiniITX form factor motherboard. And on top of that, I believe the power connector is non-standard and if the CPU location isn't just right on a replacement motherboard, it will interfere with the DVD drive. So, replacing the motherboard may be possible, but unlikely to succeed. I think you should easily be able to find drivers from the component manufacturers and make XP work just fine. Also, this computer was NOT designed just for Vista, it was available with XP as well when it was introduced. And if you want to make it really easy on yourself, try looking for a recovery CD with CD-Key for this model computer...

-Valkyrie-MT