New windows XP install not recognizing any devices

[acesover8s]

I run multiple PCs for various reasons. I have one emachines desktop that I was going to wipe and start over with. When I wiped it, I left the PCAngel partition intact in order to load fresh from there, but something was wrong with the files and it wouldn't load.

I have since tried to reload my legitimate copies of XP onto this PC, and every time it has the same problem. Under device manager, under other devices the following devices show up with a question mark:

Multimedia audio controller
Other PCI bridge device
PCI Simple Communications Controller
SM Bus Controller
Video Controller (VGA Compatible)

It cannot recognize my modem or ethernet, either.

I loaded a spanish version of windows and this problem didn' t happen, but running an illegitimate version of windows that I don't understand doesn't strike me as being smart.

I tried downloading drivers from AMD, as well as using multiple windows disks to search for the drivers to no avail. Help!

[LeapFrog]

have you tried installing any motherboard drivers?

edited to add:
also, if your ethernet isn't onboard try to find the disk for it or look up the model number of the card and try to find the drivers.

[acesover8s]

are motherboard drivers the same thing as chipset drivers? The ethernet is on board, as well as most everything else in these emachine pieces of crap.

According to the emachines website it uses the Nvidia 6100 chipset, which I'm going to attempt to install now, but I was under the impression that nvidia just did graphics cards???

[acesover8s]

After installing the drivers I can connect to the internet, although I still have a few questionmarks: Audio Controller, PCI communications controller and video controller. Hopefully automatic updates will catch those.

[LeapFrog]

Generally the MB manufacturer will provide a disk (also online) that contains chipset drivers, drivers for onboard video, audio, etc. Its usually a good idea to install all this as soon as you have windows on.

[LeapFrog]

[ QUOTE ]
After installing the drivers I can connect to the internet, although I still have a few questionmarks: Audio Controller, PCI communications controller and video controller. Hopefully automatic updates will catch those.

[/ QUOTE ]

Well your making progress at least [img]/images/graemlins/smile.gif[/img] Yeah, try getting everything up to date with windows update. After your all patched up, click custom when you hit the update page then look in hardware.

[buckslayer80]

You're just missing drivers for all those devices. Get them from the emachines site, or the individual manufacturer's websites.