need help

New member here. I just replaced a hard drive in a compaq desktop, loaded xp home, and now dont have sound, or recognition of the wireless (on board) card that was operating prior to drive replacement. Downloaded original drivers for wireless card and sound and mb.. etc, and when i go to install them, error message says that "c" drive has no memory, ("c" drive now shows as a removable drive, and the OS is on "H" drive). only have one hard drive.
1.Did I make a mistake on original installation of OS (drive/partition choice) when installing windows?
2. Do I reinstall/format the OS and look for the "C" drive?
3. How can I reassign where drivers are installed? (tried to re-name primary drive from H to C, and windows wouldnt let me.
4. Is this something I can do in DOS?
Thanks so much for any help!
Rick:confused:

How many partitions on this drive?

Was this drive and the optical drive...the only two connected to the system when you attempted your install?

Did you use a Microsoft XP CD to do the install?

If not...have you read the Compaq documentation on how to use the restore/recovery functions to accomplish what you want?

What model Compaq (name and number)?

Louis

Louis-
Thanks for the response!! see below-



How many partitions on this drive?
---------Just the one which is the primary, called "H" now.

Was this drive and the optical drive...the only two connected to the system when you attempted your install?
---------Yes, I completely removed the old drive.

Did you use a Microsoft XP CD to do the install?
------yes a "full version" of XP home.


If not...have you read the Compaq documentation on how to use the restore/recovery functions to accomplish what you want?
---------What I read so far was that its better to backup what is there prior to drive replacement, and that wasnt an option, the drive crashed... was unresponsive and wouldnt load windows. I do still have the drive and an enclosure I can put it in... would i be able to grab folders from the OS in tho old drive and place them in the correct places in the new , (wrongly named) drive? if so what foldesr do I copy?

What model Compaq (name and number)?
--------Compaq Presario SR1215CL

Louis

OK, thanks .

The default for any install of XP on a clean hard drive is C:, so I have no idea hiow you have a C: partition (which you say doesn't exist) and an H: partition (which you say is the actual hard drive.

In any case, either one of two things can solve the drive letter for partition thing...

a. Do a repair install of XP.

b. Do a clean install of XP.

The fact that something went wrong on what should have been a simple process...would trouble me.

I suppose that the important thing is to ensure that no other drives are attached when doing either the repair or the clean install.

How to perform a repair installation of Windows XP if Internet Explorer 7 is installed - http://support.microsoft.com/?kbid=917964

How to Perform a Windows XP Repair Install (Stevens) - http://www.michaelstevenstech.com/XPrepairinstall.htm

XP Clean Install, Stevens - http://www.michaelstevenstech.com/cleanxpinstall.html

Clean Install Procedure with Illustrative Screen Captures - http://www.theeldergeek.com/xp_home_install_-_graphic.htm

Clean Install Windows XP - http://www.theeldergeek.com/clean_installa..._windows_xp.htm

Paul Thurrott's SuperSite for Windows Windows XP Clean Install (Interactive Setup) - http://www.winsupersite.com/showcase/windowsxp_sg_clean.asp

Louis