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bddotnet
12-30-08, 11:38 PM
I have an Acer TravelMate 4500 that has several trojans and spyware on it. I am going to format the drive and reinstall Windows XP using his CD and his Product Key, which is found on the bottom of the laptop.

PROBLEM:
It has a DVD drive which is NOT showing up in My Computer.

CORRECTIVE ACTIONS TAKEN:
I have removed the Upper and Lower Filters as described in the article below and found the Upper Filters but not the Lower Filters and deleted it.

http://support.microsoft.com/kb/314060

The DVD drive is confirmed good.

The rear bezel is firmly in place.

The connectors have all been cleaned using canned air.

Any ideas?
Autoload
12-31-08, 12:51 AM
You already spent too much time trouble shooting. :-)

Put the install CD in the tray and reboot the PC (making sure that the CD/DVD device is the first boot device in the BIOS).

Boot off the install CD, format the parition(s), and use the utility on the install CD to reinstall XP.
bddotnet
1-1-09, 05:27 PM
Only one problem...now the computer won't boot. The screen is blank. No HP logo, no bios, no beeps from the motherboard. I have reseated the RAM, hard drive, DVD drive and processor. I'm inclined to think it's a hard drive failure.

I may go to Office Depot and purchase a laptop to PC HDD adapter and test it on my desktop.

Any other ideas?
tpoynton
1-1-09, 09:40 PM
it should show the bios screen without a hard drive, i believe. perhaps try flashing the bios? it's been a while since I've done that sort of thing, but i believe there is a jumper on the motherboard to do the trick. having a manual for the motherboard would be handy.
bddotnet
1-2-09, 12:11 AM
It's a TravelMate 4502LMi if that makes any difference. I will search for the owner's manual and see what I can find. Thanks tpoynton!
bddotnet
1-25-09, 10:50 PM
Haven't found anything other than:

1) Possible bad LCD backlight

2) DVD drive IS working

3) Still no splash screen, BIOS or POST screen. No beeps either.

I tried hooking the laptop HDD to my Dell desktop computer via a 2.5" to 3.5" HDD adapter and it would not recognize the drive in My Computer.

Could the drive be bad?
Doc C
1-26-09, 12:29 AM
Uh, if you have another machine that won't recognize it, I'd say the drive is bad. Least that's what I've learned in the last 30 years. :)
bddotnet
1-26-09, 08:41 AM
OK. Thanks Doc!
tpoynton
1-26-09, 09:34 AM
Uh, if you have another machine that won't recognize it, I'd say the drive is bad. Least that's what I've learned in the last 30 years. :)

as long as the 2.5-3.5 adapter is working. I'm paranoid :)
Doc C
1-26-09, 10:14 AM
That's easily tested with a known good drive.
bddotnet
1-28-09, 06:18 PM
Yes, you're right. I will try hooking my Lodge's laptop HDD to my desktop and see if it works. If it does, I know the drive is bad. Thanks everyone!
bddotnet
2-6-09, 04:28 PM
OK. You are NOT going to believe this...

The laptop now boots no problem, all the way to the Windows XP login screen

BUT

The keyboard and touchpad don't function!!!!

The lights on the laptop light up (HDD, Power, etc) but not able to type in the user's password to login

HELP!!!

Troubleshooting:

1- Removed battery. Pressed start button for 15 seconds then plugged it back up and rebooted. No change.
2- Fn+F1 is help. From that menu of hotkeys, Fn+F7 is suppsed to turn on/off the touchpad. No change.
tpoynton
2-6-09, 04:33 PM
hopefully you have a usb keyboard/mouse laying around...
bddotnet
2-6-09, 04:50 PM
All I have is a spare PS/2 keyboard and mouse...may have to purchase the USB to PS/2 adapters for both and try it but I need to get this touchpad and keyboard functional again...
Doc C
2-6-09, 05:26 PM
Check the connection cable for the keyboard to see that it hasn't come lose.
bddotnet
2-6-09, 05:31 PM
Where would that be?
Doc C
2-6-09, 06:37 PM
Under the keyboard most likely. I've seen them come loose before.
bddotnet
2-8-09, 12:06 PM
The keyboard works in BIOS, but not in Windows. But, how can I reinstall the drivers for the keyboard and touchpad if I can't type? I suppose I need a USB keyboard and mouse.
bddotnet
2-16-09, 09:08 AM
OK. I am going to get a USB keyboard and mouse from a local computer store here in OKC. I have downloaded the drivers for the touchpad from Acer's website onto my USB flash drive. Hopefully I can get the drivers reinstalled, then it will work again.