Add New Hardware keeps finding new devices

[Jack]

I'm taking a look at on old Gateway computer for a friend. Every time it boots the "Add new Hardware" wizard keeps finding the following devices:
PCI Communications Device
PCI Multimedia Audio Device
Unknown Device

Each of those 3 appear in the Device Manager with a big yellow question mark with a small exclamation mark on top of it.

and the video is lousy. On the Settings tab of Display properties I'm stuck with either 2 or 16 colors and a screen area of 640 x 480 and I can't change it.

I opened the case up and removed the dial up adapter so the PCI Communication Device is no longer found when Windows boots. I installed a Realtek NIC and windows saw and set it up properly. There are no other cards in any of the slots.

I'd like to find the proper BIOS to install and go from there. I've tried this one: WL81020A.15A.0007.P06 from Gateway support (silly thing won't let me post a link yet).
but still have the same problems. A note regarding that BIOS says "...the update process fails if you use a floppy disk formatted in Microsoft Windows 2000, Windows NT, or Windows XP.....". I used a Windows 98 startup disk I created using the OS on the computer But I wonder if the flash was successful or not - when I reboot & hit F1 to get into the BIOS the info is the same as it ws before I tried to Flash the BIOS (then again it should be if I'm using the correct BIOS, right?).


Computer Profile Summary
Computer Name: X9a4q6
Profile Date: Friday, March 28, 2008 10:45:02 AM
Advisor Version: 7.2x

Operating System System Model
Windows 98 SE(build 4.10.2222) Gateway BRYANT 4000678
Enclosure Type: Desktop
Processor Main Circuit Board
933 megahertz Intel Pentium III Board: Intel Corporation WL810EAAA27218-206
32 kilobyte primary memory cache Serial Number: IUW210602715
256 kilobyte secondary memory cache Bus Clock: 133 megahertz
BIOS: Intel Corp. WL81020A.15A.0007.P06.0010031249 10/03/2000
Drives Memory Modules
2.15 Gigabytes Usable Hard Drive Capacity 64 Megabytes Installed Memory
1.56 Gigbytes Hard Drive Free Space
Slot 'DIMM1' has 63 MB
IDE-CD R/RW 8x4x32 [CD-ROM drive] Local Drive Volumes
MITSUMI CD-ROM FX4831T!A cFAT on drive 0) 2.15 GB 1.56 GB free
Generic floppy disk drive (3.5") Network Drives
None detected
Generic IDE hard disk drive (2.15 GB) -- drive 0, No SMART Driver
Users (mouse over user name for details) Printers
No details available None detected
Controllers Display
Standard Floppy Disk Controller Standard PCI Graphics Adapter (VGA)
Intel 82801AA Bus Master IDE Controller [Display adapter]
Primary IDE controller (dual fifo) Gateway LE500 [Monitor](13.5"vis,s/n LIC04556494, November 2000)
Secondary IDE controller (dual fifo)
Bus Adapters Multimedia
Intel 82801AA USB Universal Host Controller Gameport Joystick (no joystick connected)
MPU-401 Compatible
Communications Other Devices
Realtek RTL8029(AS) PCI Ethernet NIC Standard 101/102-Key or Microsoft Natural Keyboard
primary Auto IP Address: 192.168.1.101 / 24 Microsoft PS/2 Port Mouse
Gateway: 192.168.1.1 USB Root Hub
Dhcp Server: 192.168.1.1
Physical Address: 00:4F:49:0C:A4:BF

 

[Jory]

I'd suggest looking at gateway's site first for the drivers to the computer. You should be able to search by the model number. If that doesn't work do a google search for the model number and the term "drivers".

If you're still having trouble locating anything then use some type of device identifying software to tell you what it is so you can search google that way.

Edit: Why are you flashing the BIOS? I just scanned the first couple paragraphs before I posted, and now I'm confused.

 

[Blues]

Yeah no need to update BIOS and rarely is there everything you described sounds like driver issues. The poor video sounds like missing or incorrect video driver. The others sound like modem and sound card drivers.

 

[Jack]

If there's a legit copy of the OS available and I can find the right BIOS for the computer I nuke and reinstall everything when someone buys a used computer and ask me to look at it. In this case the person had their Windows CD but no other disks.

No way am I going to tell someone that a used computer is safe to use for such things as on-line banking, etc. when I have no idea what's on it and how security conscious the previous owner was. I'm guessing not much attention was paid to security because there was no anti-virus or software firewall installed and it was still running IE 5 at default settings.

Oh yeah, flashing the BIOS seems to have done the trick as far as finding mysterious devices it can't identify during installation of the OS and booting. No more strange things found.

The video is still bad but I think that's because without a video card it's limited to 640x480 and 16 colors. If I had a spare video card that would fit in the thing I'd install it and see whether or not I'm right or not.

I figure about $60-$70 for a video card, sound card and cheap set of speakers ought to have it up and running. The question now is deciding if the computer's worth investing that much in.

regards,
jack

PS
I did run Belarc Advisor and a chipset identification utility from Intel and included what I thought to be relevant in my original post.

 

[seedubya]

I have not seen a video card limited to 16 colours for about 15 years. This is a P3 system not a 386. You do not have a (or the correct) video driver installed or the onboard video is faulty. From your post I would assume the former. Belarc Advisor is not close to the best ID utility available. Google siw.exe, download and run. It should ID your video chipset correctly and allow you to find the correct driver. You seem to be totally hung up on the BIOS. The BIOS is not the problem here. The OS REQUIRES the correct driver software to be installed for any device to function properly. Listen to what people have been telling you. ID your components correctly, download and isntall the correct drivers and your problems will go away.

 

[jacalope22]

Drivers

I agree with the previous posts that you need to update the drivers. Anytime you install a OS you have to update the drivers to whatever the motherboard is using for Video. Windows will only install a generic set of drivers so you can see a screen. If you go to the gateway website and search the model number then you can download the correct drivers for video, sound, ethernet which are probably all part of the motherboard. You can fix it in the way you describe by buying new video card, sound card, and ethernet card, but this only fixes it because they will install drivers for each individual card, or you can just download the drivers and use the motherboard for all of these for free.

 

[Blues]

I search the boards for some labeling that might give me a model number to look up drivers for the manufacturer is usually clearly labeled all over the place.