I've just installed Windows XP on a Gateway GT5694 and finding the drivers wasn't the easiest thing in the world. I'm posting the drivers that I used to install, including the SMBus, Wireless, Video, etc.

Be aware that some of these were direct from Gateway and are the Vista drivers which contain the XP drivers as well. A couple were direct from RealTek and from ATI.

If you have any trouble post a comment here, but the support will probably be limited. As long as you can get the netwwork drivers going, I can setup a remote support session and actually help you out.

Gateway GT5694 XP DRIVER DOWNLOADS

Labels: drivers, gateway, xp installation

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From Email to a client
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I've finally compiled my list of suggestions for helping to secure them and streamline the process of setup. This will help insure consistency of the laptops which will provide a much better classroom experience. Hopefully, the computers will be running XP, but these recommendations will work for Vista as well.

Implementing all of this will take quite a bit of time to get it setup. However, the long-term benefits greatly outweigh the short-term expense.

*Assumes all computers running the same (or very very similar hardware).

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Initial Preparation - before any use by a student or faculty
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Cost: FREE (except time & software licenses)

• All computers must have any "junk" software removed.
• Default applications must be installed - Firefox, MS Office, PDF Creator, OpenOffice.org, AVG, Adobe Reader, Picasa, Google Earth, Virtualbox, Thunderbird, etc.
• All class specific applications must be installed - typing software, etc
• TCP/IP set to OpenDNS.

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Imaging of Computers
===============

Cost: FREE or $100/computer

Imaging of the computers is very critical. This insures that you have a full and complete bit by bit backup of your systems. In a worst-case scenario, it can save tons of time. Also, after the class is over, the computer can be returned to "ready to go" state for the student.

The basic step is your setup 1 computer just how you want it (known as the master). It has all the software and drivers installed needed. Once you have this master setup, then you can image all the other computers (known as slaves) to the master.

The advantage is time. Rather than have to go to each computer and set them all up individually, you create them all at once by using a master/slave setup on your network. The master computer is running the server version of the imaging software and distributes its image to all the slaves on the network.

Free - There are free open source solutions out there that work really well although they aren't as intuitive as the proprietary options.

http://www.clonezilla.org  - best open source for networked imaging

http://ping.windowsdream.com - best for single machine imaging

$100 / computer - these are software that I've used in the past extensively and work well.

Acronis True Image Echo Workstation
http://www.acronis.com/enterprise/products/ATICW/

Norton Ghost
http://www.symantec.com/norton/ghost

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MS Steady State
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Cost: FREE (except setup time)

Note: Runs on 32-bit XP, Vista only

Microsoft has released a product called Steady State. Once installed, it uses imaging technology to return a computer to an exact state every time the computer is restarted. This means that after setting up a computer initially, the computer will be returned to that state after every reboot.

This software can be incredibly useful to make sure that a computer is always in a clean workable state for the classroom. Unlike relying totally on imaging (which requires the master/slave process each time), Steady State returns the computer to a proper state after reboot - automatically. The computer can much more easily be locked down for internet access, etc.

Windows SteadyState in the Classroom
http://www.microsoft.com/windows/products/winfamily/sharedaccess/seeit/classroom.mspx

Windows SteadyState Disk and System Protection
http://www.microsoft.com/windows/products/winfamily/sharedaccess/whatis/diskandsystemprotection.mspx

FAQs
http://download.microsoft.com/download/f/c/6/fc6955de-0765-46fc-b2a9-47b4d4bcd160/SteadyState_2.5_Technical%20FAQ_updated.pdf

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Network Access and Protection
==============

Cost: Service - FREE (except setup time), Router - $60

All computers should be using OpenDNS for security and robustness. This is easily setup in the tpc/ip settings; however, ideally the classroom computers should be running on a separate subnet from the main building network. They need to be behind their own router that we can control.

We should immediately purchase a WRT54GL, flash it with DD-WRT firmware, and install it on the building network. Then we setup the student laptops to connect to it only.

WRT54GL
http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E16833124190

DD-WRT Firmware
http://www.dd-wrt.com/wiki/index.php/What_is_DD-WRT%3F

OpenDNS
http://www.opendns.com/smb/solutions

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Educating Users
==================

One of the most important steps in this process is educating the users/students on basic safety and security. Fortunately, I have a couple of blog posts that help address this. During the class itself we also spend quite a bit of time discussing simple security issues.

Layered Security Basics
http://www.smartergeek.com/blog/2008/03/layered-security-basics.asp

Simple Rules for Your Computing
http://www.smartergeek.com/blog/2008/01/simple-rules-for-your-computing.asp

Why did I get infected in the first place?
http://www.smartergeek.com/blog/2008/07/why-did-i-get-infected-in-first-place.asp

Myspace and Antivirus 2009
http://www.smartergeek.com/blog/2008/12/myspace-and-antivirus-2009.asp

Labels: acronis, backup, security, xp installation, xp software

Recently, I had a friend of an existing client call. His laptop had somehow corrupted (apparently) all of the drivers for XP. Unfortunately, time was short and I could not get it back to a working state, before he had to return to Arkansas.

To further complicate matters, the corrupted drivers included basically all of the core hardware. He could not even use his CD-ROM or USB ports. I'm surprised the thing would even boot.

Here is the email that I sent to him after a lengthy phone call. With as much time and effort as he already has in this, he has hit the "wall of diminishing return". That means it is more efficient time-wise and financially for him to completely redo his computer.

As you can see, I am following my policy of open-information sharing to help this guy. The following steps are my basic process for reinstalling Windows.

~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~

Your Laptop:
Sony Vaio PCG-7A2L VGNFS640
Windows XP
Hard Drive Type: IDE

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Recover/Backup your data
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**Always remember rule #1: You are only as good as your last successful backup from which you can recover.

(1) Physically remove the hard drive from the pc. Purchase a USB enclosure, install the hdd, and connect it to a working Windows, Linux, or Mac. Copy your data from the drive.

Example Locations of Data
(driveletter):\documents and settings\(username)\my documents
(driveletter):\documents and settings\(username)\desktop

USB Enclosure Examples:
http://www.staples.com/office/supplies/p1_External-hard-Drives_220347_Business_Supplies_10051_SEARCH

http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E16817145329

OR

(2) Download a Linux ISO such as Ubuntu onto a working pc. Create a bootable CD from the ISO, make sure your laptop BIOS is setup to boot to CD first, and boot to the Linux live CD (test it - do not install). Linux will see right into your HDD. Copy files to a removable flash drive, etc.

www.ubuntu.com


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Wipe (nuke) the Drive - optional but recommended
------------------

*Backup or recover your data first!!!

**CAUTION**
Once you wipe the drive, your recovery files (if present) will be deleted as well. These recovery files are the Windows installation files that the manufacturer put in a hidden partition on your hard drive. In many cases, your recovery CD/DVD will only work with these recovery files. That means that the computer manufacturer effectively screwed you if your hard drives - you will have to buy a copy of Windows even though you paid for one with your computer purchase. Sony is bad about this.
****************

Because of the odd nature of what happened to your system, I would suggest wiping the drive. Basically you will create a "nuke" disk or CD, boot to that, and start the wiping (erasing) program. It typically will take a couple of hours depending on the size of your drive.

Darik's Boot and Nuke - use this for wiping the drive
http://www.dban.org/download

Download the one for CD and DVD media since you don't have a floppy drive.

Screenshots of DBaN
http://sourceforge.net/project/screenshots.php?group_id=61951

How do I make a bootable CD or bootable DVD with the ISO file?
http://www.dban.org/faq/burning

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Reinstall Windows XP
-----------------

*SATA drives will typically require drivers and a floppy disk drive (CD won't work) to install WinXP. IDE drives will not.

(1) Purchase a copy of  Windows XP Home Edition (full copy - not the upgrade). Put the CD in your drive and boot the computer from the CD. Follow the instructions in the installer. You can use a "quick format" when asked.

WinXP Home Edition
http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E16832116511

WinXP Professional
http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E16832116513

OR

(2) Purchase a copy of your recovery CD's from the manufacturer. See the warning about nuking/wiping first!

Sony - How to purchase recovery CD/DVDs for computer products.
http://www.kb.sony.com/selfservice/viewContent.do?externalId=C61643&sliceId=2&mdl=null#

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Download and Install Drivers
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*Sometimes your manufacturer will have the wrong drivers posted or none at all. That is when you find out that Google is your friend.

You will need to visit the support/drivers section of your computer manufacturers website. There you will locate the drivers for your model of computer. Normally you will need to download them using a working computer as Windows will typically not have built-in drivers for your LAN, video, audio, etc.

Copy the driver files to a USB drive, CD, etc, and install them on the fresh installation of XP.

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Reinstall Software
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You will need to reinstall any software that you typically use - Firefox, Adobe Reader, MS Office, PDA software, etc.

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Copy your data back
----------------------

Plug in your USB drive (or whatever) and copy your data back to your nice shiny installation of WinXP!

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Review the Following Blog Posts
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Backup and Imaging
http://www.smartergeek.com/blog/2008/07/backup-and-imaging.asp

The Importance of Backups
http://www.smartergeek.com/blog/2008/07/importance-of-backups.asp

Labels: backup, imaging, rule #1, xp installation

Recently, I had a customer who needed XP installed on a Gateway ESX e4000 - originally, it came with Win 2000 Professional. Putting XP on a computer is no big deal, but sometimes finding the right drivers can be. In this case MPC computers has purchased some of the Gateway models, and of course the drivers for this model are not listed on Gateway's website.

*Note: MPC is out of business.

The only driver that gave me any issue was the sound driver. However, if you "manually" install the driver using the "Have Disk" function, then it will install just fine.

If you have any questions or want a zipped copy of the drivers that I used, comment to this post or email me.

UPDATE 1-2-2009:
It appears that MPC is going out of business. Here is a download link to the XP Drivers that I used. If these drivers or this post help you out, please let me know.

UPDATE 2-25-2009:
Reposted driver downloads directly from my site. Sorry about that to anyone who attempted to download them and couldn't.

UPDATE 3-5-2009:

Added screenshot of audio "have disk" manual driver installation. Click image for larger version.

IMPORTANT UPDATE 6-18-2009:

Received an email from Steve at www.mpcdrivers.com and www.mpctechsupport.com - looks like he has a great site with virtually all drivers for the Gateway - MPC models. If you are looking for additional help or these drivers don't work, take a look on his site.

Best of all they are provided for free - like mine. If his site helps you out, make a donation to help him out.

Labels: xp installation