HELP! HP DV4 Laptop Constant not responding

[juggalotus]

hp Pavilion DV4
turion x2 2.2 gz

4 gb ram 3.75 used
64 bit

i had vista and did the recommended windows 7 home premium upgrade followed all directions but windows was booting very slowly like it was a driver problem, i think i might have had damon tools installed when i upgraded, it installed fine it seemed like, took forever like 8 hours,so after i got all updates done and stuff i had installed norton internet security 2010 and windows 7 said somthing about it not working properly and was not made or this os so i uninstalled all unnesseccary programs/ones i didnt know were compatible and it seems to be working better now. but still hangs constantly, boot time is rediculously longer than it was in vista, but anything i do constant not responding, my hdd light stays lit and i have to wait then its good at times, its very random. i cant think how to fix this event viewer it says the snap in is not responding. plz help windows 7 has been i nightmare since i installed what should i do?

 

[richc46]

Upgrade or clean install? If you did an upgrade, just do it over with a clean install. If you did not have to reinstall your programs you did an upgrade.

My answer may cost some time now, but will save a lot of time and aggrevation in the future.

 

[theog]

Upgrades can be a nightmare, best way is clean install:

http://www.sevenforums.com/installation-setup/34853-common-installation-problems.html

http://www.sevenforums.com/installa...ck-reference-list-installing-windows-7-a.html

http://www.sevenforums.com/tutorials/31402-clean-install-upgrade-windows-7-version.html?ltr=C

 

[juggalotus]

i did do an upgrade, i dident want to do a clean install because my laptop drivers are hard to find, suposedly there special HP drivers or some sort,i still have the factory restore partition. i was going to use that to go back to factory settings then update then try to upgrade to 7, or should i just do clean install windows 7 only? i just dont want to be missing drivers for my sound buttons or sd card reader(which dont work right now)the hanging and not responding is VERY random, sometimes it does it every 5 minutes other times it dont do it for hours,

 

[richc46]

i did do an upgrade, i dident want to do a clean install because my laptop drivers are hard to find, suposedly there special HP drivers or some sort,i still have the factory restore partition. i was going to use that to go back to factory settings then update then try to upgrade to 7, or should i just do clean install windows 7 only? i just dont want to be missing drivers for my sound buttons or sd card reader(which dont work right now)the hanging and not responding is VERY random, sometimes it does it every 5 minutes other times it dont do it for hours,

Just about every member of this forum would suggest a clean install. If you are reluctant because of your concerns about the drivers, read this.
How to backup and restore Windows device drivers – Simple Help

Remember to check for virus and other malware before downloading anything from the web.

 

[theog]

Try drivers from here:

HP Pavilion dv4-1000 Entertainment Notebook PC series- Download drivers and software - specify product name - HP Business Support Center

 

[juggalotus]

thank you for the tip, i guess ill try it

 

[richc46]

Just back up everything before you try and I promise, you will return with a big smile and thank you.

 

[juggalotus]

first, what do i back up? and second, my windows 7 disk says for use only as an upgrade to a qualifying hp windows 7 upgrade option pc, can i still do a clean install?

 

[juggalotus]

actually i think i might have found the problem, i have utorrent installed and i dont think its working right with windows 7 even though the compatibility report says its fine, something that has to do with utorrent accessing the HDD

 

[juggalotus]

still have the random hang ups, but only happend once all day since i havent had utorrent running, should i still do the clean install?

 

[richc46]

I think that 90% of the membership would agree with or without current problems, a clean install is best.

You have an old os, that has just been given a nice new coat of paint.

 

[juggalotus]

but can i use the HP upgrade cd to do a clean install? does it have all the neccessary files/drivers or does it rely on the drivers already installed before the upgrade?

 

[richc46]

http://www.sevenforums.com/tutorials/31402-clean-install-upgrade-windows-7-version.html

This is my suggestion, make an image of your system, You can use the free software provided by Paragon or use the system image included with Windows 7. Put it on an external hard drive. Then do the clean install. You should not have any problem. You can use Windows Easy Transfer to transfer everything, except Programs.

After the clean install, you will have to reinstall only programs, everything else will be transferred by using Windows Easy Transfer. Then you use your DVD's to install the programs. Thats it.

I do not understand the problem with special drivers. Go to the HP site, see if they have the drivers to download. Windows 7 is basically Vista, under the hood. I did exactly what I am telling you to do. I have a Dell and had absolutely no problem.

I understand that you are concerned, things can and do go wrong, but you will have the image that you made to fall back on.

Take your time, think about it. Come back ask questions. Call HP, to reassure yourself. Watch the process on YouTube. I am suggesting that you really have no choice. Its either have problems that you have now or chance new problems. At least with the secoond alternative you have the chance to come out on top.

Richard

 

[juggalotus]

thank you for your time and quick responses, im backing up my HD videos and Documents on a external TB then im just going for the fresh install. do i have to make a system image for windows or will my stock hp repair partition still be on the drive in case anything goes wrong?

 

[richc46]

thank you for your time and quick responses, im backing up my HD videos and Documents on a external TB then im just going for the fresh install. do i have to make a system image for windows or will my stock hp repair partition still be on the drive in case anything goes wrong?

I would make an image, then you cannot be sorry that you did not. Things have a way of going wrong.

 

[gregrocker]

Leave the known-incompatible Daemon Tools and even worse Norton infection off this time so your system isn't immediately corrupted. Use lightweight free Microsoft Security Essentials for AV and Malware.

The installer is mostly driver-complete. Only the drivers missing in your Device Manager need to be found on the Support Downloads webpage for your model, along with any favorite apps.

Take your time installing each program with a restore point, then a full day to test performance so you can weed out problem programs.

 

[juggalotus]

i want to make an image but my image is like 260 gigs from all the HD tvshows, im getting my tb external tommorow i was planning on moving all tv shows and music to the external, then making an image of C:, then fresh install, so should i do that then make the image the c drive? or do the 260 gig image?why would i want a image that makes my computer not respond? sorry if this is too many questions

 

[juggalotus]

and ive always used norton for xp and vista and it worked flawless... infected??? what program should i use?

 

[gregrocker]

Microsoft Security Essentials.

Just make sure your files are backed up externally. You're right that an image isn't worth much for a failed in-place Upgrade.

Follow these steps: http://www.sevenforums.com/tutorials/1649-clean-install-windows-7-a.html

When you boot the Win7 DVD, it will scan the HD to see the other OS to allow Upgrade key. You can then go ahead and format the HD.