device manager is empty & other problems

[RabbieBurns]

Got an XP Home laptop Ive been given to have a look at because it has no sound. It doesnt appear to have a sound device, nor a network device, according to windows. Trying to re-install drivers say that the driver is up to date. Device manager is completely devoid of any hardware whatsoever! Even in safe mode. Is this install completely borked? Ive never seen anything like this in my life.

[FN-GM]

I have never seen that either. What does google turn up?

[Michael]

I've never seen this behaviour either. It sounds like some system components have become corrupt. An easier method would be to inspect the laptop physically and look for headphone and ethernet ports. All laptops (I've ever come across) have sound and all newer laptops (no older than 5 years) all have ethernet ports too.

 

You could try going into Safe Mode and see if this makes any difference. If you still have the same problem, then I would backup data, format and start again.

[RabbieBurns]

It definately does have soundcard and network port - it was given to me to fix the sound as it suddenly stopped working. Its exaclty the same in safe mode. I think a format may be on the cards. Not found anything similar at all on google.

[krisd32]

do a fresh install of windows that way if it reoccurs you know you have a hardware issue rather than a software issue.

[RabbieBurns]

scratch that

 

The plug and play service was disabled!?!

 

Seems to have brought back the devices in device manager

[maddog69]

guys, i have actually had that problem before and it is in fact virus related. In my case i had an empty device manager, no plugplay in services and no usb. I found the easiest and least time consuming fix was to re format and start again:mad: