Lenovo Device Drivers

Hello to all,

I run winXP service pack 2. The pc is IBM think Centre A51P Type 8423 mod 25U, Desktop Home, purchased new a year ago.

In looking at Lenovo website (I understand Lenovo took over the PC business from IBM), I saw a program called Software Installer which is supposed to download all pc device drivers automatically and easily, so I went for it and downloaded all 11 programs indicated (there were check blocks to all of them and you only had to install those you choose, but since next to each was the word "Recommended ", I checked all)

I am not satisfied with the results and I tried to reverse/uninstall them -- tried system restore over and over, but it did not help much as the restore point date was the same as the date of the installation, April 26. (I managed, to get rid of the main prog, Software Installer).

Here is what this installation has caused: Icons are smaller, some program windows are smaller, Main windows for outlook express, desktop and others are a little too big -- can't see the X to close or the scroller to move up and down. The text in most windows (also on some web pages) is too small, even though its set to Largest in View. In Device Manager under Imaging Devices there is a yellow exclamation point at Unknown Device (I believe this is the main culprit!). When I try to uninstall this device a note says "failed to unnistall, the device may be required to boot up the computer ". When I tried to update the driver for it, note says the hardware is not installed...

I have emailed Lenovo re this problem a couple days ago but they seem to be dragging their feet...

Whatever help you guys can give would be much appreciated. Thank you.

 

"Imaging Device" usually refers to a camera. Have you ever connected a camera to your computer?

The other problems you describe are usually due to newer or different drivers being installed for the "Display Adpater "...also called video card.

Go to Control Panel>Display>Settings tab. There you can change the screen resolution to something lower. Click the Advanced button and choose a larger text size in the drop-down list for "DPI Settings." Play with the settings until you have it the way you like it.

 

And if you can't see the X to close a window, the keystroke alt-spacebar will bring up a menu with resize, close, move options.

 

Or to close a window immediatly, alt+F4.

As for the problem, it does sound like your display resolution got changed somehow. Perhaps one of the updates was a graphics driver??? Changing the monitor refresh rate might cause the windows to fit on the screen at the current resolution like they should but it won't help the small icons or small text. For that you need to do as Miz said. Lower the resoultion a notch or two until you find the one that suits you.

If you do that and your windows are still messed up, try changing the refresh rate. Display properties>settings>advanced>monitor. Make sure the box next to the line that says "hide modes this monitor cannot display" is checked. Higher settings will be easier on the eyes.

 

I thank you guys SO very much. Because of your advice everything is just about back to normal. Only one thing remains is that yellow exclamation point at Unknown Device in Device Manager. (not too worried about it, it does not seem to be causing any problem, never had a camera installed, have a scanner hooked to pc, hardly use it, have power cord unplugged)

Thanks again

 

Hi folks, seems I spoke a bit to quickly. I now notice that some of my emails, newsletters and web pages are in very small text even though View is set to largest. Again, your help woulld be appreciated. Thank you.

 

Try this. Open Internet Explorer and click tools>internet options and on the general tab click the accessibility button. Put a check in the box next to the line that says ignore font sizes specified on web pages.

I don't know if that's what you want or not. It may have some side effects you won't like or it may be that that's the way it was before and it's what you want. I don't know. It can't hurt to try it though, you can always change it back.

 

Zander you are correct. I did what you said and it worked! I am very thankful, cause I had been fiddling with this for many hours and got nowhere.

Here is something that I tried to clear up also -- I am trying to get a certain newsletter to appear in the font style it used to before. When I go to Internet explorer>tools>Internet options>General tab>Fonts, for the Web Page fonts I use Times New Roman, fine! Under Plain text fonts there are only 3 choices. Any of them I choose does not seem to bring this particular newslettter to the font style it used to have.

Would be thankful again with your help on this! [its really no big deal, but it'll look better the way it used to be].

 

Please delete post# 9

To Administrator,

Please delete post# 9, it was done in error.

Thank you,
Beach Boy

 

For the font type, it's almost the same as before. In IE click tools>internet options and then once again click the accessibility button. Put a check in the box next to the line that says "ignore font styles specified on web pages ". If it's already checked, try removing the check and see if that does it.

Edit:
I deleted the post for you.

 

Loss of Hard Drive Free Space / Safe Mode

Yesterday I was trying to correct a couple problems -- I did a couple restore points which did not help, so I restored system back to where it was prevously.

I also did a couple of other changes using instructions from a Microsoft employee in an effort to get Windows Update to update an item properly.

After completing these things I noticed that my free space on my hard drive had dropped considerably -- it used to be 59.0GB and now its only 40.8GB. Can't seem to understand why this happened.

In dealing with System Restore, I never bothered to undo the two different points that did not help, I just went on and restored to the most recent one which is much better those those. Could this be a problem?

Also, I believe if I were able to go to Safe Mode, I might be able to solve some of my issues, but try as I may I just can't get to Safe Mode as I used to do with Win98. Can Safe Mode be reached in WinXP?

Once again, thanks for all your help!

 

Press F8 to get to safe mode. If you have trouble getting it to work boot the computer and tap F8 continuously while it's booting.

 

Thanks Zander but I tried that before -- you would reach a window saying Safe Mode, but when you select and enter, some strange window comes up which you cant escape from unless you pull the power plug.

But I did something last night which cleared up all the messy problems: I restored the system to a good state which I had backed up on CDs a year ago. Everything is working beautifully, except I have to download a couple of programs I used to have which went away in the restoring.

After a while I will back system up again in case I have any problems with it in future. I thank you guys for all your help. I learned a couple things in the process!