In Windows XP, if we need to run a High Definition Audio (HDA) device, we would have to install the Universal Audio Architecture (UAA) High Definition Audio class driver. This is either the KB835221 (for SP1) or the newer KB888111 (for SP2 or SP1).

However, this does NOT work for the latest Windows XP Service Pack 3 Release Candidate Release. If you’ve already tried installing the Windows XP Service Pack 3 Release Candidate v3264 with a High Definition Audio (HDA) device in your computer, I’ll bet you have encountered problems with the audio drivers as I did.

When you try installing the KB888111 which works for SP1 and SP2, it will not work for Service Pack 3, at least for the current SP3 RC v3264. Instead, you will be prompted with a message saying that the current service pack installed is newer than the fix you are trying to apply. Even the older KB835221 does not work.

It looks like Microsoft “forgot” to add the Universal Audio Architecture (UAA) driver for High Definition Audio devices in the latest release candidate of the Windows XP Service Pack 3. We hope they will not forget to add it into the final release. Fortunately, all is not lost. There is a way to fix this problem for the current release candidate.

You can try tinkering with the Universal Audio Architecture driver’s INF file to make your Windows XP SP3 think that the driver is meant to be installed on Service Pack 3. redxii from MSFN forum did just that and created a modified KB888111 driver which is available for download. Before I tried it out, I found that the feedbacks were all positive!

I tried it on my Windows XP SP3 system and it worked! Just download the 7z (7zip) file or zip file below, extract it and then right-click at the ? mark at the Device Manager where your High Definition Audio (HDA) device is located and reinstall the driver by pointing to the folder you extracted the files to. After that’s done, install the audio driver for your motherboard. That’s it!

If you need the fix (or add-on, as it’s called), you can download it from any one of the two links below. Have fun with Service Pack 3!

Download (right-click and save) :

Simply extract the contents of the .zip file and run the  utility.

If you face any problems while running IE, maybe after recovering from a malware attack, run this tool to re-register around 89 dll & ocx files, which are required for the smooth running of Internet Explorer.

Fix IE Utility has been tested on IE 7 and IE 8, on Windows Vista & Windows 7.  Before running the utility, make sure that all your Internet Explorer windows are closed.

fix-ie

To resolve this issue, follow these steps:

1. If the Lexmark print service is installed on your computer, turn off the LexBce Server service. To do this, follow these steps:

a. Click Start, right-click My Computer, and then click Manage.
b. Expand Services and Applications, and then click Services.
c. In the right pane, right-click LexBce Server, and then click Properties.
d. On the General tab, in the Startup type list, click Disabled.
e. Under Service status, click Stop, and then click OK.
f. Right-click the Print Spooler service, and then click Start (if it is stopped).
g. Quit Computer Management.

2. Test whether the issue is resolved. If the issue is resolved, you do not have to follow the remaining steps. If the issue is not resolved, go to step 3, and then follow the remaining steps.

3. Start the computer in Safe Mode

4. Start Microsoft Windows Explorer, and then delete all the files and the folders in the following two folders (where C: is the drive where you have Windows XP installed):

C:WindowsSystem32SpoolPrinters
C:WindowsSystem32SpoolDriversw32x86
5. Start Registry Editor. To do this, click Start, click Run, type regedit in the Open box, and then click OK.

6. Locate and expand the following registry key:

HKEY_LOCAL_MACHINESYSTEMCurrentControlSetControlPrintEnvironmentsWindows NT x86

View the list of subkeys. There should only be the following subkeys:

Drivers
Print Processors
7. If there are any subkeys other than the subkeys that are listed in step 6, follow these steps

a. On the File menu, click Export.

b. In the File Name box, type a descriptive name for this key, and then click Save–for example, type WindowsNTx86regkey.

You can use this backup of the HKEY_LOCAL_MACHINESYSTEMCurrentControlSetControlPrintEnvironmentsWindows NT x86 registry key to restore the key if you experience any issues after you complete this procedure.

c. Delete all the subkeys other than the subkeys that are listed in step 6. To do this, right-click each subkey that is not on the list, and then click Delete. Click Yes when you are prompted to confirm the deletion.

8. Locate and then expand the following registry key:

HKEY_LOCAL_MACHINESYSTEMCurrentControlSetControlPrintEnvironmentsWindows NT x86Drivers

The registry entries for the printer drivers that are installed on the computer are stored in the Version-x subkey or subkeys, where x is a number (typically 2 or 3).

9. Expand the Version-x subkey or subkeys, and then delete the printer driver entries. To do this, right-click each printer driver subkey, and then click Delete. Click Yes when you are prompted to confirm the deletion.

10. Locate and then expand the following registry key:
HKEY_LOCAL_MACHINESYSTEMCurrentControlSetControlPrintMonitors

View the list of subkeys. There should only be the following subkeys for the default print monitors:

BJ Language Monitor
Local Port
PJL Language Monitor
Standard TCP/IP Port
USB Monitor
11. If there are any subkeys other than the subkeys that are listed in step 10, follow these steps:

a. On the File menu, click Export.

b. In the File Name box, type a descriptive name for this key — for example, type MonitorsRegkey, and then click Save.

You can use this backup of the HKEY_LOCAL_MACHINESYSTEMCurrentControlSetControlPrintMonitors registry key to restore the key if you experience any issues after you complete this procedure.

c. Delete all the subkeys other than the subkeys that are listed in step 10. To do this, right-click each subkey that is not on the list, and then click Delete. Click Yes when you are prompted to confirm the deletion.

12. If you have a local printer attached, disconnect the printer cable from the computer, and then restart the computer.

13. Verify that the Print Spooler service is running. To do this, follow these steps:

a. Click Start, right-click My Computer, and then click Manage.
b. Expand Services and Applications, and then click Services.
c. In the right pane, right-click the Print Spooler service, and then click Start (if it is stopped).
d. Quit Computer Management.

14. If you have a local printer attached, reconnect the printer cable to the computer, add the printer that you want, and then try to print a test page. To add your printer, follow these steps:

a. Click Start, and then click Printers and Faxes.
b. Click Add a printer.
The Add Printer Wizard starts.
c. Follow the instructions in the Add Printer Wizard to install the printer that you want.

Optical drives never require a driver when used in any Windows os from Win95 up. Windows XP and Windows Vista both provide native support that allows an optical drive to read a data or music disk and to burn a cd-r disk. No support for playing dvd disks, avi or mpeg video files, or for burning cd-rw or dvd disks. For those tasks, compatible 3rd. party recording & dvd decoding software is required. Any modern optical drive is plug and play in all Windows OS’s beginning with Windows 95.

If your problem is non-detection, ie: drive is not listed in My Computer, there’s 4 different methods to fix this problem….
take your choice from below:

Fix #1: Please read post #24 in this thread: http://forums.driverguide.com/showth…t=21669&page=4

It contains manual instructions on the delete the upper and lower filters fix, that will solve the problem.
If only one of the two filters are listed, just proceed with deleting the one only, then resume.
Alternately, you can use any of the other fixes listed below: (Fix #3 is the easiest of all to use)

Fix #2:
Also, there is a STICKY posted in this forum that contains a file from Microsoft and instructions that will do this registry edit automatically instead of having to do it manually.
You can find this thread here: http://forums.driverguide.com/showthread.php?t=30011

Fix #3:
And here’s another method (CdGone.zip) that will do this procedure automatically for you if you’re afraid to edit the registry manually.

http://forums.driverguide.com/showthread.php?t=22131
(automatic fix, post #7, download file: CdGone.zip)
Unzip the file, then launch it.
I highly recommend this fix to use over the others.
It's quick and requires no skill to use.

Fix #4:
Alternately, download and install the DVD fix from this Web site:http://www.dougknox.com/xp/scripts/xp_cd_dvd_fix.vbs

Download the file and save it to Desktop. Open an “admin” Command Prompt
Note: You must copy and paste (into Notepad) the text on the Doug Knox page then save it as xp_cd_dvd_fix.vbs
then run the .vbs file by typing the following at the console window:

wscript.exe “%userprofile%\desktop\xp_cd_dvd_fix.vbs”

Now…. after performing this fix, don’t reboot yet. Next, (in Device Manager), uninstall all optical drives listed
(if none are listed, continue with next step)…

Reboot the pc or “scan for hardware changes”. Your drive(s) should now be visible in My Computer and work properly.
If the drive still fails to work properly after performing any of these fixes, it most likely will need to be replaced.

Also, for optical drive problems in Windows Vista, read this HP web page.

Even though it’s for HP/Compaq machines, the same principals applies to all modern IDE optical drives regardless of brand.

If your drive stopped working after installing an Adobe product, please read this thread. Note: about 2/3rds. down the page
is a video that shows how to perform the “delete upper and lower filters fix”.

This is a multi-page thread dealing with issues of the optical drive and problems encountered in Windows XP and Vista.
It covers a lot of issues and the most common causes and solutions. Click here to read the thread.

You can get instructions for performing this fix from Microsoft at this page [in Windows XP] and from this page. [in Windows 2000]

Also, check the USB port(s) in Device Manager to insure it’s working.

Sfc /scannow will inspect all of the important Windows files on your computer, including Windows DLL files. If System File Checker finds an issue with any of these protected files, it will replace it.

Important: You must be logged in as a user with administrator rights in order to run the sfc /scannow command.

Follow these steps for using sfc with the scannow option to repair important Windows files:

Difficulty: Easy

Time Required: Using sfc /scannow to repair important Windows files usually takes 5 to 10 minutes.

Here’s How:

Open Command Prompt.

Important: You must run Command Prompt as an administrator in Windows 7 and Windows Vista to use System File Checker.

Once Command Prompt is open, type the following command and then press Enter.

sfc /scannow

System File Checker will now verify the integrity of every protected operating system file on your computer.

Note: In some situations, especially in Windows XP and Windows 2000, you may also need access to your original Windows installation CD or DVD.

Restart your computer if sfc /scannow did actually repair any files.

Note: System File Checker may or may not prompt you to restart but even if it doesn’t, you should restart anyway.

Repeat whatever process caused your original problem to see if sfc /scannow corrected the issue.

to check that the downloaded bootscreen file is properly working you have to do this activity in safe mode. If you are in Safe Mode Windows File Protection will not be a headache for you.