My friend's Compaq Presario laptop has been partially resurrected a few weeks after a spilled drink accident.  

At this point, the computer works with Knoppix (Ethernet, firewire, USB), but not with XP.  Specifically, XP Device Manager shows several devices that cannot start:


                        PCI bus/device/function            Error Code
Network Adapters
-1394 Net Adapter                                    n/a            Code 10
-Realtek Ethernet NIC                              2,3,1            Code 10
-Netgear Cardbus Adapter                        3,0,0            Code 10

Non-Plug and Play Drivers
-mtrRate                                          n/a            Code 24
-Serial                                          n/a            Code 24

System Devices
-TI UltraMedia Firmware Loader Device            2,4,2            Code 10

Universal System Bus Controllers
-NEC PCI to USB Open Host Controller            2,7,0            Code 10
-NEC PCI to USB Open Host Controller            2,7,1            Code 10
-Standard Enhanced PCI to USB Host Controller      2,7,2            Code 10

(sorry for the misaligned columns)


In fact, if I do not disable the 1394 Net Adapter, the XP boot screen freezes for 8 minutes (HDD LED is off) before finally booting XP!  I actually thought XP would not boot, but fortuitously left the "frozen" computer on and came back.  If I disable the 1394 Net Adapter, XP boots with typical times.  This is very reproducible.

I've tried System Restore, SELECTIVE booting with msconfig, and I've also tried reinstalling the system drivers using the HP Driver Recovery CD, all to no avail.

I've even considered doing an XP repair install or even a total reinstall.  However, XP Setup from the CD ***freezes*** at the "Setup is Starting Windows".  This is before any install or recovery CONSOLE option appears.  I've tried a different XP setup CD, but same problem.

The RAM has been checked with memtest86, and the hard drive S.M.A.R.T. has been checked with smartctl.

These sympotoms seem to suggest a hardware problem, but remember, knoppix works fine!  I can't just tell my friend to switch to Linux, because he has no time to install or learn Linux.

Do the list of malfunctioning devices and error codes suggest what the problem with the laptop may be?  Why would XP Setup freeze like this?  Please post your opinions, and thanks for reading!Code 10:
If the device has a FailReasonString value in its hardware key, that string appears as the error message. The driver or enumerator puts this registry string value there. If there is no FailReasonString in the hardware key, you simply receive the rather unhelpful:
This device cannot start. (Code 10)

Code 24:
The device does not appear to be PRESENT. The problem could be bad hardware, or a new driver might be needed. Devices stay in this state if they have been prepared for removal. After you remove the device, this error disappears.

It depends on whether it was Coke, coffee or whisky that was spilled.

Seriously though, I've seen Coke etc eat through a CIRCUIT board in no time. There is also the sugary residues of other drinks to consider. In other words, the machine needs to be fully dismantled and thouroughly cleaned.Yes, in all Code 10 devices, the error message is the unhelpful "This device cannot start".  I don't know how to clean the innards of a laptop, so if that is the final solution, I will have to return the laptop as is to my friend.  The CIRCUMSTANCES and symptoms point to a hardware problem, but then why would it work under knoppix?You could try disabling all the hardware (USB, Serial, Sound, NET, etc...) from the Bios and see if Windows can be reloaded then.  After reenable the devices & see what happens.  Most likely there is suger on something.  In Knoppix (which I don't use) but do the drivers just load or does everything work perfectly like nothing bad has happened.  Can you actually play sound, use usb/firewire and browse the Internet?The BIOS is the most limited one I've ever seen.  There is no option to disable hardware.  The only options are boot order, boot passwords, parallel port mode, and video memory, language support.  That's it.  I tried uninstalling the devices in windows and they just reappeared with the same probs on the next startup.

To answer your other question, in knoppix, everything works as if nothing happened.  The network, USB, firewire all tested.  Very strange, huh?