I don’t know anything about computers, so I need some help. I have a Hewlett Packard Pavilion with Windows 98. My computer came with a keyboard that has fast-access buttons that you press for shortcuts (for volume, print, connect, search, etc.). A while back I accidentantly deleted the files controlling these buttons. Is there any way I could get a copy of those files from someone via the internet and install them so that my nifty little keyboard buttons would work again? (I share the computer, too, so everyone who uses it is pissed at me!)
Hopefully, someone might be able to direct you someplace where you can get those specific files. Have you checked around on HP’s site?
Short of that, the only way I can think of to get that custom stuff back is to re-load the system CD that came with the computer. It’s most likely a factory pre-load system, and if so, it should have come with something liek a recovery disk, an HP Windows disk, etc. That will restore the system to the way it was when it was first purchased, including all of the fast access features.
Your friends will really be pissed at you after that.
If you have such a disk, check it out anyway - there might be some feature that allows you to selectively restore files or features.
If you just deleted the stuff, and have something like Norton on the system that allows you to recover recently deleted files, you could give that a shot too. If you’ve been using the computer for a while, or loading files, you’re likely SOL.
The keyboard drivers will be on the Hewlett Packard site. You’ll have to know the model # of the Pavilion. You’ll find the latest drivers for a number of components at the same time. I suggest you install them.
Well, this isn’t a driver issue, if it were the keyboard wouldn’t work at all. Downloading new ones won’t hurt anything, but I doubt it’d fix your problem. I assume there was a config file of some sort for the keyboard.
On my machine at home (IBM Aptiva) theres a interface in the control panel that you simply open to reassign the actions of various buttons and to change your default mail and internet clients from IE to Netscape, or Outlook to Outlook Express…whatever. First look to see if the HP model carries one of those. I suspect it does.
That said I have a aftermarket Microsoft keyboard with those shortcuts on my Dell at the office here which I just hooked up without ever using the software packages. Chances are that since I didn’t do a factory install on my machine the application which changes all these shortcuts is missing, and as such I haven’t had to figure out how to get the application or how to change the setting without it. I’m sure its possible however and your best place to start is at the HP website.
I own a HP and there is a keyboard driver to be found on their site. It’s an executable file and all Searching For Truth has to do is down load the file and double click the file.
Well, if its an executable, its not a driver. The executable most like DOES install the driver for you, but it itself is not the driver. If you get just the driver from the site (which alot of tech sites provide) it wouldn;t be very helpful, but if like you say they have a softare app that installs the driver AND reconfigures the shortcuts then it certainly would help.
Nevertheless its all just semantics. The link I provided probably shows the owner how to make windows download this exe/driver automatcially in the setup, basically 2 paths to the same result.
It’s a self extracting driver, that will easily install the correct driver to the system. A zip file with the extension .exe is self extracting. It’s easier for HP to do this than explan how to switch the driver to all the customers, after just suppling them with the drivers.
A click into systems will show you that there is a device installed called keyboard, and drivers are present. Windows will just have the standard keyboard installed, unless you provide a different one.
I’m trying to provide a simple method for Searching For Truth to get his keyboard running how it did.
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Next function
Exit permanetly from thread unless Searching For Truth has a question.
IANA computer person, but as someone who has spent more time than she cares to remember screwing around in frustration with her computer, my advice to the OP would be to not even try downloading drivers and Zip files and whatnot from HP’s website, but just to proceed directly to the System Restore CD or diskette that probably came with your computer. You can usually choose whether to restore just Win98 or to reformat the entire hard drive. This ought to put the files back where they belong, and it doesn’t necessarily erase all your Favorites links, either. It depends.
And whatever it was you did that removed them, don’t do that.
And, of course you are S.O.L. if you can’t find the CD or diskette, in which case I would advise you to throw the whole thing away (or give it to someone you really dislike) and then go buy a new computer. Trust me, it’ll be easier in the long run, than spending hours and hours wrassling mysterious files that you downloaded off a website. Been there, done that.
Is this a flame? No, I don’t work for Gateway. I have two computers, an Acer from 1996 with Win95 installed on it, and an E-Machines from 2001 with Windows Millenium. On both machines, when something absolutely, positively, irremediably goes wrong, the only thing to do, on the Acer, is get out the Restore CD and either Reinstall Windows, or reformat the Hard Drive, or on this E-machine, which doesn’t give you the option of only Reinstalling WinME, of reformatting the entire hard drive. Which I have done once already, and we only bought the thing in April.
If you’re talking about the keyboard that has the volume knob, I can help. I have it too, but I don’t know the names of the files. (goes to try “find” to locate the file)
If you (or anyone else) know the names of the files, by all means send me an e-mail and I’ll happily send them to you.
Sorry DDG I should have put a few smilies in there or something, it was ment to be more of a “friendly” “what the hell’s wrong with you” kinda ribbing kinda thing. [sub]sorry :([/sub]
It just seemed a little drastic to restore when all he needs to do is download the software that will install the multimedia/internet key drivers.
BTW it most likely isn’t drivers for the whole keyboard just drivers that suppliment the standard MS keyboard drivers in windows.
I guess it would help if my e-mail was publicized, wouldn’t it? ~makes a change~
I found the file that has the URLs for the shortcut keys (I’ve altered that before, my “shopping” key takes me to eBay now, among other things), but I’m still not quite sure exactly what file you need. This file (hpmmkbd.ini) only has URLs in it, nothing for the print, fax, or other shortcut keys, so I doubt this is what you need.
Did you at least follow the link I gave? Its very basic, and from what I read seems to be the exact response by HP to your problem.
Granted HPs solution isn’t always the easiest, wisest, or best solution, but they at least really walk you through each step with pictures.
H. Discord, I’m pretty certain we’re saying the same thing. Its just a matter of semantics. I, however, am standing by my opinion that a self-extracting driver is a misnomer.
Trust me, it’ll be easier in the long run, than spending hours and hours wrassling mysterious files that you downloaded off a website. Been there, done that.
No, I don’t work for Gateway. I have two computers, an Acer from 1996 with Win95 installed on it, and an E-Machines from 2001 with Windows Millenium. On both machines, when something absolutely, positively, irremediably goes wrong, the only thing to do, on the Acer, is get out the Restore CD and either Reinstall Windows, or reformat the Hard Drive, or on this E-machine, which doesn’t give you the option of only Reinstalling WinME, of reformatting the entire hard drive. Which I have done once already, and we only bought the thing in April.
(goes to try “find” to locate the file)