Download Driver Laptop and Printer

before proceed with the steps to solve your problems make sure you check the ID, the ID for dv7 i have is ACPI/HPQ0004 so it is the:

ProtectSmart Hard Drive Protection
Download

this will solve 3 unknown device and the other one left is:

HDD protection feature:
Download

If you found there are unknown driver with ICH8M LPC Interface Controller - 2815 on the device manager follow this steps:

1. Download this drivers: HP Quicklaunch Button

and above that you mught require to install .netframework 2.0 before install the Quicklauch. Another tips is make windows XP SP2 works better with drivers for laptop model which design for windows Vista.

So if you finish installing windows 7 you'll find most of the drivers installed automatically but if you see unknown base device with yellow marks on device manager it is the card reader driver:

Download

right click and select run as administrator. install and done!

Before continue reading the entire post, I would like to stress this post is specific for Compaq laptop but you can also apply for other type if you know to choose your driver. I made this post because i got an email asked about Webcam crashed using MSN Messenger and she report back that its work for her. SO here is my original reply to her email and hope help you too, if you still having trouble( Especially different models) leave your comments.

here some suggestion that may help you:

first update your youcam driver:
http://h10025.www1.hp.com/ewfrf/wc/softwareDownloadIndex?softwareitem=ob-55812-1&lc=en&dlc=en&cc=us&os=2093&product=3675225&lang=en

restart and if it still crash follow next step:

first download and istall the update below:

windows vista service pack 1 update: http://www.microsoft.com/downloads/details.aspx?FamilyID=90E2942D-3AD1-4873-A2EE-4ACC0AACE5B6&displaylang=en

then web quickplay update:
http://h20000.www2.hp.com/bizsupport/TechSupport/SoftwareDescription.jsp?lang=en&cc=us&prodTypeId=321957&prodSeriesId=3752105&prodNameId=3786352&swEnvOID=2093&swLang=13&mode=2&taskId=135&swItem=ob-70555-1

This might be helpful if you need recovery disk for your windows vista.

Quoted from:http://www.pcworld.com/downloads/file/fid,71039/description.html

It looked like Microsoft was finally going to do the right thing. Beta versions of Vista SP1 came with a modern equivalent of the old Windows Boot Floppy--a Start Menu option called "Create a Recovery Disc" that burned a Windows PE-based emergency CD. Alas, Microsoft removed that feature before SP1 shipped, but not before NeoSmart turned the disc into an .iso file and made it available on their site.
Running on the Vista version of Windows PE, the Recovery Disc is basically a Vista installation disc minus the install files. It even has an "Install now" button that asks for a Product Key before failing. You're better off clicking the Repair your computer button. Among its Vista-only options are a tool for diagnosing and fixing startup problems, a version of System Restore that uses restore points on the hard drive, the restore portions of Vista's backup program, and a memory diagnostic tool.
Note: This link takes you to an external Web site, where you can download the latest version of the software.
--Lincoln Spector

There are a lot of driver missing when downgrade from xp to vista and 7 unknown devices is quite a popular topic discussed. And there are also other driver such as co processor. When downgrading for me the essential driver is chipset, sound, vga, wireless, bluetooth and card reader. So what to do with missing driver, for me if nothing wrong with your laptop no need for you to update the driver because you already have the essentials drivers.

Direct link
Download

Extract the files and  right click on machine.inf select install.

Here i blog the post by http://techrena.blogspot.com about how to enhance your laptop battery, if you find this article helpfull share with your friends and give credits to the original blog.

1. Do ‘Defragment’ Regularly.Defragmentation speeds up your Hard disks thus reducing some extra burden on your notebook batteries.
2. Dim your notebook display screen.You can turn down the brightness of your notebook’s display by using Function Keys[In most of the modern laptops].
3. Don’t run a ‘virus scan’ unnecessarily when you are running on battery,virus scan does add extra load on the CPU so as on the batteries.
4. Monitor your battery performance on a regular basis.
5. Clean your battery Contacts:It’s always suggested to take out your battery once in two or three months and clean the metal contacts with cloth moistened with rubbing alcohol.
6. Choose ‘Hibernate’ over ‘Standby’.Although Standby mode does save some power but it’s nowhere near when compared to ‘Hibernate’ mode,so opt for ‘Hibernate’ instead of ‘Standby’.
7. Turn off laptop display when you are away from it for shorter duration.You can make use of external software like m_off to do this for you.
8. Maintain Charging-Discharging balance.Once you completely charge your battery,allow it to discharge at least once in a week.
9. Turn off Bluetooth,IR & wireless radios when running on battery if you no longer need them.
10. Don’t attach USB devices[if you don’t really need them] attached to your notebook when running on battery.USB devices like iPod if kept attached to your notebook[for charging],are sure to drain your battery quickly.
11. Make wise use of the ‘Power Options’ available in the ‘Control Panel’ of your windows.

If yesterday your laptop works well but now it lost some function/ or affected by virus/ or having problems like unstable system = system restore is one of the best options you can choose to try solve the problems.

How to do it?

Click start > all program >accessories > system tools > system restore.

And then after clicking next you will see many date where you can choose to restore. Choose any of them(for me choose the date where computer in good performance is better).

Remember to back up your files in C.
what is the effect: It UNDO the change made to your system and restore the earlier system.