Re: Help with computer hardware problem---PLEASE!!?!!
- From: "Paul T. Holland" <pholland@xxxxxxxxxxxxxxxx>
- Date: Sun, 11 Sep 2005 22:14:36 GMT
hey lc
we've done a ton of these machines over the years in our recycle program.
you actually have a couple of issues to resolve here -
the 4640 came as a win95 machine, and a 98 upgrade came available. additionally
there is/was a bios/rom flash upgrade.
iirc, it's up to phoenix bios 6.0.e. - but i'd have to look to be sure,
i may even have the softpaq/rompaq software if you need 'em. compaq issued an
'win me' version of software for it - not that i would ever use the glitchy
thing.
if you have the pII 266 mmx model [prob. the 440LX chipset] - i wouldn't bother
trying to tweak it into anything higher on the os - while you have enough memory
[it can go up to 256], basic processor will -imo- still creak and groan. yeah -
you 'can' stuff 2k [as opposed to 'me'] onto that 4 gig hd, but is it 'needed'?
here's the basic tech spec - does it match your machine?
http://embur.com/webcam/specsheets/compaq/4640.pdf
now - this doesn't mean that you can just shove any old disk into the bay and
remount windows - compaqs 'use a diff. hard drive partition' - if you intend to
bring it back to 'factory' spec.
it's where they stuff diag. and restore functions for repair, remount...and
includes a 'tools' sest of small programs, useful in dos mode.
'and' original compaq drivers won't be 'on' anything 'but' the compaq disk(s) -
including the cd, sound, modem[!], video chipset, etc. - some devices will work
ok with the 'generic' - but not all.
query: did it come with a dvd/cd - most did - diff. driver avail. altogether if
so...compaq didn't always mark 'em to let you know without checking inside.
does your friend have the original disk(s)?? t'will save you a buncha time...it
is quite poss. to mount dos/win without the compaq partition, but it's a royal
pita - there should also have been an additional disk called 'software setup'
don't know if any of these will help [maybe the diag llink?] but here's some
quick stuff:
http://h10025.www1.hp.com/ewfrf/wc/softwareList?dlc=en&lc=en&product=92816&lang=en&cc=us&os=20
paul
LooseCannon wrote:
> Yes, I know this is a cp ng, but I also know there are a few tech ppl
> who hang out here, and I was hoping to pick their brains if they are
> feeling up to it.
>
> I've been trying to get an older tower PC in working order for a friend,
> and it's turned into a nightmare! It's a Compaq 4640 Presario Pentium 2
> which has worked well but had way too much stuff on it from its previous
> owner who wanted me to reformat it so their privacy was protected, so I
> did that, and the problem I ended up with is a simple one. When I
> started this process, everything on the tower was working great--both
> disk drives (HD, CD & 3.5" floppy). The HD is 4 gigs, and there are 162
> megs RAM, which aint bad for a P2. Anyways, I reformatted the HD and
> set the BIOS to boot off of the CD first, floppy second and HD third.
> When I was done, it wouldn't recognize that the CD was even there--not
> at all! I've been able to get it to boot off of the 3.5" floppy and go
> into DOS, but when I try to change drives, it will NOT recognize the CD
> drive! The CD had been assigned the letter D, but I tried MANY other
> letters just to be sure and none of them worked either.
>
> I just cant figure out how the CD went from working to not working in
> the short space of a few hours just cuz I reformatted the HD.
> Everything I'm told sez that reformatting wouldn't destroy the setup
> that would allow me to use the CD! I'm told my best bet is to open the
> tower and reset all of the connections to the CD drive and see if that
> helps. but I don't really have high hopes about doing that. However, if
> others agree, I will give it the good ole college try!
>
> Can anyone confirm this (or tell me its bunk)? Or give me an alternate
> way of handling things? I cant load Windows onto the HD without a CD
> drive. I'm thinking that the best OS to use is Win98SE cuz WinXP home
> is too memory intensive to use with the P2. Besides, Win98SE is enuf
> for any beginner to get by with and doesnt need the resources that XP needs.
>
> So can anyone help? Or at least offer suggestions? I really want to
> help this person and have hit a brick wall in terms of what I can do on
> my own.
>
> You can post here or email me at lambchop.LC@xxxxxxxxx
>
> Thanks!
.
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