Windows software and a used hard drive.

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Tommy - 15 Oct 2005 16:56 GMT

Hey all heres whats up. I was at the salvation army and found the sweetest
Compaq Deskpro EN with Pentium III motherboard and CPU. Yellow tag sale day
ttl onlt $12.50. Now this unit is all cleaned up the dust bunnies are not
fighting for space. I took apart the entire unit cleaned and then
reinstalled ( yes i was using a electro static mat and wrist bracelet) . Im
dont really want to go out and spend alot on this unit as its going to be a
back up for me. This unit has WIN 98 installed on the the HDD. I have
cleaned up all the previous users files.
I have not used WIN98 in a long time. The unit did not come with WIn98
Software and I wanted to utilize the HDD. What can I do? I want to wipe the
HDD clean and start from scratch. WIN98 or 2000 software $$$ or is there a
alternative. Since I do not have a copy I am unable to update drivers so that
I can go online and perform the needed tasks for that unit.

Thanks

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TommyF Chicago IL

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Gary S. Terhune - 15 Oct 2005 18:08 GMT

Use Find to search for *.CAB files. If you find several dozen named
"WIN98_nn.CAB, where nn is a number, then you have the installation files on
the HDD. You can copy that folder (usually C:\Windows\Options\CABS) to a CD,
or use BootIt NG to shrink the existing partition and create a backup
partition, copy the installation files to that.

Unfortunately, you have a Compaq. That means that it's possible that the
*only* way you can clean install a new system is by using the proper Compaq
installation CD. Have you considered asking Compaq for a replacement set?

You might also try BootIt NG or even FDISK to see if there's a hidden
partition that perhaps contains the recovery setup files.

Signature

Gary S. Terhune
MS MVP Shell/User

> Hey all heres whats up. I was at the salvation army and found the sweetest
> Compaq Deskpro EN with Pentium III motherboard and CPU. Yellow tag sale day
[quoted text clipped - 11 lines]
>
> Thanks

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Tommy - 16 Oct 2005 10:55 GMT

Thanks Gary ill try that and see what I come up with. I love this old
machine all the sounds and lights. My friends are laughing at me. If they
only knew what potential this desktop has. The Chassy is so nice I cant wait
to see what it will look like as a tower and sound lilke with a new power
supply

Signature

TommyF Chicago IL

> Use Find to search for *.CAB files. If you find several dozen named
> "WIN98_nn.CAB, where nn is a number, then you have the installation files on
[quoted text clipped - 30 lines]
> >
> > Thanks

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Lil' Dave - 16 Oct 2005 10:10 GMT

Uh-oh. You said its a Compaq. You ain't movin those innards anyplace.
Good luck finding a standard power supply that will work with it. Stay away
from name brand PCs like Compaq, HP, Acer and others if you plan to move the
guts to another case like a tower. Some older Dells may work though, but a
the power supply may be a problem in some instances.

> Thanks Gary ill try that and see what I come up with. I love this old
> machine all the sounds and lights. My friends are laughing at me. If they
[quoted text clipped - 36 lines]
> > >
> > > Thanks

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Gary S. Terhune - 16 Oct 2005 17:50 GMT

What Dave said -- you want to make *sure* that any changes in hardware are
compatible with the system. Good luck.

Signature

Gary S. Terhune
MS MVP Shell/User

> Thanks Gary ill try that and see what I come up with. I love this old
> machine all the sounds and lights. My friends are laughing at me. If they
[quoted text clipped - 36 lines]
> > >
> > > Thanks

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Tommy - 17 Oct 2005 13:40 GMT

Compaq does not have a website. It is now HP's and due to no handbook or FD
or CD. I am unable to pinpoint exactly which version I have. If anyone can
help that would be great.

Here is what info I have.
Compaq Deskpro EN series
-Serial number 6938 CKN7 2221 Intel Pentium III
Intel PCI set
CMOS
Rage pro turbo AGP
System ROM family 686 TE
3 slots for RAM

With a Intel Pentium II processor to the PCI Bridge. That has 4 PCI slots
which I have a Creative Soundblaster 5,1 and Belkin Firewire , Inel Ethernet
and a Standard modem.

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Gary S. Terhune - 17 Oct 2005 21:37 GMT

You're going to have to find more info on the model number. Too many too
sort through. Since the site doesn't explain where to look for details on a
Deskpro, you're just going to have to look harder at the machine for any
numbers resembling those found here http://tinyurl.com/a4nru

You might also try HP's Support Chat and see if they can help you. They are
*usually* quite nice and good about things like this. Better than the
telephone support. I don't see a specific listing for your system at
http://tinyurl.com/8uphk, where you begin the Chat Support process, but I'd
just pick any one of the Compaq categories and machines, then explain to the
tech what you really need.

Another option is to use Everest Home Edition to identify your hardware.
http://www.lavalys.com/products/overview.php?pid=1&lang=en since you can't
get online to use HP's autodetection (which might not work for your model,
anyway.) Everest is too large to transport by floppy, so you'll need to use
a CD. And the system needs to be running. (I've seen Everest refuse to run
on some systems, but it should be OK on yours.)

Signature

Gary S. Terhune
MS MVP Shell/User

> Compaq does not have a website. It is now HP's and due to no handbook or FD
> or CD. I am unable to pinpoint exactly which version I have. If anyone can
[quoted text clipped - 12 lines]
> which I have a Creative Soundblaster 5,1 and Belkin Firewire , Inel Ethernet
> and a Standard modem.

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Lil' Dave - 15 Oct 2005 20:39 GMT

Check out the compaq website. They may be able to supply you another
recovery CD and product key for money. Only they have the drivers for their
hardware located on their recovery CD. Thus the 12.50 PC cost.

> Hey all heres whats up. I was at the salvation army and found the sweetest
> Compaq Deskpro EN with Pentium III motherboard and CPU. Yellow tag sale day
[quoted text clipped - 11 lines]
>
> Thanks

Reply to this Message

Tommy - 16 Oct 2005 10:57 GMT

Thanks Little Dave
Im looking on there but not liking the prices.

Signature

TommyF Chicago IL

> Check out the compaq website. They may be able to supply you another
> recovery CD and product key for money. Only they have the drivers for their
[quoted text clipped - 21 lines]
> >
> > Thanks

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Lil' Dave - 16 Oct 2005 10:05 GMT

Zactly. That's why the 12.50 PC cost. You pay the difference in the OS
install CD at Compaq.
Chalk it up to experience. Compaq, HP are similar. Dell is headed that way
real quick.

> Thanks Little Dave
> Im looking on there but not liking the prices.
[quoted text clipped - 24 lines]
> > >
> > > Thanks

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