Compaq Presario Notebook Model 1244
Worked on my brother's old Notebook (Mod 1244), the first I've ever experienced. It came preinstalled with 32MB RAM, upgraded to 160MB RAM. Also came preinstalled with Windows 98 and tons of software he doesn't need or want. Was amazed to find that the entire D drive is filled with old System_Save files we can't remove; also he can't find the original Compaq Restore/Setup CD. Found I could order a replacement but here's the question he has:
1) Doesn't want all this proprietary software, nor does he want/use all the diagnostics, etc. that came preinstalled.
2) Wants to upgrade to Windows XP, but Compaq Tech Support confirmed that this model doesn't qualify for an XP upgrade because it didn't have the pre-req of Windows ME installed.
3) Ran the XP Upgrade Advisor and find that most of what is installed from the Compaq-related stuff is not compatible.
4) Need specific guidance on our options, since he wants XP, and probably should be XP Pro vs. XP Home which has better networking support.
5) The BIOS doesn't appear to support any CD Boot options, unclear what is needed to help fix that so that perhaps we can Fdisk to wipe the drives, and do a whole new install of the full version, but completely unsure if the system will run at all without all the specific proprietary Compaq drivers and support tools.
Really need comments to guide me on how to get him what he wants and not make this system completely unusable; never dealt with such proprietary pre-installed environments before. Appreciate step-by-step instructions so I can send them to him directly to accomplish.
Thanks, if more is needed, let me know.
":0) Asta
P.S. Tried to upgrade 98 to 98SE, but he wants XP!
1) Doesn't want all this proprietary software, nor does he want/use all the diagnostics, etc. that came preinstalled.
2) Wants to upgrade to Windows XP, but Compaq Tech Support confirmed that this model doesn't qualify for an XP upgrade because it didn't have the pre-req of Windows ME installed.
3) Ran the XP Upgrade Advisor and find that most of what is installed from the Compaq-related stuff is not compatible.
4) Need specific guidance on our options, since he wants XP, and probably should be XP Pro vs. XP Home which has better networking support.
5) The BIOS doesn't appear to support any CD Boot options, unclear what is needed to help fix that so that perhaps we can Fdisk to wipe the drives, and do a whole new install of the full version, but completely unsure if the system will run at all without all the specific proprietary Compaq drivers and support tools.
Really need comments to guide me on how to get him what he wants and not make this system completely unusable; never dealt with such proprietary pre-installed environments before. Appreciate step-by-step instructions so I can send them to him directly to accomplish.
Thanks, if more is needed, let me know.
":0) Asta
P.S. Tried to upgrade 98 to 98SE, but he wants XP!
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ASKER
Thank you, Wes. I'll collect this information and send it to him. He is truly disappointed at ever having purchased this unit, once he realized how proprietary it all is and the lack of flexibility to control one's own hardware purchases to do what one wants. It really bites.
":0) Asta
":0) Asta
Just curious, since you are an expert here at EE, why not just try XP and see if it works? I mean, pop in the CD and try to boot from it. If you can, what harm would it to be to just try installing XP on a fresh installation?
You could always go back and you would satisfy his curiosity. Also, Windows 2000 is pretty close to XP, that may be an option too.
In terms of Compaq "support", don't believe everything they say. When I got RoadRunner (yes, not Compaq, but stay with me here) they told me they didn't support Windows 2000 or Eudora. Worked just fine. Then got XP. Told me they didn't support XP. Worked just fine.
They may be right, but why not try it?
You could always go back and you would satisfy his curiosity. Also, Windows 2000 is pretty close to XP, that may be an option too.
In terms of Compaq "support", don't believe everything they say. When I got RoadRunner (yes, not Compaq, but stay with me here) they told me they didn't support Windows 2000 or Eudora. Worked just fine. Then got XP. Told me they didn't support XP. Worked just fine.
They may be right, but why not try it?
ASKER
Hi, thanks for the input.
His BIOS doesn't support boot from CD. Tried to do the upgrade and upgrade advisor pointed to incompatibilities in terms of his PCCard (TI), insufficient hard disk space due to the system_save partition, lack of BIOS and driver support (among other things). He doesn't have the original Compaq Restore CD with drivers, etc., so need to get that before completely losing resource access in the various attempts.
Hope to have the system available to me this weekend to explore further.
Asta
His BIOS doesn't support boot from CD. Tried to do the upgrade and upgrade advisor pointed to incompatibilities in terms of his PCCard (TI), insufficient hard disk space due to the system_save partition, lack of BIOS and driver support (among other things). He doesn't have the original Compaq Restore CD with drivers, etc., so need to get that before completely losing resource access in the various attempts.
Hope to have the system available to me this weekend to explore further.
Asta
ASKER
Have escalated the issue to HP/Compaq Management, will report back if/when they respond. Looks as though we'll he will opt to stay with 98SE at this point. This, he says, will be his last proprietary type of system purchase and I couldn't agree more.
Thanks for the help.
Asta
Thanks for the help.
Asta
ASKER
Although some helpful information here, not enough to help him decide the option/process. He doesn't have enough hard disk space to upgrade (due to the tons of system-save files), and Upgrade ADvisor stated many of the components to be incompatible (Compaq drivers and Texas Instrument card).