Removable items on Compaq

TimW · Apr 14, 2006

Hey Gang, just picked up a compaq for the wife to use (5710) and the hdd has a partition that I understand Compaq uses to store boot info and system files ... plus some other junk I don't recognize. It is also the default path for most program installations. Anyone know what can be deleted from those computers safely. Running xp with 380mgs ram and only a 450mhz processor. Really slow ...running xp and its using 100 cpu just installing updates.

brownizs · Apr 15, 2006

Personally, unless you have the restore CDs from HP/Compaq, I would not touch anything. Reason being, is the older laptops had a Bios section, that when deleted, rendered the system pretty much useless if you had to go into F10 to change things.

XP is not a normal OS that came with these laptops, Win98SE did, so that means that the person that had it before had loaded XP on it, and if you do not have the disc, that means that they should of re-loaded the original OEM of 98se back on it before you bought it. The AMD-K6 450mhz with XP is pretty slow, and the hard drive is probably still the 15.1gb that came with it http://h10025.www1.hp.com/ewfrf/wc/document?lc=en&cc=us&dest_page=product&dlc=en&product=93569&docname=c00008703

Compaq Presario 5710 Desktop PC - Product Specifications http://welcome.hp-ww.com/img/s.gif http://welcome.hp-ww.com/img/s.gif http://welcome.hp-ww.com/img/s.gif
QuickSpecs

Compaq Presario 5710

June 1999

MODEL COMPAQ PRESARIO 5710

Compaq P/N - 123957-009

Standard Features Dimensions & Weights (H x W x D) • Unit: 19" x 8.38" x 20.9" (31 lbs.)

• Package: 24" x 14.95" x 23.6" (41 lbs.) Processor 450 MHz AMD-K6(r)-2 Processor with 3DNow! TM technology System Bus 100 MHz system bus System Memory 96 MB 100 MHz SyncDRAM, shared memory architecture, three total DIMM slots upgradable to 384 MB -4 MB dedicated for video memory (SyncDRAM DIMM required) Hard Drive 15.0 GB 1 UltraDMA hard drive CD-ROM Drive 32X Max 2 CD-ROM drive Modem 56K ITU V.90 modem Zip Drive 100 MB Iomega ZIP BUILT IN Drive Cache 512KB integrated L2 Pipeline Burst Cache 10 Mbps Ethernet Port • Share files and printers

• Cable/DSL modem ready Compaq Easy Access Internet Keyboard One-touch access to Internet activities through the Internet Button Suite

Instant Internet - Personalized start page with instant access to local news, entertainment and e-services

Instant E-Mail - Quick one-touch access for sending and reading E-mail

Instant Search - Instant access to the world's most powerful search engine

Daily Destination - Personalized news, weather, sports and financial information from around the world

Online Marketplace - Better ideas for the most satisfying shopping experience on the Internet

Retail Central - Instant connection to your computer store and a variety of leading product/ service retailers

My Presario - Your instant connection to Compaq for product information, helpful hints, performance updates and more Multimedia controls:

Favorite Application

Play/Pause Launch Button

Previous Track & • Stop Next Track

Volume Up/Down

Mute Button

Quick Print

Sleep 104-key Compaq Windows(r) keyboard

More Choices for Online Access Compare your choices and select the right one for you:

Free Internet access with the purchase of a Compaq Presario Internet PC

100 hour free trial from Compaq.NET and AOL

Free Internet service from Net Zero

Compaq.NET fully supported by Compaq

Reliable, national coverage with more than 1,100 local access numbers

Easily upgradable to DSL service

Set-up software from America Online.Creativity Action Center 7 • Two USB ports and one game port conveniently located on the front of the PC provide quick and easy connection for USB cameras, scanners and gamepads

• Intuitive and fun photo-editing software allows you to edit photos and send to family and friends Graphics • Integrated 2X AGP 3D Graphics

• Full-motion MPEG video playback

• Integrated 64-bit hardware-accelerated 3D graphics

• Maximum non-interlaced resolution of up to 1600 x 1200 (when supported by monitor) Compaq Audio • ESS Solo PCI Audio

• Aureal A3D TM 360 Positional Sound

• JBL VirtualTheater TM (V-MAx)

• FM Synthesis Compaq Multimedia • Audio CD Player

• Video Player (AVI, MPEG and others) Power Supply • Steady-state 200 watts

• Energy Star Compliant Diskette Drive 3.5" 1.44 MB diskette drive Mouse Internet scroll mouse Expansion Slots (Four total) • One PCI slot with modem installed

• One PCI with networking slot card installed

• One PCI slot open for expansion

• One ISA slot open for expansion Expansion Bays (Seven total) • 3.5" 1.44 MB diskette drive

• Hard drive

• Zip drive

• CD-ROM drive

• Three drive bays open for expansion Rear I/O Interfaces • Four USB ports (2 front, 2 back)

• Serial RS-232C compatible, DB9 connector (16550)

• Parallel EPP/ECP standard centronics-compatible interface (DB25 connector)

• Joystick/MIDI/Gamepad compatible game port

• Two RJ-11 phone jacks (1 input, 1 output)

• RJ-45 Ethernet port

• Audio ports (line-in, line-out and microphone-in)

• Mouse and keyboard ports

• Monitor connection (VGA) Compatibility/Compliance • Plug-and-Play

• Advanced Configuration and Power Interface (ACPI)

• Year 2000 (Y2K) Hardware Compliant - This product was developed for compliance with the Compaq Year 2000 Readiness Program. Compaq Extra Mile Assistance • 1-year U.S. Limited Warranty 8 : 1 year parts and 1 year carry-in labor with the first 90 days onsite.

• Technical support: 24 hours a day, 7 days a week

• Personal online assistance Compaq Extra Mile Maintenance • Compaq Service Connection provides free automated software updates via the Web Compaq Extra Mile Solutions • SystemSave for easy information backup

• Selective QuickRestore

• Remote access for quicker resolution Preinstalled Software McAfee Antivirus

LivePix Collection

Microsoft(r) Money 99

Microsoft(r) Windows(r) 98 Second Edition

Microsoft(r) Windows(r) 98 Starts Here (Microsoft(r) Windows(r) 98, Second Edition also available )

Microsoft(r) Word 97

Microsoft(r) Works 4.5

Quicken Basic 99

RingCentral Fax

Running Microsoft(r) Windows(r) 98

Videogram Creator Internet/Online America Online

Compaq.NET

Microsoft(r) Internet Explorer

Netscape Communicator

NetZero Software on CD Microsoft Encarta Encyclopedia 99

TimW · Apr 15, 2006

Thanks for the reply ...... being a gift horse, I guess I shouldn't be looking too closely at it's mouth. I've seen a lot of posts that indicate its a pain to install os on these machines because of the poss. of wiping the proprietary stuff. So since it already has xp pro on it, I'll just do as much as I can to speed it up and tell the wife to have a little patience while stuff loads.

brownizs · Apr 15, 2006

The memory is at the max. One way to speed up is turn off all the "Eye Candy" settings like sliding windows, the XP type toolbar (change settings to Classic). And you should see some speed. Problem with a machine that slow, is it will work great for Internet, and application, but anything else will show its age.

TimW · Apr 15, 2006

OK, call me a boob .... have been powering up and coming back 15 minutes later to mess with it .... decided to watch this time and it still has win. 98 on it (dual boot). So, after restarting with a regular mouse (didn't recognize my optical) also found that it didn't see the second hdd. So, question is, do I try to uninstall win 98, or xp ..... and if I uninstall xp, how do I get 98 to see my second hdd?
Decisions, decisions ....
On xp, have stopped indexing, deleted prefetch and set performance to system ...still takes about a minute and a half to load browser.

brownizs · Apr 15, 2006

If you do not have the XP disc, this would mean that you do not have the COA for the copy on the machine. I would remove any traces of XP from it unless you buy a copy for your own use, and then wipe out both drives, and install XP on the main partition.

Drivers for this machine:
http://h10025.www1.hp.com/ewfrf/wc/softwareList?lc=en&cc=us&dlc=en&tool=softwareCategory&product=93569&os=228

TimW · Apr 15, 2006

I have xp pro on disc .... can reinstall. To run a new install sets it up on the c:
whereas the d: drive has the compaq stuff on it (and probably the win 98). Not sure how to wipe it all and be certain that it will reload xp.... can you walk me through on this compaq ....have no problems on any other 'puter, but a little leary of the compaq.
Thanks for all your support so far ...

brownizs · Apr 15, 2006

Just use C:, on D:, most likely it is just Win98 (booting into XP would confirm). Only thing that I would question, is when hitting F10 to boot into CMOS setup, do you actually get just the Bios setup screen, or is it pulling off of the drive. The last Compaq I worked on that was a older model, actually had no partition for the Compaq Cmos setup.

In Computer Management under Admin Tools for XP, it will tell you in Disk Management, what the partitions are, and from there if both drives have just one partition, then from there, you can wipe them both, and just install XP.

TimW · Apr 16, 2006

When in xp, the management shows the primary hhd as partitioned (C and D) with the D being boot. Did a search for folder "Windows 98" and came up with nothing. In msconfig, under boot .ini. it shows the string c:\= "Microsoft Windows". The line above is the multi(0)disk(0)rdisk(0)partition(2)\WINDOWS="Microsoft XP Pro\fastdetect.
I'll have to boot into 98 and see if it gives an unistall for 98. Don't recall seeing that but wasn't paying attention at that time, just noticing that it didn't detect the second hard drive.
Can't find any "reliable" info as to wiping the hard drive totally clean and reinstalling on these old compaq's. Too many stories of people finding they can't boot at all (missing drivers and such) Compaq sure did some stupid stuff.
May have to check their power supply as I've got two boards without power supplies (one board may be bad along with its video card, the other not sure if it died purely because of the ps.) But chances are that the ps for compaq won't work in anything else either.

brownizs · Apr 16, 2006

Everything that should be needed for the old Compaq, XP should load it. If there is no hardware showing disabled, in Device manager, due to missing or bad drivers, and everything is working, I see no problem with formating and installing just XP. I have a HP Pavilion xt923, and XP loaded everything that was needed for the system, without needing drivers, due to the hardware in it is nothing exotic.

It seems that the older the machine to a point, XP is pretty good at loading drivers needed, or Windows update loading generic drivers for the device to run, without any problems.

TimW · Apr 16, 2006

OK, I'll give it a whirl. Guess I need a boot disc to remove partitions and format the single drive, then see if it will load xp. Will let you know how it goes some time tomorrow. Thanks!!!!!

brownizs · Apr 16, 2006

Actually the XP disc will do the removal of the partitions, by going into the Setup part when booting the disc. Also, having a Knoppix LiveCD helps also.

TimW · Apr 17, 2006

Say What? Didn't get around to reinstalling last night after eating the easter bunny..... Haven't heard of Knoppix LiveCD ..... and don't remember an option to remove partitions on the setup ...just format the C drive.

brownizs · Apr 17, 2006

Let me edit previous, sorry. You have to use Disk Management from XP in order to remove the partition, and when you do setup, you can choose the drive/partition to install XP into (C:\ is preferred). But you can format any partition from XP Setup.

TimW · Apr 17, 2006

I don't recall the option to format additional drives during setup ....seem to recall only the one that the os will be installed on ....typically c:
and don't think I can remove partition under disc management as c drive is system and d is boot.
Could try gateways disc setup and see if it will do it (though it wouldn't on one of my non-gateway discs ....did on one other one, but can't remember who's) or I have a win. me boot disc that I could use to format and delete the partition.

TimW · Apr 17, 2006

Brain fa*t ..... meant seagate disc management, not gateway......damn bunny is coming back to haunt me....

TimW · Apr 18, 2006

To update .... thanks Brownizs, every thing went quite smoothly. Used seagate disc utility to wipe drives and partitions and XP installed without a hitch (if you call three hours hitch free). Only had to go into disc management to partition the slave drive and format it and all is well. Still rather slow, but am doing tweaks to give it some speed, at least enough for the wife to use since she is only using it for web and word processing.
Don't know why there were so many post on the web about Compaq and the hidden boot files that, when deleted, people couldn't load an os on their machines. But all is well and thanks again.

brownizs · Apr 18, 2006

Some of the older machines had that problem, especially with the Proprietary ones that where made around the time that Win95 came out.

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Removable items on Compaq

TimW MajorGeeks Administrator - Jedi Malware Expert Staff Member

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TimW MajorGeeks Administrator - Jedi Malware Expert Staff Member

brownizs MajorGeek

TimW MajorGeeks Administrator - Jedi Malware Expert Staff Member

brownizs MajorGeek

TimW MajorGeeks Administrator - Jedi Malware Expert Staff Member

brownizs MajorGeek

TimW MajorGeeks Administrator - Jedi Malware Expert Staff Member

brownizs MajorGeek

TimW MajorGeeks Administrator - Jedi Malware Expert Staff Member

brownizs MajorGeek

TimW MajorGeeks Administrator - Jedi Malware Expert Staff Member

brownizs MajorGeek

TimW MajorGeeks Administrator - Jedi Malware Expert Staff Member

TimW MajorGeeks Administrator - Jedi Malware Expert Staff Member

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