Compaq Presario 1600s

[techsev]

Anyone know how I can reload windows 98. I have a built to order unit (big mistake) that I purchased 1 1/2 years ago. My waranty expired in march. It was set up with 2 partitions one for use and one for quick restore. somehow I got hacked or a virus, reformatted the hard drive after trying the emergency recovery disk with no luck. I tried to load windows off a full version disk and can not get all the drivers to work. Compaq cant tell me what components i have in it. I know some not all. anyone know how I can find out. I think compaq is the worst for customer support. during the waranty i had probably 15 issues all hardware related. they were the worst.

[DonJ]

Go here for the Parts Breakdown for your Presario (http://web14.compaq.com/falco/sp_syn.asp?recid=presario1600.pdf). It is in .PDF format so you will need Adobe Acrobat to view it.

Go here for
Presario's downloads (http://web14.compaq.com/falco/sp_list.asp). Select Notebook/ presario 1600/1600s...click Go. All of your drivers and software solutions are available there.

Let us know how it goes...Good Luck!
Don

[techsev]

Thanks but I already tried the compaq website. that won't work. I finially got a hold of someone at corporate they told me I have to spend $10.80 for standard mail for a quick recovery disk. more if I want next day or two day. They say there is no way to load windows 98 without it. All of thier drivers are not on the web site. I complain that I have already paid for the disk as far as I am concerned it is not my fault they didn't ship it with the new computer. I know most other companies give you an oem version of win. when you purchase the machine. I was told the charge is to relicence it with microsoft. After explaining that I know that is not true and that I have already paid for the licence when they sold me the computer they said it was for shipping then after that they asked me for ten dollars plus shipping I said I thought that was for shipping then I was told it was for the price of the disk. I really want to figure out how to do this without giving them any more money. Any other ideas??

[cyberhh]

1. Take the machine completely apart - bieng very careful, identify all components and write down model numbers, then trace the model numbers to the correct oem drivers

-or-

2. Run HWInfo (download from the Tech Tools/Utilities Page) and see if that correctly identifies all your components.

-or- (Best)

3. Pay the fifteen bucks for a complete restore cd - and have the piece of mind to know that if the same thing happens again you have the cd.

[Worldsci]

Don't you just hated when windows has a huge list of drivers and none of them fits your hardware and the space these drivers take up your HDD? and they calle it "Plug and Play"

There should be a white-sticker(usually) with model numbers on it or the FCC numbers. The FCC number can tell you who register that product or something like that. Check out this link for an example http://support.microsoft.com/support/kb/articles/q93/2/66.asp hope this helps

Hinh

[Carlitos_Way]

Having been the laptop guru at my last place of employ I can tell you that performing a generic install of Windows on your laptop can be a pain in the *** , especially on Compaq laptops. Particularly due to not finding the proper drivers for the components. You can dismantle your unit and identify components this way, but you run the risk of damaging the unit. And the fact that it is out of warranty doesnt help. I recommend paying the shipping charges for your restore cd, which its cost doesnt even compare to that of the laptop. Once you get the cd be sure to fdisk and format your drive with your Win9x start up disk, erase the first 10 cylinders first if you can. Restore your drive and you'll be on your way. <IMG SRC="smilies/cool.gif" border="0">

[Rudders]

I have a 1690, and I suspect that yours is almost identical.

I think that you will have a K6-2 or K6-3 processor, at least 64mb ram, possibly a 6.4 gig drive and a Yamaha CD/DVD.

Graphics card: ATI Rage LT Pro (8Mb) driver available at ATIs webpage (you want the one ending in .2560).
14.1" standard screen?

ESS Solo Sound card (1946) and Aureal 3D Surround sound too. (speakers on these are the best in any laptop!).
Try a Lucent DFi Modem!
ALI chipset, (Aladdin V)
Does this help?

Also, if you wish to upgrade your processor, take a look at my webpage: www.mgrudkin.clara.net (http://www.mgrudkin.clara.net) And get a K6-3+ 550 in there! I run mine at 600.

Rudders <IMG SRC="smilies/biggrin.gif" border="0">

[[NeoZeeD]]

not sure if this will help. but we get alot of compaq customers where there computers dont do a clean restore part of the fact is compaq is a piece of crap and they have two partitions the C: and the D: the D: partition is the system save partition. alot of times when that partition is wiped out or is damaged that will cause the computer to not do a proper restore anymore or go keep going into error. also i forgot what model compaq computer is it, but some compaq restore cd's dont have all drivers in them and you have to get updated version of there restore cd.

[techsev]

Well I broke down and bought the restore cd. I was able to get it to work fine. None of the ideas worked I did find out that it is a 1690 even though it says 1600s on it. Thanks for all the help. I was surprised that it was different than the other 1690 that posted on this sorry forgot your name. Any way thanks for the help and what a racket Compuke uum I mean Compaq has. Moderators can close this topic.

[Damned Angel]

Done