Old Timers and Deal finders, have a second?

[BenSkywalker]

Currently I'm installing Win95 on a FUBARd Compaq Polinea 450, a rig that is running a 486DX 100 overdrive processor, 20MB of RAM and a ~300MB HD with a sh!t load of bad sectors(why I'm reinstalling Windows).

The guy who owns this machine is really nice, but knows nothing at all about computers, he sent his first email a few weeks ago and was excited about it. He picked up this machine used and was under the impression it wasn't more then a couple of years old but after having it for two days he could no longer boot into Windows(DriveSpave and H: had all sorts of bad clusters). He had a friend look at it who worked *with*(I think he meant on, not with) computers and said that he tried to replace the HD, I checked the OEM specs and it is the original HD however there is a fairly new CL 32X CD-ROM installed(was jumpered improperly too, that one had me scratching my head for a few). His friend told him the machine was dead and if it was anyone reading this thread I would agree, but this guy doesn't need much at all and has very little money.

My question is what can I do with this thing CHEAP! He told me that he was thinking about saving up for some time so he could afford some HP/Compaq type cheap system. This rig needs a new HD, but how big can I go if I do find one? I can't even figure out how to get into the BIOS, all it shows on post is XXXXKB while it runs through the memory test, nothing else. I have tried all the usual keystrokes and have been throught Compaq's site looking for any info I can find. They have the mobo info and jumpers there, but nothing else.

A HD replacement would keep him up and running for a while, but I was thinking about seeing what kind of deal could be had on one of the integrated solutions with a cheap Celery or Duron, if it can be found cheap enough. CD-ROM, floppy and monitor are already present and in fine working order, I can supply case(ATX), soundcard(ISA or PCI), RAM(64MB PC100) and video(AGP-TNT) if need be and also a modem if the board has ISA slots, can we do this for little money? Remember what he is running right now, and in all honesty he is expecting me to tell him the machine is completely dead(just about finished installing Win95 right now and everything looks OK, but no idea how long this HD will hold up) and be SOL.

Any good deals out there that could help out or any suggestions for hardware that will work on this setup would be greatly appreciated.

Thanks in Advance

 

[RossMAN]

What exactly are you looking for a deal on? A hard drive or a cheapo celeron/duron system?
What is your friends realistic budget?

 

[BenSkywalker]

RossMAN-

HD is a definite, if nothing else he needs that. On top of that, a Celery/mobo or Duron/mobo cheap would definately be preferable. Honest budget limit, I would say sub $200, the lower the better and the $200 would be for HD/mobo/CPU, a full overhaul. He didn't give me a firm price as he was expecting it to be unsalvageable, but I currently have Win95 fully installed and just finished setting up the modem so as of right now the system is 100% operable, but that HD is about to die.

Thanks for the reply

 

[RossMAN]

I'll keep my eye out on a hard drive deal it'll probably be a Maxtor 20GB - 40GB.

 

[BenSkywalker]

Thanks again RossMAN Maxtor drives have the easy BIOS setup so that would even get me around the old 8.4GB limitation

 

[gnognugs]

Leaning toward the HD only solution.
Once yo get a new motherboard and processor, you need a new case (ATX), then keyboard and mouse (or adapters).
Gets really hard, if not impossible (for new equipment), to get all that under 200 clams.

 

[gnognugs]

BTW
Good luck

 

[RossMAN]

I would agree that it's going to be difficult to keep this total solution for under $200.

Everyone seems to rave about the FS/FT Forum, I would seriously consider checking out some deals there.

But if I find a good deal on a hard drive I'll post it here, PM or e-mail you but don't hold your breath.

 

[BA]

search Hot Deals for a 20gb Maxtor HD at Staples. Just stuck one in a girl's old Packard Hell, it was like $70, think it's cheaper now.

 

[BenSkywalker]

I do have a case(200 watt ATX) and PS/2 keyboard and mouse. I think the only things I need are HD, mobo and CPU, for a full overhaul and even a Celeron 300 would be a huge boost for this system so any old LX mobo that supports Celerys would be fine.

Thanks again for the replies guys

Edit Thanks BA, going to check that now

 

[AmigaMan]

Check out this place. They have cheap old stuff at decent prices.

 

[Shadowian]

On most of the Compaq systems that I have dealt with you have to use the F10 key to get into the BIOS, don't know why, but that is the way Compaq likes it.

Hopefully you can get him upgraded to something better than a Compaq anyway, but I thought that I would let you know.

 

[DaddyG]

Ben, as an 'Old Timer' I can can tell that you will salvage very little from this sytem. If go with a new mobo/cpu combo, you will need memory as well as the case. The Compaq probably uses integrated video so thats another consideration. If your lucky, you'll salvage the CD-ROM and Floppy, thats it, $50 bucks new.

 

[BA]

Go to FS/FT. I've got some Pentium systems(not exactly sure what, my dad picked them up at an auction) that could be sold for well under $200.

 

[BenSkywalker]

Shadowian-

I'll give it a shot, thanks

DaddyG-

I know I could junk it and it would end up being very little lost, but it is a perception thing. I am still fighting with the guy about paying me, I insist that he doesn't need to give me anything and he insists that of course he does. I want to be able to convince him that he payed for everything new, even if I'm supplying it

The monitor, CD-ROM, and floppy are about it that is any good, I know that. I have-

Diamond Viper V550 TNT AGP
56K ISA modem
SoundBlaster16 ISA and Ensoniq PCI soundcards
64MB PC100 SDRAM
ATX case and 200 watt power supply

He has, good-

CD-ROM
Floppy Drive
Monitor
Keyboard/Mouse

These are parts I have right now. Unfortunately, I don't have any spare HDs/mobos or CPUs at the moment(I fried my SS7 mobo that would have worked great not too long ago too:|). He doesn't need much at all, he's greatly looking forward to being able to go online, but I need to convince him I just threw it together for him as it is and even then he is still going to try on insisting on paying me(which I will have not part of, this guy is the type to give you the shirt of his back).

Thanks for all the replies guys

BA-

I checked on the HD deal at Staples and they are at $99.99, just under the limit for coupons I'll take a look at those P class systems now

 

[gnognugs]

You've got a good heart, BenSkywalker!

 

[cavingjan]

I'd consider either an older slot 1 with a celeron or a ss7 with a k6-2. I'll look to see what I can find for you. Take a look at compugeeks and pcliquidators. Or scan the hot deals or fs/t forums.
I've dealt with people like this before. My advice: charge him my standard off office consulting fee: one beer an hour until job is done. The trick is to get the stuff started before they realize the clock should have started a couple hours ago. Usual cost: 1 maybe 2 beers and I'll even take cheap domestic.

 

[Shadowian]

Great advice cavingjan!

 

[BenSkywalker]

Thanks AmigaManp and cavingjan I checked out ComputerGeeks and they have some real sweet deals on some old mobos, looks like I can pick one up for around $40

I'll check out PC liquidators also and see what they have for good candidate parts.

cavingjan Hmmmm, that sounds like a good fee for services rendered

Thanks again for all the help guys

 

[cavingjan]

Its the specialty rate. Just don't let it get around too much. Otherwise you may be too drunk to work on anything any more. Another payment option (my favorite) is to barter for services rendered. Particularly woodworking. I like to do it but I'm not that great and I don't have a lathe at home anymore. Trade for some other work that you need to do anyway.
And if I had a spare 2 gig drive, I'd send it to you, Ben, but I don't even have a spare lying around work.

 

[imported_PHarmer]

Here is a cheap Tekram MB that has built in video and sound for $35+ shipping. I don't know how good it is.

Tekram Online Store

 

[BenG3000]

If you want to use a Staples coupon and get that hard drive, just add a pen or something cheap to your cart and use the coupon.

Ben

 

[fargus]

Don't waste your time trying to upgrade an old Compaq. Everything is proprietary. You'll probably find that even the power supply has unique connectors, and you can't mount an AT or ATX board in the case. If you can find an old (under 500 Mb) HD I'd say throw that in, but give up any idea of using parts from this beastie or upgrading it. You might be able to salvage the floppy drive <g>. I used to suppport lots of these machines.... happiest day of my life was when we took sledgehammers to them.

 

[ChrisL]

I have had a fair bit of experience with the Compaq Prolinea 450 we had a whole bunch of them where I work, (actually there is still one in use though I upgraded it to a 486-DX4 100, 1.2 GB HDD and 24MB Ram.) It is currently running Win95b, MsOffice 97, Wp8 and Ie5. So, if the person this is for only needs to wordprocess, do spreadsheets and surf, I would say just put a hard drive in it and you are good to go. (Note you may need and overlay if the drive is bigger than 504 MD depending on which bios revision that particular 450 has. As for the F10 to enter setup someone listed earlier, it only works if the setup information is still on the hard drive (a small non dos partition at the begining of the drive). If is is gone, you should be able to download the software for compaq (if not email me and I can find one of the copies I have at work (it is 2 or 3 floppies).

Chris

 

[BenSkywalker]

cavingjan

Service exchange wouldn't be bad, but I honestly don't know what he can do that I need done

PHarmer-1-

Looks like a good possibility, still haven't talked to him yet to see which way he wants to go(we work conflicting shifts so we only have a few hours a day when we are both awake and not at work) though that and a ~$50 Celery would have him up and running nicely.

fargus-

The only things worth saving on this is a CL CD-ROM drive and the floppy, the rest would be placed next to my other antiques in a closet

ChrisL-

As of right now, it seems like he is just looking to get on line. However, this is his first ever computer and he does have a daughter(nine years old, he's in his early thirties) who would likely want to try out some different things with it also. He would like to go out and get a new system with all the *bells and whistles*(his words) he can so he can do all the cool things he hears about, but is very limited in terms of cash.

I installed Win95B on to it, and other then that right now it is a bare drive(without too much room for that matter) as this drive is on the bloody stump of its' last leg

Is there anyway to check which BIOS revision the computer has and if not how much of a pain in the @ss is it to workaround? I've never had to work around a HD limitation on a mobo before, I upgrade far too often, and definately not one of this vintage(wasn't a hardware junkie back then, honestly ran Macs at the time myself).

Thanks for all the replies everyone