Advise wanted -- re laptop repair

[DonC]

OK, I know this is not a "homebuilt" but you guys are a great source of
hardware + knowledge.

Situation: I was given a Compaq Presario 2170US with a dead drive by a
elderly neighborhood lady I provide free hardware and software support to.
She has purchased a new laptop so I now own her old one.

I pulled the drive and using a 2.5 to IDE adapter, confirmed that the drive
is totally unrecoverable. To make matters worse she was unable to find the
OS software that came with the laptop. I understand that the OS disks are
married to the hardware it came bundled with ????

Functioning 2170s are running between $140 and $350 shipped on Ebay.

The laptop, otherwise is in excellent cosmetic and mechanical condition. I
can get a used replacement drive for as low as $31 shipped via Ebay from a
seller with a 99.8% rating.

The question is the OS software. I assume I have no alternative other than
to buy a copy of XP Home (or Pro) -- to remain legal. Vista is out. I have
it on my laptop and hate it. XP Home still runs about $90. So now I'm at
about $130 just to get it running. Not a bad machine for someone who has
minimal needs such as email, word, internet, etc. I don't need it but hate
to simply toss it out.

Also, after I got it running I could possibly find another problem or two
that makes the recovery more costly than desired.

Appreciate any advise.

 

[Ken]

OK, I know this is not a "homebuilt" but you guys are a great source of
hardware + knowledge.

Situation: I was given a Compaq Presario 2170US with a dead drive by a
elderly neighborhood lady I provide free hardware and software support to.
She has purchased a new laptop so I now own her old one.

I pulled the drive and using a 2.5 to IDE adapter, confirmed that the drive
is totally unrecoverable. To make matters worse she was unable to find the
OS software that came with the laptop. I understand that the OS disks are
married to the hardware it came bundled with ????

Functioning 2170s are running between $140 and $350 shipped on Ebay.

The laptop, otherwise is in excellent cosmetic and mechanical condition. I
can get a used replacement drive for as low as $31 shipped via Ebay from a
seller with a 99.8% rating.

The question is the OS software. I assume I have no alternative other than
to buy a copy of XP Home (or Pro) -- to remain legal. Vista is out. I have
it on my laptop and hate it. XP Home still runs about $90. So now I'm at
about $130 just to get it running. Not a bad machine for someone who has
minimal needs such as email, word, internet, etc. I don't need it but hate
to simply toss it out.

Also, after I got it running I could possibly find another problem or two
that makes the recovery more costly than desired.

Appreciate any advise.

Although it is true that a restoration partition is often on the hard
drive installed, you can purchase for a reasonable amount the installed
software in a form of CD's from the manufacturer. Go to the Compaq site
with your model number and search for "Restoration CD." I think you
will find information about it.

 

[flookyteeco2005]

OK, I know this is not a "homebuilt" but you guys are a great source of
hardware + knowledge.

Situation:  I was given a Compaq Presario 2170US with a dead drive by a
elderly neighborhood lady I provide free hardware and software support to.
She has purchased a new laptop so I now own her old one.

I pulled the drive and using a 2.5 to IDE adapter, confirmed that the drive
is totally unrecoverable.  To make matters worse she was unable to find the
OS software that came with the laptop.  I understand that the OS disks are
married to the hardware it came bundled with ????

Functioning 2170s are running between $140 and $350 shipped on Ebay.

The laptop, otherwise is in excellent cosmetic and mechanical condition.  I
can get a used replacement drive for as low as $31 shipped via Ebay from a
seller with a 99.8% rating.

The question is the OS software. I assume I have no alternative other than
to buy a copy of XP Home (or Pro) -- to remain legal. Vista is out. I have
it on my laptop and hate it.  XP Home still runs about $90.   So now I'm at
about $130 just to get it running.  Not a bad machine for someone who has
minimal needs such as email, word, internet, etc.  I don't need it but hate
to simply toss it out.

Also, after I got it running I could possibly find another problem or two
that makes the recovery more costly than desired.

Appreciate any advise.

Ha gui,
for how much u want to drop it? because i need one very urgent now.

 

[Victor]

OK, I know this is not a "homebuilt" but you guys are a great source of
hardware + knowledge.

Situation:  I was given a Compaq Presario 2170US with a dead drive by a
elderly neighborhood lady I provide free hardware and software support to.
She has purchased a new laptop so I now own her old one.

I pulled the drive and using a 2.5 to IDE adapter, confirmed that the drive
is totally unrecoverable.  To make matters worse she was unable to find the
OS software that came with the laptop.  I understand that the OS disks are
married to the hardware it came bundled with ????

Functioning 2170s are running between $140 and $350 shipped on Ebay.

The laptop, otherwise is in excellent cosmetic and mechanical condition.  I
can get a used replacement drive for as low as $31 shipped via Ebay from a
seller with a 99.8% rating.

The question is the OS software. I assume I have no alternative other than
to buy a copy of XP Home (or Pro) -- to remain legal. Vista is out. I have
it on my laptop and hate it.  XP Home still runs about $90.   So now I'm at
about $130 just to get it running.  Not a bad machine for someone who has
minimal needs such as email, word, internet, etc.  I don't need it but hate
to simply toss it out.

Also, after I got it running I could possibly find another problem or two
that makes the recovery more costly than desired.

Appreciate any advise.

You can order the recovery cd from Compaq/hp for a nominal charge thru
this page:
http://h10025.www1.hp.com/ewfrf/wc/softwareList?os=228&lc=en&cc=us&dlc=en&product=326349&lang=en

About halfway down click on "Notebook Recovery Disc Set Windows XP
Home" You'll probably need the serial number of the laptop.

 

[John Weiss]

The question is the OS software. I assume I have no alternative other than to
buy a copy of XP Home (or Pro) -- to remain legal. Vista is out. I have it on
my laptop and hate it. XP Home still runs about $90. So now I'm at about
$130 just to get it running. Not a bad machine for someone who has minimal
needs such as email, word, internet, etc. I don't need it but hate to simply
toss it out.

Also, after I got it running I could possibly find another problem or two that
makes the recovery more costly than desired.

Start with Linux. If you can get Ubuntu running on it, you can probably get XP
or Win2K running.

 

[RIAA]

OK, I know this is not a "homebuilt" but you guys are a great source of
hardware + knowledge.

Situation: I was given a Compaq Presario 2170US with a dead drive by a
elderly neighborhood lady I provide free hardware and software support to.
She has purchased a new laptop so I now own her old one.

I pulled the drive and using a 2.5 to IDE adapter, confirmed that the
drive is totally unrecoverable. To make matters worse she was unable to
find the OS software that came with the laptop. I understand that the OS
disks are married to the hardware it came bundled with ????

Functioning 2170s are running between $140 and $350 shipped on Ebay.

The laptop, otherwise is in excellent cosmetic and mechanical condition.
I can get a used replacement drive for as low as $31 shipped via Ebay from
a seller with a 99.8% rating.

The question is the OS software. I assume I have no alternative other than
to buy a copy of XP Home (or Pro) -- to remain legal. Vista is out. I have
it on my laptop and hate it. XP Home still runs about $90. So now I'm
at about $130 just to get it running. Not a bad machine for someone who
has minimal needs such as email, word, internet, etc. I don't need it but
hate to simply toss it out.

Also, after I got it running I could possibly find another problem or two
that makes the recovery more costly than desired.

Appreciate any advise.

All you need is the correct version OEM XP cd, the drivers can be pulled
from the HP site.
Use the key code from the sticker on the laptop to activate.

 

[DonC]

Ordered recovery disks for $15.79 shipped. Think I'll look for a bigger
drive : )

You guys and gals are great!

Case Closed

Don

 

[DonC]

Start with Linux. If you can get Ubuntu running on it, you can probably
get XP or Win2K running.

The drive is NOT recoverable. I've had it hooked to my desktop and no
diagnostic got anywhere. Also sounds damaged.

Thanks anyway.

 

[DonC]

OK, I know this is not a "homebuilt" but you guys are a great source of
hardware + knowledge.

Situation: I was given a Compaq Presario 2170US with a dead drive by a
elderly neighborhood lady I provide free hardware and software support to.
She has purchased a new laptop so I now own her old one.

I pulled the drive and using a 2.5 to IDE adapter, confirmed that the
drive
is totally unrecoverable. To make matters worse she was unable to find the
OS software that came with the laptop. I understand that the OS disks are
married to the hardware it came bundled with ????

Functioning 2170s are running between $140 and $350 shipped on Ebay.

The laptop, otherwise is in excellent cosmetic and mechanical condition. I
can get a used replacement drive for as low as $31 shipped via Ebay from a
seller with a 99.8% rating.

The question is the OS software. I assume I have no alternative other than
to buy a copy of XP Home (or Pro) -- to remain legal. Vista is out. I have
it on my laptop and hate it. XP Home still runs about $90. So now I'm at
about $130 just to get it running. Not a bad machine for someone who has
minimal needs such as email, word, internet, etc. I don't need it but hate
to simply toss it out.

Also, after I got it running I could possibly find another problem or two
that makes the recovery more costly than desired.

Appreciate any advise.

You can order the recovery cd from Compaq/hp for a nominal charge thru
this page:
http://h10025.www1.hp.com/ewfrf/wc/softwareList?os=228&lc=en&cc=us&dlc=en&product=326349&lang=en

About halfway down click on "Notebook Recovery Disc Set Windows XP
Home" You'll probably need the serial number of the laptop.

That's what I wanted to see! It's on order for only $15.79!

Thanks much.

 

[John Weiss]

The drive is NOT recoverable. I've had it hooked to my desktop and no
diagnostic got anywhere. Also sounds damaged.

Thanks anyway.

What does that have to do with running Linux? Your question was about the cost
of a new OS...

If the drive is damaged, you will have to get another one anyhow.

Linux can be run from CD as well as from HD. Download the Ubuntu distribution
and burn it to CD, and you can use the laptop while waiting for the new HD!

 

[DonC]

What does that have to do with running Linux? Your question was about the
cost of a new OS...

If the drive is damaged, you will have to get another one anyhow.

Linux can be run from CD as well as from HD. Download the Ubuntu
distribution and burn it to CD, and you can use the laptop while waiting
for the new HD!

I don't have a need for the laptop while I wait. I have two desktops and two
laptops already. One of the laptops will be going to my 38 year old
daughter with an IT background. I'm sure she'll be more comfortable with
Windows XP.

This computer likely will end up in the hands of someone needing it for
email, internet, games, etc. They'll rely on friends and neighbors for
occasional support. There are far more such people with Windows expertise
than Linux expertise. The alternate destination for this laptop will be
Ebay; a Windows machine will bring a higher price than a Linux machine,
IMHO.