About three days ago Jephree on the DAL "upgrade and build new forum" helped my son and I get my sons computer up and running following some tinkering which rendered his computer in operable. While we were at it we loaded a new operating system onto his comp. Windows XP Home Edition. Fortunately, everything seems to be operating "pretty good", except for an occasional screen freeze.

He wants to solve with new motherboard and more ram. I am resisting instead lobbying for patience and more diagnostic and review with a site such as DAL. We are complete novices and do not know where to look. Taking a chance I decided to start a thread in the hardware forum hoping someone might suggest a direction.

I will attach my comp. scan for your perusal. Thanks. Tom & Adam

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OS Information:
PropertyValue
OS Name Microsoft Windows XP Home Edition|C:\WINDOWS|\Device\Harddisk0\Partition1
Service Pack 2.0
OS Manufacturer Microsoft Corporation
Windows Directory C:\WINDOWS


Processor:
PropertyValue
Current Clock Speed 564
Description x86 Family 6 Model 8 Stepping 3
Manufacturer GenuineIntel
Name Intel Celeron processor


Memory (RAM):
PropertyValue
Bank Label
Capacity 268435456

Bank Label
Capacity 268435456

Total Memory Deteced in Hardware: ~512 MB
Memory Reported to Operating System: 511MB

Disk Drives:
PropertyValue
Description Disk drive
Manufacturer (Standard disk drives)
Model ST310212A
Media Type Fixed hard disk media
Size 10001940480 (~9 GB)
Number of Partitions 1

Description Disk drive
Manufacturer (Standard disk drives)
Model ST380021A
Media Type Fixed hard disk media
Size 80023265280 (~75 GB)
Number of Partitions 1


Installed Printers:
PropertyValue
Name Epson Stylus COLOR 600 ESC/P 2 (Copy 1)
Port Name LPT1:
Default True
Driver Name Epson Stylus COLOR 600 ESC/P 2

Name Epson Stylus COLOR 600 ESC/P 2
Port Name LPT1:
Default False
Driver Name Epson Stylus COLOR 600 ESC/P 2


Motherboard:
PropertyValue
Manufacturer Compaq
Model
Name Base Board
Part Number
Product 0588h
Serial Number None
Version None


BIOS:
PropertyValue
Manufacturer Compaq
Name Default System BIOS
Release Date 20000211000000.000000+000
Version COMPAQ - 1


Monitor:
PropertyValue
Description hp pavilion mx75
Name hp pavilion mx75
Screen Height 768
Screen Width 1024


Keyboard:
PropertyValue
Description Standard 101/102-Key or Microsoft Natural PS/2 Keyboard


Pointing Device:
PropertyValue
Manufacturer Microsoft
Name PS/2 Compatible Mouse


Sound Card:
PropertyValue
Manufacturer ESS Technology, Inc.
Description ESS Allegro PCI Audio (WDM)
Device ID PCI\VEN_125D&DEV_1988&SUBSYS_B19D0E11&REV_12\4&24A B0D93&0&28F0


Video Card:
PropertyValue
Adapter Compatibility Intel Corporation
Adapter RAM 33554432
Description Intel(R) 82810E Graphics Controller (Microsoft Corporation)
Installed Display Drivers i81xdnt5.dll
Driver Version 6.13.01.3198
Driver Date 8/3/2004 10:29:38 PM
Video Mode Description 1024 x 768 x 16777216 colors


DirectX Installation:
PropertyValue
Version 6.03.01.0146


Modem:
PropertyValue
Model PCTEL Platinum V.90 Modem
Name PCTEL Platinum V.90 Modem


Network Adapters:
PropertyValue
Description Belkin 802.11g Network Adapter - Packet Scheduler Miniport
Description Packet Scheduler Miniport

External Ports:
PropertyValue

Expansion Slots:
PropertyValue
Slot Designation PCI1
Slot Designation PCI2
Slot Designation PCI3
Slot Designation PCI4
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A first question to ask yourself is what exactly do you want to do with the computer? For example a few scenarios:

1. Read e-mail; surf the web; use Word

2. all the above Plus: High end 3D online gaming

3. all the above Plus: Video editing & or Professional CAD programs

This is a good ID tool to what you already have (I still cant see your exact model. This will tell you under "System Model"
Also show us "Display" & "Multimedia"

Belarc tool

Just a quick look depending on your awnsers to the above is that your RAM is ok. You might want to upgrade the video card.

You can also download free DirectX9.0 which will improve your graphics right off the bat:



DirectX9.0

Jephree: Thanks for the advice. We did the directX9.0 upgrade. Adam does some work with videotaping and editing, as well as the usual IM. Word writing for school, and internet web searching. I guess we are close to qualilfying. We will look at the video card issue and check back with any questions.

Tom and Adam

online gaming is not part of his deal...............

Did you run Belarc to find the exact system model?

The question is whether it is better to upgrade or to build new.

Some older boards just wont support the new technologies.

The specs of your original system will be the best basis for that decision.

C:\Program Files\Belarc\Advisor\System\tmp\(Adamsoffice).html
This is the link to the page of the specifications for Adam's computer

for some reason that link does not work...


Operating System System Model
Windows XP Home Edition Service Pack 2 (build 2600) Compaq Compaq PC
System Serial Number: 2H06DCV968GA
Processor a Main Circuit Board b
567 megahertz Intel Celeron
32 kilobyte primary memory cache
128 kilobyte secondary memory cache Board: Compaq 0588h
Bus Clock: 66 megahertz
BIOS: Compaq 686C3 02/11/2000
Drives Memory Modules c,d
90.01 Gigabytes Usable Hard Drive Capacity
85.75 Gigabytes Hard Drive Free Space

ATAPI CD-R/RW 48X16 [CD-ROM drive]
TOSHIBA DVD-ROM SD-M1502 [CD-ROM drive]
3.5" format removeable media [Floppy drive]

ST310212A [Hard drive] (10.01 GB) -- drive 0, s/n 7EG1NFMN, rev 3.31, SMART Status: Healthy
ST380021A [Hard drive] (80.03 GB) -- drive 1, s/n 3HV3JA8Y, rev 3.19, SMART Status: Healthy 512 Megabytes Installed Memory

Slot 'DIMM1' has 256 MB
Slot 'DIMM2' has 256 MB
Local Drive Volumes

c: (on drive 0) 9.99 GB 6.93 GB free
d: (on drive 1) 80.02 GB 78.82 GB free

Network Drives
None detected
Users Printers
local user accounts last logon
Adam Hennings 2/19/2005 11:11:23 PM (admin)
local system accounts
Administrator never (admin)
Guest never
HelpAssistant never
SUPPORT_388945a0 never


Marks a disabled account; Marks a locked account Epson Stylus COLOR 600 ESC/P 2 on LPT1:
Epson Stylus COLOR 600 ESC/P 2 on LPT1:

Controllers Display
Standard floppy disk controller
Intel(R) 82801AA Bus Master IDE Controller
Primary IDE Channel [Controller]
Secondary IDE Channel [Controller] Intel(R) 82810E Graphics Controller (Microsoft Corporation) [Display adapter]
HP MX75 [Monitor] (15.7"vis, s/n THLDR02201, October 2001)
Bus Adapters Multimedia
Intel(R) 82801AA USB Universal Host Controller ESS Allegro PCI Audio (WDM)
MPU-401 Compatible MIDI Device
Standard Game Port
Communications Other Devices
PCTEL Platinum V.90 Modem
1394 Net Adapter
Belkin 802.11g Network Adapter
Network Card MAC Address: 00:11:50:18D:BD
Network IP Address: 192.168.1.45 / 24 OHCI Compliant IEEE 1394 Host Controller
Standard 101/102-Key or Microsoft Natural PS/2 Keyboard
PS/2 Compatible Mouse
General Purpose USB Hub
USB Root Hub
Virus Protection
No details available
Installed Microsoft Hotfixes
Internet Explorer
SP2 (SP2)
Windows XP
SP3
KB867282 on 2/16/2005 (details...)
KB873333 on 2/16/2005 (details...)
KB873339 on 2/16/2005 (details...)
KB885250 on 2/16/2005 (details...)
KB885835 on 2/16/2005 (details...)
KB885836 on 2/16/2005 (details...)
Windows XP
SP3 (continued)
KB886185 on 2/16/2005 (details...)
KB887472 on 2/16/2005 (details...)
KB888113 on 2/16/2005 (details...)
KB888302 on 2/16/2005 (details...)
KB890047 on 2/16/2005 (details...)
KB890175 on 2/16/2005 (details...)
KB891781 on 2/16/2005 (details...)

I can now see your motherboard but still not the Pressario model # although it seems to be in the 7500 series.

Maybe this link will shed some more light on its' exact ID:

Compaq Presario Desktop PCs - How Do I Find My Model Number?

From what I see of the motherboard I would say it is fine for Text & Basic Video applications (viewing; not editing). It appears to be a circa '98 machine & has alot of limitations.

567 megahertz Intel Celeron
upgradable to 856 max.

Bus Clock: 66 megahertz
not upgradable

RAM: 512 MB total
not upgradable

I would recommend building a new machine as your hard drives & CD & DVD drives can still be used in a new system. Or else build (or buy) totally new & keep this "old guy" for the basics & backup.

I would definitly recommend building your own system if you have the time & interest.

This is a good starting guide to that process:

http://www.pcguide.com/topic.html