I got a really nice computer find today. The guy just put it out to the trash. Looks like it *_could_* be a 1.7 GHz Intel Pentium-4, Compaq Evo, with a 40-gig Maxtor hard drive. Ram is 256 MB + 128 MB + 64 MB (three PC-133 sockets). Video is AGP, probably 16 or 32 megs. (Desktop case, a riser card gives me 2 PCI slots, unused at present).
14-pin connector on the mobo (not ATX) means the PSU is proprietary (175W, but it "looked good" inside, if that means anything). No bulging caps in the PSU. There are a few bulging caps on the mobo near the CPU however.
It says on the front "Designed for Windows 98" and "Designed for Win2000 Professional". But when I hooked it up, Windows Seven Ultimate started up! (I only have XP and linux here at home.)
Two questions:
1. Would it be very difficult to recap this? Which ones, or all of them? There are about 4 places for additional capacitors near the CPU that aren't even being used. Fill those as well? I've never soldered, but I'm willing to practice on some old boards.
2. Would it be possible to find out if this was a retail copy of Windows Seven or a VLK copy? It looks like it used to belong to a school district, so it could be a VLK. Please don't ban me, but what can I *_legally_* do (image the drive before I do anything)?
(The computer came with no discs, I didn't have time to ask the man who put it out. I had to get back in my car and get to work.)
(They never had that "get your high school education over the computer at home" when I was in school!)
3. Can I start Windows Seven in "safe mode" and start requiring a password, set up admin and regular user accounts, just like XP (and Linux)?
Good heavens, it's 8 AM. I have GOT to get to bed! Looking forward to any suggestions or hints. Thanks!
14-pin connector on the mobo (not ATX) means the PSU is proprietary (175W, but it "looked good" inside, if that means anything). No bulging caps in the PSU. There are a few bulging caps on the mobo near the CPU however.
It says on the front "Designed for Windows 98" and "Designed for Win2000 Professional". But when I hooked it up, Windows Seven Ultimate started up! (I only have XP and linux here at home.)
Two questions:
1. Would it be very difficult to recap this? Which ones, or all of them? There are about 4 places for additional capacitors near the CPU that aren't even being used. Fill those as well? I've never soldered, but I'm willing to practice on some old boards.
2. Would it be possible to find out if this was a retail copy of Windows Seven or a VLK copy? It looks like it used to belong to a school district, so it could be a VLK. Please don't ban me, but what can I *_legally_* do (image the drive before I do anything)?
(The computer came with no discs, I didn't have time to ask the man who put it out. I had to get back in my car and get to work.)
(They never had that "get your high school education over the computer at home" when I was in school!)
3. Can I start Windows Seven in "safe mode" and start requiring a password, set up admin and regular user accounts, just like XP (and Linux)?
Good heavens, it's 8 AM. I have GOT to get to bed! Looking forward to any suggestions or hints. Thanks!
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