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Laptop woes

Started by shewolf, March 03, 2008, 09:08:35 AM

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shewolf

March 03, 2008, 09:08:35 AM
My mom gave me a old laptop (Win 98 56Mbegs ram!). The problem is I need to replace the CD drive. It will play DVD movies fine, but it will not read a CD. I've got old games that should run, clean disks, no scratches. I either get a BESOD or it spins a long time then claims nothing is in the drive.

So help me out. It's an old HP Pavilion. Do I need an HP drive, or can I just buy something off the shelf.

I've tried new drivers, and it didn't help.

http://www.thecolororange.net/uk/
Dude, you\'re fruitier than a box of fruitloops dipped in a bowl of Charles Manson. - Mcrow
Quote from: Spike;282846You might be thinking of the longer handled skillets popular today, but I learned on one handed skillets (good for building the forearm and wrist strength!).  Of course, for spicing while you beat,
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James J Skach

#1
March 03, 2008, 03:17:47 PM
Quote from: shewolfMy mom gave me a old laptop (Win 98 56Mbegs ram!). The problem is I need to replace the CD drive. It will play DVD movies fine, but it will not read a CD. I've got old games that should run, clean disks, no scratches. I either get a BESOD or it spins a long time then claims nothing is in the drive.

So help me out. It's an old HP Pavilion. Do I need an HP drive, or can I just buy something off the shelf.

I've tried new drivers, and it didn't help.
Shewolf...I don't know how to break this to you....

Honestly, I think the best you can do is look for an older model of CD/DVD drive. I think the problem you'll run into, and this is diagnosing problems from miles away, is that the OS, window 98, will have little to no support for newer hardware.

Do you have any second hand computer shops? There's one around here that has an internet presence. I think they do a lot of sales on e-bay and such. you might want to try and find a match for that particular laptop/drive in the second hand market.

While I have a lot of parts strewn about, I tend to have PC parts, not laptop - otherwise I'd just send you one of my old ones.

And just to gloat - the tech guy here just showed me my new laptop...sweeeet.....
The rules are my slave, not my master. - Old Geezer

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shewolf

#2
March 03, 2008, 05:17:38 PM
I guessed that would be the issue. I have an ME disk. Would that allow me to upgrade it?

http://www.thecolororange.net/uk/
Dude, you\'re fruitier than a box of fruitloops dipped in a bowl of Charles Manson. - Mcrow
Quote from: Spike;282846You might be thinking of the longer handled skillets popular today, but I learned on one handed skillets (good for building the forearm and wrist strength!).  Of course, for spicing while you beat,
[/SIZE]

James J Skach

#3
March 03, 2008, 05:53:16 PM
Quote from: shewolfI guessed that would be the issue. I have an ME disk. Would that allow me to upgrade it?
What's the machine - the processor, the memory (oh yeah, 56M!), etc.

Two things:
  • Let's assume you can upgrade to ME - what will that buy you except a little bit less out-of-date OS.
  • IIRC, ME sucks. You might just be better off with 98.  I can't recall if I ever used ME, however, so I'm going by hearsay. I skipped it and was, apparently, saved some trouble.
If you have the machine info and such, provide it and I'll check around...if you like...
The rules are my slave, not my master. - Old Geezer

The RPG Haven - Talking About RPGs

shewolf

#4
March 03, 2008, 06:02:38 PM
HP Pavilion N3250
a whopping 56 megs ram
AMD 475 processor
Windows 98 SE

Current drive is a Matshita DVD Rom SR-8174

I don't know what other info you might need. I've been googling around without much luck.

ETA: And TBP for all it's numbers hasn't replied once to my pleas for help. This place with fewer people has already been a great help. Color me unsurprised.

http://www.thecolororange.net/uk/
Dude, you\'re fruitier than a box of fruitloops dipped in a bowl of Charles Manson. - Mcrow
Quote from: Spike;282846You might be thinking of the longer handled skillets popular today, but I learned on one handed skillets (good for building the forearm and wrist strength!).  Of course, for spicing while you beat,
[/SIZE]
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