NEVER BUY A COMPAQ

[Starwind]

Do they still have those OS software coded where it works for that one hard drive only?

My friend had a compaq... monitor went after two years, hard drive three or so months later. Heck, I am still using my Gateway monitor from 6-7 years ago (well its a sony tube, it was an upgrade).

yeah, i really hate those "first-time" computers.. where you spend 1,000 bucks and then throw it away because its ungradeable...

heh and I complain about Dell, Gateway, etc. being 400 bucks more then what they should be on their high end systems.. lol at least they are upgradeable.

A 5 foot work fan, plastic sheeting for the funnel, some tubing, and duct tape is all you need for a cooling system.

 

[mnolet]

You know... you all may be shocked to hear this... but ... I like my new compaq!

That is... compaq is the only major retailer that I found that would customize a laptop w/ the new ATI 320M chipset. (for the Athlon) I got a GREAT price -->

Presario 900z
$1040 w/ shipping and tax --> Athlon Mobile 1500, 30 gb hard drive, eth/mod, and all the standard modem in/out crap. And a cdrom. (no burner/dvd, I skimped out on the extra $50.

Not only that, I got a nice coupon for a free wireless module which I'm waiting for right now . Everything works great, very snappy. (after a clean install of windows xp of course, getting rid of all the CRAP software they put on there.)

BUT... the reason I add this post in Bad Support is that compaq has HORRIBLE support. Ok, mebbe I"m just pissed off. But when I first got the laptop I installed win2k pro on there, not wanting XP Home, or any of the crap already on there. Installed everything, and _could_ _not_ find drivers that would work w/ win2k for the onboard video/sound. (Installing xp drivers caused nice blue screen)

So I emailed compaq support... got a very nice reply saying that they don't support things, and that if I want to use win2k, the manufacturer of the video/sound (ati) is responsible. Ati has no drivers whatsoever for the chipset on its site.--> (please note the CAPITALS used for every NOT to point out how SILLY I was for trying to install anything but xp home on the laptop) -->

Thank you for contacting Compaq E-Support, a part of the new HP.

From your inquiry, I understand that you need driver for Video adaptors
for Presario 900Z that are compatible with Windows 2000.

Kindly note that we support Windows 2000 on some specific models only
like Presario 1800 XL1, XL2, XL3 laptops and Presario 7000 series
7PLK11, 7PLK12,etc. Your mentioned model does NOT figure in the list of
models supported for Windows 2000.

As you must be aware , currently Windows 2000 in NOT a consumer
operating system (designed for Network, Business application). In future as per the new release of operating systems , Compaq will also comply
the same .

WindowsNT/2000 and Windows XP professional is not supported on the
Presario computers by Compaq. This does not mean that you could not
install Windows NT/2000 or Windows XP professional, just that if
WindowsNT/2000 is installed as the computer's operating system, you may
lose functionality of the audio, video and (if applicable) DVD drive, as there are no drivers for these devices available from Compaq for
WinNT/2000 (though the audio and video manufacturers will usually have
compatible NT/2000 drivers on their websites). The modem in the system
will not function in WindowsNT/2000, and would need to be replaced if
you choose that as your Operating System.