what are the possibilities

jasonz · 06-09-2007, 06:22 AM

My friend got a HP tower for free b/c his step mom is a big dog there. It has everything except an HD and there is no moniter. Is there a way to connect it to my laptop moniter. I would like to get an HD and just use it as a screw around computer. I've heard you cant really add components to retail computers. Could I ad getter GPU and stuff or is the
HD all that is replaceable.

Thanks, Jason

PC eye · 06-09-2007, 06:39 AM

You will first need an external monitor for any desktop model or even another laptop. Take a look at the rear of your laptop to see if that comes with the vga out there to understand that the builtin display is for that or a swap over to another portable where the display has failed.

Hard drives for desktops are still 3 1/2" standard for both prebuilt and custom built systems alike. Laptops use a 2 1/2" there. The use of any ide drive will certainly work. But the only thing really lacking is the OS and prepacked programs along with the drivers for the board and other hardwares installed. Those have to be downloaded from the HP support site.

Maddhatter · 06-09-2007, 06:40 AM

where there's a will there's a way..you can always add components to retail computers just certain companies make that task a little more frustrating than others. as far as a HD and ram goes of course you can add that a graphics card will either use AGP...PCI...or PCI express find out what slot the pc uses and you can upgrade the card. Also i got this off of CNET

"As long as your laptop has a capable graphics chipset and corresponding DVI (digital) or VGA (analog) ports, you should be able to connect to any monitor."

good luck sir

jasonz · 06-09-2007, 06:59 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by PC eye

Hard drives for desktops are still 3 1/2" standard for both prebuilt and custom built systems alike. Laptops use a 2 1/2" there. The use of any ide drive will certainly work. But the only thing really lacking is the OS and prepacked programs along with the drivers for the board and other hardwares installed. Those have to be downloaded from the HP support site.

So I guess i will have to determine the specs on all the hardware in order to find the right drivers. I dont think thattl be to bad, but Im kinda bumbed about the moniter. Do you think i could find one at a pawn shop or something. I dont need a good one, just want to use it so I dont have to keep experimenting on my laptop. Im scared im gonna mess it up one day.

elitehacker · 06-09-2007, 07:11 AM

You know, you can pick up really cheap monitors everywhere, just check on eBay or something. Where I live people are always chucking out their old 15" CRT monitors all the time. Regarding your hard drive, just go down to your local computer store and get one, and whack it in, it doesn't matter if your PC is branded or not, it will still work, they all have the same standards.

jasonz · 06-09-2007, 07:21 AM

yea, im not worried about the HDD, im sure i can find a decent cheap one somewhere, heck even walmart. I just wish i could find an old moniter somewhere.

elitehacker · 06-09-2007, 07:23 AM

They are everywhere here in Australia, I found two 19" flat screen ones

which I'm using in a dual config at the moment.

jasonz · 06-09-2007, 07:54 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by elitehacker

They are everywhere here in Australia, I found two 19" flat screen ones

which I'm using in a dual config at the moment.

Now that would be extremely awesome

elitehacker · 06-09-2007, 08:57 AM

You just have to keep your eyes opened. Doesn't your area have a council pick up day or something?

PC eye · 06-09-2007, 08:59 PM

Even lcds have dropped down in price depending on vendor. You used to pay some $300 just for a 15" while now you can grab a 19" for about $200. The crts are found for less then $100 at newegg and other online vendors. A local repair shop usually will have a few used models lying around.

The main problem seen on older prebuilt desktops was emphasized by Dell with their own bolt pattern on the old models for installing "their own" replacement supplies only. HP like Dell and others won't specify brand or type when listing memory by number and speed only. Plan on value ram there. For many prebuilts at this time the drive goes into a cage rather then simply slide into a slot where you have to take both side covers off to secure them. The cages themselves are taken out where you mount the drive while that is outside of the case. Just one extra step there.

06-09-2007, 06:22 AM	#1 (permalink)
jasonz Platinum Member Join Date: Oct 2006 Location: college station, tx Age: 20 Posts: 711	what are the possibilities My friend got a HP tower for free b/c his step mom is a big dog there. It has everything except an HD and there is no moniter. Is there a way to connect it to my laptop moniter. I would like to get an HD and just use it as a screw around computer. I've heard you cant really add components to retail computers. Could I ad getter GPU and stuff or is the HD all that is replaceable. Thanks, Jason

06-09-2007, 06:39 AM	#2 (permalink)
PC eye Diamond Member Join Date: Apr 2006 Location: Inside a pc Posts: 19,226	You will first need an external monitor for any desktop model or even another laptop. Take a look at the rear of your laptop to see if that comes with the vga out there to understand that the builtin display is for that or a swap over to another portable where the display has failed. Hard drives for desktops are still 3 1/2" standard for both prebuilt and custom built systems alike. Laptops use a 2 1/2" there. The use of any ide drive will certainly work. But the only thing really lacking is the OS and prepacked programs along with the drivers for the board and other hardwares installed. Those have to be downloaded from the HP support site. __________________ Turning auto exhaust into a new energy source http://abcnews.go.com/Technology/Ahe...ory?id=5552209 Ahead of theCurve: Extreme gamers play 45hrs. a week http://blogs.abcnews.com/aheadofthec...extreme-g.html

06-09-2007, 06:40 AM	#3 (permalink)
Maddhatter Platinum Member Join Date: Jul 2006 Location: Indiana Age: 26 Posts: 781	where there's a will there's a way..you can always add components to retail computers just certain companies make that task a little more frustrating than others. as far as a HD and ram goes of course you can add that a graphics card will either use AGP...PCI...or PCI express find out what slot the pc uses and you can upgrade the card. Also i got this off of CNET "As long as your laptop has a capable graphics chipset and corresponding DVI (digital) or VGA (analog) ports, you should be able to connect to any monitor." good luck sir __________________ Mobo: GIGABYTE GA-965P-DS3 CPU: Intel Core 2 Duo E6320 Conroe 1.86GHz PSU: Rosewill 400W Ram: G.Skill 2GB (2 x 1GB) 240-Pin DDR2 SDRAM DDR2 800 (PC2 6400) Dual Channel Kit GPU: Ati Radeon x1800xt 256 mb OS: Windows XP Professional 64 bit

06-09-2007, 08:59 PM	#10 (permalink)
PC eye Diamond Member Join Date: Apr 2006 Location: Inside a pc Posts: 19,226	Even lcds have dropped down in price depending on vendor. You used to pay some $300 just for a 15" while now you can grab a 19" for about $200. The crts are found for less then $100 at newegg and other online vendors. A local repair shop usually will have a few used models lying around. The main problem seen on older prebuilt desktops was emphasized by Dell with their own bolt pattern on the old models for installing "their own" replacement supplies only. HP like Dell and others won't specify brand or type when listing memory by number and speed only. Plan on value ram there. For many prebuilts at this time the drive goes into a cage rather then simply slide into a slot where you have to take both side covers off to secure them. The cages themselves are taken out where you mount the drive while that is outside of the case. Just one extra step there. __________________ Turning auto exhaust into a new energy source http://abcnews.go.com/Technology/Ahe...ory?id=5552209 Ahead of theCurve: Extreme gamers play 45hrs. a week http://blogs.abcnews.com/aheadofthec...extreme-g.html

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06-09-2007, 07:11 AM	#5 (permalink)
elitehacker Diamond Member Join Date: Mar 2007 Location: Sydney, Australia Age: 19 Posts: 2,403	You know, you can pick up really cheap monitors everywhere, just check on eBay or something. Where I live people are always chucking out their old 15" CRT monitors all the time. Regarding your hard drive, just go down to your local computer store and get one, and whack it in, it doesn't matter if your PC is branded or not, it will still work, they all have the same standards.

06-09-2007, 07:21 AM	#6 (permalink)
jasonz Platinum Member Join Date: Oct 2006 Location: college station, tx Age: 20 Posts: 711	yea, im not worried about the HDD, im sure i can find a decent cheap one somewhere, heck even walmart. I just wish i could find an old moniter somewhere.

06-09-2007, 07:23 AM	#7 (permalink)
elitehacker Diamond Member Join Date: Mar 2007 Location: Sydney, Australia Age: 19 Posts: 2,403	They are everywhere here in Australia, I found two 19" flat screen ones which I'm using in a dual config at the moment.

06-09-2007, 08:57 AM	#9 (permalink)
elitehacker Diamond Member Join Date: Mar 2007 Location: Sydney, Australia Age: 19 Posts: 2,403	You just have to keep your eyes opened. Doesn't your area have a council pick up day or something?