Did I just waste $100?

R

Raz3r

New Member
I just bought an old Compaq Presario 2700 for 100 bucks from a guy on craigslist. The listing said it would boot up but randomly shut down. I did some research, and apparently this model has issues with the heatsink separating itself from the standoffs that cools the cpu. I know what to do to fix that, but he didnt tell me the keypad or keyboard didnt work, doenst charge, and only runs off the ac adapter. The computer boots up, but the cursor is stuck in the middle, and the keyboard doesnt function. Could this be because of the heatsink/cpu cooling issue? Did I just blow $100?

Thanks.

Can get video if needed.
 
The problem being seen with the mouse cursor stuck in the center of the screen and no keys pressed having any effect suggests a major Windows/driver problem which is software not hardware related. Hopefully the Windows recovery disk was included since a repair install or replacement install may be needed if recovery options fail.

If this is seen when first turning the unit on the cpu hasn't had enough time to start overheating while it may have been damaged already by the previous owner. Do you have the original software/Windows disks? You will need those in order to repair Windows or need to buy a replacement.
 
PC eye said:
The problem being seen with the mouse cursor stuck in the center of the screen and no keys pressed having any effect suggests a major Windows/driver problem which is software not hardware related. Hopefully the Windows recovery disk was included since a repair install or replacement install may be needed if recovery options fail.

If this is seen when first turning the unit on the cpu hasn't had enough time to start overheating while it may have been damaged already by the previous owner. Do you have the original software/Windows disks? You will need those in order to repair Windows or need to buy a replacement.
Click to expand...

Don't tell me that the CPU hasn't had enough time to overheat. A CPU heats up almost instantly, and if the heatsink isn't installed correctly, could overheat within less than 30 seconds.
 
He didnt give a the recovery disk. I have a XP PRO disk of my own though, and thats what I figured about the heat. Im going to try to fix the heatsink standoffs with some screws or something, and see what that does. If all else fails, the screen works good, it has a dvd and cdr-w drive, maybe I can use those parts in making something, maybe a custom box case for my mini atx pc and use the flip up screen.

These are the websites I found when i was searching:
http://forums1.itrc.hp.com/service/...61249&admit=-682735245+1177296561620+28353475
http://forums1.itrc.hp.com/service/forums/bizsupport/questionanswer.do?threadId=189370
http://hardware.mcse.ms/message170522.html
 
Jet said:
Don't tell me that the CPU hasn't had enough time to overheat. A CPU heats up almost instantly, and if the heatsink isn't installed correctly, could overheat within less than 30 seconds.
Click to expand...

I ran the AMD XP3200+ on the old Socket A board a full month after seeing it reach 85C and backclock itself. Finally one day when unable to run anything I cleared the cmos and lowered the 200mhz down to 166mhz in the bios to it run as an XP2500. Those temps saw sudden restarts and shutdowns without seeing Windows itself lockup.

Raz3r said:
He didnt give a the recovery disk. I have a XP PRO disk of my own though, and thats what I figured about the heat. Im going to try to fix the heatsink standoffs with some screws or something, and see what that does. If all else fails, the screen works good, it has a dvd and cdr-w drive, maybe I can use those parts in making something, maybe a custom box case for my mini atx pc and use the flip up screen.

These are the websites I found when i was searching:
http://forums1.itrc.hp.com/service/...61249&admit=-682735245+1177296561620+28353475
http://forums1.itrc.hp.com/service/forums/bizsupport/questionanswer.do?threadId=189370
http://hardware.mcse.ms/message170522.html
Click to expand...

You certainly want the repair seen there. A cooked cpu can take a board along with it at times. Later you have that repaired you can try the repair install or recovery to see Windows running or a new clean install since you don't know the fully story at what the other person did and saw. Bad drivers, wrong updates, adwares, spywares, virus, etc.? Hopefully you can still save the current cpu if it isn't already on the way out?
 
PC eye said:
I ran the AMD XP3200+ on the old Socket A board a full month after seeing it reach 85C and backclock itself. Finally one day when unable to run anything I cleared the cmos and lowered the 200mhz down to 166mhz in the bios to it run as an XP2500. Those temps saw sudden restarts and shutdowns without seeing Windows itself lockup.
Click to expand...

I don't quite see how that proves your statement.
 
If this is seen when first turning the unit on the cpu hasn't had enough time to start overheating
Click to expand...
a cpu will blow in seconds without a heatsink

I ran the AMD XP3200+ on the old Socket A board a full month after seeing it reach 85C and backclock itself. Finally one day when unable to run anything I cleared the cmos and lowered the 200mhz down to 166mhz in the bios to it run as an XP2500. Those temps saw sudden restarts and shutdowns without seeing Windows itself lockup.
Click to expand...
i spent the whole weekend dry lining under my stairs, fitted some nice spotlights and laminate flooring. The place looks really good now and we can use it for storing our clothes which is helpfull as...... oh yeah that's NOT RELEVANT TO THE POINT
 
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A chip can go even with a hsf attached if there is some type of problem with it. The 3200+ did have the 3rd party hsf installed and cooked from the fan simply quiting one day with no alarms sounding! For some the OH circuit never went to work like it should have. But Windows still ran and saw problems while running things like multimedia or a game.

WMP will put a heavier load on a cpu then games unless you are ocing. But when getting into a used laptop or even desltop you never know the history of it. The seller obviously wanted to dump it from the problems you are seeing there with it. If you can save the cpu by reseating everything it won't be so bad. But if the cpu is already toast the cost to replace it may or may not be worth it if other damage was done. Try blowing out the keyboard to get any dust and debris there. If the contacs got polluted that could explain some of the problem there like something being split all over it? That would see something get into the touch pad as well.
 
It works!! Tore the whole thing down, repaired the heatsink standoffs, which ALL FOUR had been broken off, and all the compound was gone, dry as a bone. after repairing that, i went through and double checked all connections, and its running flawlessly. Reformatting right now, then ill load all my drivers needed for wireless internet n such.
 
You simply inherited someone else's headaches there. But it's good to see that things are going to work out. When you get everything up and running get nack to us here. ;)
 
If everything goes well you may have saved on the cost of a new one! Just remember that portables never leave much for later upgrades since they have their limitations there. The sight of Windows locking did turn out to be software not hardware which works out good for you!
 
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