Use or scrap? – Forumite.site

This topic has 36 replies, 9 voices, and was last updated 6 years ago by Ed P.

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May 15, 2019 at 8:15 pm #33353
Les.
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@oldles
Forumite Points: 42
Yesterday I was searching for a suitable sized backing to use with my comb binder to make a ‘scope manual, and came upon a tidy looking laptop. After 24 hrs of head scratching, I think it was given to me by a pal about 8 years ago, before he left the island. I seem to have given it an XP install, but never used it since. My question them becomes is it any use to me or somebody else, or do I just scrap it.

It will obviously run OK on XP, but since everybody insists XP is a no-no due to lack of security support, then the alternative would be a linux distro. Is there a current distro that would work safely on it?

The spec, from my 2004 version of PCCHECK is as follows:-

HP (Compaq) NX7010, ver F_55.

100MHz bus speed. Release date 07-14-05.

Intel Pentium M CPU. 1.70 GHz

Speed 600MHz

Mem 512 Mb, Cache 32Kb

40Gb HDD (I may have a slightly bigger one somewhere)

Video. Radeon Mobility 9000 (64Mb)

I will probably try booting off a recent Mint OS, but expect graphics to be wholly unable to run.

Suggestions please.

Les.
May 15, 2019 at 8:45 pm #33355
PlaneMan
Participant
@planeman
Forumite Points: 196
Damn Small Linux would be my goto
May 16, 2019 at 7:13 am #33371
Ed P
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@edps
Forumite Points: 39
I agree with PM. Nearly all modern Linux distros will barf at the lack of ram and the inadequate gpu. You might be able to install Mint XFCE but do not hold your breath. (All other Mint varieties will bomb out during install)
May 16, 2019 at 9:51 am #33376
Wheels-Of-Fire
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@grahamdearsley
Forumite Points: 4
You won’t get W7 on there either due to the lack of memory and the DX 8.1 graphics.
May 16, 2019 at 2:01 pm #33380
Les.
Participant
@oldles
Forumite Points: 42
Interesting that nobody has said “Scrap it”! Ed, I won’t bother trying any Mint (don’t expect it to work anyway). Planeman, I WILL try DSL as soon as I get a few minutes.

Cheers all.
May 16, 2019 at 2:48 pm #33384
Boris
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@boris
Forumite Points: 0
If you want to make it more usable by putting some more RAM in it, I probably have some.

What can you put in it ?

Never trust an atom - they make up everything !
May 16, 2019 at 2:54 pm #33385
Wheels-Of-Fire
Participant
@grahamdearsley
Forumite Points: 4
We never say die around here and if you can up the the memory to 1GB or above you may get Linux on it but W7 will not install unless you have DX 9.0c graphics.
May 16, 2019 at 6:11 pm #33390
Les.
Participant
@oldles
Forumite Points: 42
Boris, I never thought of possibility of RAM increase.

I opened the little “Ram” compartment, where I found a single piece of laptop ram, 256MB, DDR, PC2700. CL2.5.

I switched on just to confirm and it entered setup to confirm the change of RAM, so I just shut down and refitted the single stick.

Obviously there must be an onboard 256 MB. That leaves the question what would it take? I assume the best hope would be to fit a 512 stick, if available, giving a maximum of 768MB.

I have some sticks here, so I have just been to check what I have. 512, 1GB and 2GB, but none will fit. Looking at my ram, with indent on RHS, the ones that won’t fit require a slot slightly more to the RHS. Not sure how else to describe.

WOF, no interest in W7 or similar. I do have newer laptop with W7, but is only used for the odd “Catch up” of CH4 for F1 if that is my only viewing choice. That laptop has a “battery killing” fault, so no good for regular use.

Cheers, Les.
May 16, 2019 at 6:26 pm #33392
Boris
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@boris
Forumite Points: 0
Les. wrote:

Boris, I never thought of possibility of RAM increase. I opened the little “Ram” compartment, where I found a single piece of laptop ram, 256MB, DDR, PC2700. CL2.5. I switched on just to confirm and it entered setup to confirm the change of RAM, so I just shut down and refitted the single stick. Obviously there must be an onboard 256 MB. That leaves the question what would it take? I assume the best hope would be to fit a 512 stick, if available, giving a maximum of 768MB. I have some sticks here, so I have just been to check what I have. 512, 1GB and 2GB, but none will fit. Looking at my ram, with indent on RHS, the ones that won’t fit require a slot slightly more to the RHS. Not sure how else to describe. Cheers, Les.

I’ll have a look in my spares boxes tomorrow for anything 512MB or bigger. The existing “onboard” RAM will probably be under the keyboard.

Never trust an atom - they make up everything !
May 16, 2019 at 6:35 pm #33393
Boris
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@boris
Forumite Points: 0
That lappie should take up to 2GB of PC 2700 ??

– see https://www.cnet.com/products/hp-compaq-business-notebook-nx7010/

Never trust an atom - they make up everything !
May 16, 2019 at 6:41 pm #33394
Boris
Participant
@boris
Forumite Points: 0
The notebook was available with several hard drive options. 40GB and 60GB both with 4,200rpm or 5,400rpm speeds.

Also available was an 80GB 5,200rpm HDD

So a bigger faster H/D is another possible performance improvement.

Here is a teardown guide for it – https://www.ifixit.com/Teardown/HP+Compaq+nx7010+Business+Notebook+Teardown/15665

Step 7 shows you the RAM it takes.

Never trust an atom - they make up everything !
May 16, 2019 at 7:37 pm #33396
Les.
Participant
@oldles
Forumite Points: 42
Boris, thanks for that lot. Yes, step 7 shows where I was, step 12 shows the one under the K/B. In the past when I only found one slot, there was permanent on board memory, I just assumed it would be like that here.

Yes please, if you do have suitable ram.

I will download DSL (thanks Planeman) and see what can be done.

Cheers all.

Les.
May 16, 2019 at 7:45 pm #33398
PlaneMan
Participant
@planeman
Forumite Points: 196
Les, I’ve had DSL work very well on older kit than than what you have, Pentium 200 overclocked to 233 (via motherboard jumpers) and IIRC 64 MB RAM. Granted that was an older version of DSL but it’s truly amazing what it can do on very little resources.

Enjoy it, if you can have it hooked up the internet when you do the live session or install, it’ll help a lot.
May 16, 2019 at 9:51 pm #33401
Les.
Participant
@oldles
Forumite Points: 42
Planeman, yes, I see what you mean. I downloaded an iso for a “non-install”, burned to a CD, and booted straight in to it.

Being used to Mint 19, it was VERY bare. I could not see an “Install” icon such as Mint gives you, nor did it notice that I have a WiFi card in there.

I think I want something more “up to date” than DSL. I can see how it could save something from scrap, but this can handle more I think.

I think I will give XFCE a try, other suggestions are welcome.

Les.
May 17, 2019 at 10:12 am #33405
Dave Rice
Participant
@ricedg
Forumite Points: 7
It’s just too old Les. You’ll only be able to run a system contemporary to the time.
May 17, 2019 at 10:21 am #33406
Boris
Participant
@boris
Forumite Points: 0
Les. wrote:

Boris, thanks for that lot. Yes, step 7 shows where I was, step 12 shows the one under the K/B. In the past when I only found one slot, there was permanent on board memory, I just assumed it would be like that here. Yes please, if you do have suitable ram. Les.

Sorry Les,

Just spent about an hour going through all the boxes. I have 6 sticks of PC2700 SO-DIMM – but unfortunately they are all 256MB – the 512MB sticks I thought were PC2700 are in fact all PC4200/5300, so no good for you.

Never trust an atom - they make up everything !
May 17, 2019 at 10:21 am #33407
Bob Williams
Participant
@bullstuff2
Forumite Points: 0
Les I have had a 60GB IDE her in a drawer for years: little used, if you want it I would sending over. Any good? Bought just before a Mobo blew up, changed to SATA.

When the Thought Police arrive at your door, think -
I'm out.
May 17, 2019 at 10:28 am #33409
Boris
Participant
@boris
Forumite Points: 0
Dave Rice wrote:

It’s just too old Les. You’ll only be able to run a system contemporary to the time.

What about Puppy ? 4 or 5 ?

Never trust an atom - they make up everything !
May 17, 2019 at 10:54 am #33411
Richard
Participant
@sawboman
Forumite Points: 16
Some years back, about the time of that machine I made a great deal of use of Puppy Linux and found it very good at the and for its time. I have just checked it was on Puppy 2 in 2007
May 17, 2019 at 11:19 am #33412
Ed P
Participant
@edps
Forumite Points: 39
Les. wrote:

Planeman, yes, I see what you mean. I downloaded an iso for a “non-install”, burned to a CD, and booted straight in to it. Being used to Mint 19, it was VERY bare. I could not see an “Install” icon such as Mint gives you, nor did it notice that I have a WiFi card in there. I think I want something more “up to date” than DSL. I can see how it could save something from scrap, but this can handle more I think. I think I will give XFCE a try, other suggestions are welcome. Les.

It begs the question – what are you going to do with it?

Provided you avoid using it on the Internet then an old release of a distro is another option. You could even use it on the Internet except that many modern attacks are through the browser interface so it would be very dangerous to use where your money/cards are involved. It will also be pretty much limited to the software on the distribution i.e may not have (say)vlc.

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