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General discussion

HP Compaq Restore Disks

by janal95 Aug 1, 2007 10:49PM PDT

My neighbor gave me a Compaq Presario 4550 running Windows 98 SE2 with no backup/restore disks and a new 40GB hardrive(not the original 4GB). Everthing works fine, but some of the Microsoft Communication components are missing. Are all the HP/Compaq restore disks system/model specific or would I be able to use those of another model to restore everything in 98SE2? It seems like I need to buy an OEM 98SE2 with COA to make it work.

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3 Posts
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Restore disks ...
by Kees Bakker Aug 2, 2007 1:42AM PDT

are very model specific. You can only use the right one.

Any (second hand or the one of a friend) Windows 98 SE2 would do, even without a license.

But first I would have a look if there's a folder like c:\windows\options\cabs. The Compaq I had (and it was a common way of doing it then) had a copy of the Windows CD in there (lots of .cab files, easy to check) and you could just browse to that folder if any setup program asked for the Windows CD.
You should know that the restore CD only was useful to do a full restore and for no other purposes. So one definitely needed a copy of the CD on the hard disk, for all those moments that installing something like a printer or a modem asked for it. And that's exactly your situation now.

Hope this helps.


Kees

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Compaq Windows Folder
by janal95 Aug 3, 2007 5:01AM PDT

Thanks for the tip. I understand the improved method to make a change with ease. Unfortunately, the folder doesn't contain the right cabs. My research seems to indicate the original 4550 was loaded with Windows 95 and a 4GB HDD. So, there were changes made and an ethernet ISA to replace the factory modem. I'll be shopping on E-Bay for the upgrade disk. I can use it on my Fujitsu 655TX and try to dual boot
the Compaq with a copy of 95 and 98 for fun. I learn more with this stuff than spending big $$$ for a Vista machine!(The guy at the Dell kiosk couldn't figure out how to read my CD-RW disk so I could look at JPG's on a flat panel monitor.)

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That's the best to do then, indeed.
by Kees Bakker Aug 3, 2007 6:22AM PDT

That's the risk with old PC's you acquired somehow without all the disks.

Good luck with your endeavours.

Kees

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