?? about updating an old Compaq notebook's drivers
I just bought an old Compaq Presario 1240 notebook running Win98. It's a Pentium 1 266 mhz with 64MB of RAM, a 4GB hard drive, and a 12.1" display that runs at 800 x 600 pixels. Amazingly it runs just fine. It seems like this old dinosaur has been sitting on a shelf somewhere because nothing has been updated in years. I spent about two hours last night just downlaoding and installing critical Windows updates and service packs.
My main question now is about the video display. Everything works fine but at that resolution I have to scroll side-to-side just to view any websites online. If I update the video driver is there a chance that I can get better display options, or does it not work that way? It's a NeoMagic MagicGraph 128XD. The lastest driver that I can find is in a file called 128xd.zip from November 25, 2004. Unfortunately it's located on a site that I've read on this forum has a bad reputation for malware.
So, should I bother downloading new drivers or should I leave it as is? Is there a better place for finding this or another driver that would help me with this situation?
My main question now is about the video display. Everything works fine but at that resolution I have to scroll side-to-side just to view any websites online. If I update the video driver is there a chance that I can get better display options, or does it not work that way? It's a NeoMagic MagicGraph 128XD. The lastest driver that I can find is in a file called 128xd.zip from November 25, 2004. Unfortunately it's located on a site that I've read on this forum has a bad reputation for malware.
So, should I bother downloading new drivers or should I leave it as is? Is there a better place for finding this or another driver that would help me with this situation?
0
Comments
Now as for your original question. No it doesn't work that way. The resolutions for your video are more hardcoded on LCD and if it's 800x600 display that's all it'll do. New drivers or not.
Last year I bought my (then) 7-year-old granddaughter a toy laptop, but now she's a big 8-year-old and she wants a real laptop. I paid $99 for this one, and it's really just a replacement for the toy. All she'll likely be doing is playing CDs and running freeware games. If I were keeping it for myself I'd be tempted to run Linux, but it runs fine now, bearing in mind its obvious limitations, and the last thing I want to do is screw it up.
Considering what it will be used for, do you think I should bother updating anything else on it?
Here are the boring specs, complete with last century hyperbole:
<TABLE cellSpacing=0 cellPadding=12 width=701 border=0><TBODY><TR><TD vAlign=center width="3%" height=85>
</TD><TD vAlign=top width="26%" height=85>QuickSpecs
Compaq Presario 1240
US/Canada: September 1998
</TD><TD vAlign=top width="71%" height=85>
</TD></TR><TR><TD vAlign=center width="3%" height=65>
</TD><TD vAlign=top width="26%" height=65>MODEL
</TD><TD vAlign=top width="71%" height=65>COMPAQ PRESARIO 1240
Compaq P/N 357020-003
Developed for compliance with the Compaq Year 2000 readiness program.
</TD></TR><TR><TD vAlign=center width="3%" height=25>
</TD><TD vAlign=top width="26%" height=25>Standard Features
</TD><TD vAlign=top width="71%" height=25>
</TD></TR><TR><TD vAlign=center width="3%" height=45>
</TD><TD vAlign=top width="26%" height=45>Dimensions and Weight
</TD><TD vAlign=top width="71%" height=45>Unit: 1.93" x 12.2" x 10" (7.5 lbs.)
Package: 13.75" x 19.38" x 7.75" (13.3 lbs.)
</TD></TR><TR><TD vAlign=center width="3%" height=25>
</TD><TD vAlign=top width="26%" height=25>Processor
</TD><TD vAlign=top width="71%" height=25>• Intel <SUP>(r)</SUP> Pentium processor with MMX <SUP>(tm)</SUP> technology - 266 MHz
</TD></TR><TR><TD vAlign=center width="3%" height=25>
</TD><TD vAlign=top width="26%" height=25>Display
</TD><TD vAlign=top width="71%" height=25>• 12.1" Active Matrix TFT Display
</TD></TR><TR><TD vAlign=center width="3%" height=25>
</TD><TD vAlign=top width="26%" height=25>Cache
</TD><TD vAlign=top width="71%" height=25>• 512KB L2 Pipeline Burst Cache
</TD></TR><TR><TD vAlign=center width="3%" height=25>
</TD><TD vAlign=top width="26%" height=25>Memory
</TD><TD vAlign=top width="71%" height=25>• 64 MB SyncDRAM, upgradable to 96 MB
</TD></TR><TR><TD vAlign=center width="3%" height=25>
</TD><TD vAlign=top width="26%" height=25>Integrated Hard Drive
</TD><TD vAlign=top width="71%" height=25>• 4.0 GB hard drive
</TD></TR><TR><TD vAlign=center width="3%" height=45>
</TD><TD vAlign=top width="26%" height=45>Integrated CD-ROM Drive
</TD><TD vAlign=top width="71%" height=45>• 24X Max CD-ROM Drive
</TD></TR><TR><TD vAlign=center width="3%" height=25>
</TD><TD vAlign=top width="26%" height=25>Integrated Modem
</TD><TD vAlign=top width="71%" height=25>• 56K ITU V.90 modem
</TD></TR><TR><TD vAlign=center width="3%" height=45>
</TD><TD vAlign=top width="26%" height=45>Integrated Diskette Drive
</TD><TD vAlign=top width="71%" height=45>• 3.5" 1.44 MB diskette drive
</TD></TR><TR><TD vAlign=center width="3%" height=145>
</TD><TD vAlign=top width="26%" height=145>Graphics
</TD><TD vAlign=top width="71%" height=145>• 128-bit 3D accelerated graphics with integrated 2 MB video memory provides superfast graphics
• High-performance 3D graphics
• Maximum internal resolution of up to 800 x 600 x 16M; with external monitor 1280 x 1024 non-interlaced
• 24-bit color provides up to 16M brilliant colors, making multimedia applications come to life
</TD></TR><TR><TD vAlign=center width="3%" height=85>
</TD><TD vAlign=top width="26%" height=85>Compaq Audio
</TD><TD vAlign=top width="71%" height=85>JBL Pro Audio System with Bass Reflex
• Aureal A3D<SUP>(tm)</SUP> Interactive 360 Positional Sound
• High-power, low-distortion amplifiers for high-fidelity sound
• Ported bass reflex enclosures increase low-end frequency response
</TD></TR><TR><TD vAlign=center width="3%" height=65>
</TD><TD vAlign=top width="26%" height=65>Compaq Multimedia
</TD><TD vAlign=top width="71%" height=65>• MPEG full-motion video playback
• Audio CD player
• Video player (AVI, MPEG and others)
</TD></TR><TR><TD vAlign=center width="3%" height=125>
</TD><TD vAlign=top width="26%" height=125>Compaq Easy Internet Access Service
</TD><TD vAlign=top width="71%" height=125>The most sensational, fun and easy Internet experience
• Compaq Easy Internet Access with 50 free hours of Internet entertainment
• 56K ITU V.90 modem for quick Internet downloads
• Powerful Partnerships - Compaq has selected more than 20 leading brand-name Internet companies as featured partners, including Yahoo!
• Microsoft<SUP>(r)</SUP> Internet Explorer 4.0
</TD></TR><TR><TD vAlign=center width="3%" height=65>
</TD><TD vAlign=top width="26%" height=65>Easy Access Buttons
</TD><TD vAlign=top width="71%" height=65>• Instant Internet and E-mail launch key
• Audio CD Player (Play/Pause, Stop, Previous Track, Next Track)
• Digital one-touch control for volume up/down
</TD></TR><TR><TD vAlign=center width="3%" height=165>
</TD><TD vAlign=top width="26%" height=165>LED Status Display
</TD><TD vAlign=top width="71%" height=165>Icons displayed for easy reference on key operating information
• Power
• AC Power Status
• Num Lock
• Battery Charging
• Scroll Lock
• Cap Lock
• Low Battery
</TD></TR><TR><TD vAlign=center width="3%" height=65>
</TD><TD vAlign=top width="26%" height=65>Security Features
</TD><TD vAlign=top width="71%" height=65>• Power-on password
• Reinforced security slot
• Accepts third-party security lock devices
</TD></TR><TR><TD vAlign=center width="3%" height=105>
</TD><TD vAlign=top width="26%" height=105>Keyboard/Touchpad
</TD><TD vAlign=top width="71%" height=105>• Full-size keys and separate cursor control keys (88 keys)
• 101-key compatible
• Windows (r) operating system keys
• Touchpad pointing device
• SoftTouch palm rests provide a more comfortable feel when typing
</TD></TR><TR><TD vAlign=center width="3%" height=45>
</TD><TD vAlign=top width="26%" height=45>Battery/Power Supply
</TD><TD vAlign=top width="71%" height=45>• Enhanced Smart Li-Ion battery delivers extended battery life
• Smart battery technology provides accurate, instantaneous battery status
</TD></TR><TR><TD vAlign=center width="3%" height=65>
</TD><TD vAlign=top width="26%" height=65>Compatibility
</TD><TD vAlign=top width="71%" height=65>• Plug-and-Play
• Ethernet Network
• NSTL Year 2000 compliant
</TD></TR><TR><TD vAlign=center width="3%" height=85>
</TD><TD vAlign=top width="26%" height=85>Power Conservation
</TD><TD vAlign=top width="71%" height=85>• Hibernation
• Sleep
• User-configurable settings
</TD></TR><TR><TD vAlign=center width="3%" height=25>
</TD><TD vAlign=top width="26%" height=25>Expansion Slots
</TD><TD vAlign=top width="71%" height=25>• One (1) type II PC Card slot with support for 32-bit Cardbus
</TD></TR><TR><TD vAlign=center width="3%" height=165>
</TD><TD vAlign=top width="26%" height=165>I/O Interfaces
</TD><TD vAlign=top width="71%" height=165>• One USB ports
• Serial RS-232C compatible, DB9 connector (16550)
• Parallel SPP/ECP standard centronics-compatible interface (DB25 connector)
• Mouse or keyboard port - PS2 style
• RJ-11 modem jack
• Two audio ports (headphone/speaker-out and microphone-in)
• External monitor port
</TD></TR><TR><TD vAlign=center width="3%" height=285>
</TD><TD vAlign=top width="26%" height=285>Software
</TD><TD vAlign=top width="71%" height=285>Preinstalled Software
Microsoft (r) Windows (r) 98
Microsoft (r) Works 4.5
RingCentral Fax
Internet/Online
Compaq Easy Internet Access
Microsoft (r) Internet Explorer 4.0
Software on CD
Microsoft (r) Bookshelf 98
Microsoft (r) Encarta 98
Encyclopedia
Microsoft (r) Money 98
MotoRacer (MMX TM )
Quicken Basic 98
</TD></TR><TR><TD vAlign=center width="3%" height=105>
</TD><TD vAlign=top width="26%" height=105>Compaq Extra Mile Assistance
</TD><TD vAlign=top width="71%" height=105>• Technical support: 24 hours a day, 7 days a week
• Covered by Compaq 1-year U.S. Limited Warranty 5 : 1 year parts and labor (free pick-up)
• Remote service software for quicker call resolution
• Personal assistance from an online technician
</TD></TR><TR><TD vAlign=center width="3%" height=45>
</TD><TD vAlign=top width="26%" height=45>Compaq Extra Mile Maintenance
</TD><TD vAlign=top width="71%" height=45>• Antivirus software
• Free automated software updates via the Web
</TD></TR><TR><TD vAlign=center width="3%" height=45>
</TD><TD vAlign=top width="26%" height=45>Compaq Extra Mile Solutions
</TD><TD vAlign=top width="71%" height=45>• Selective QuickRestore CD
• Electronic Help Guide
</TD></TR></TBODY></TABLE>
Personally I'd have hit the used adds a little harder you could probably have picked up a p3 laptop with a 14" screen for around $150. But that's neither here nor there.