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What to do with this laptop?

Resident_Lurker - Dec 14, 2003

		Resident_Lurker		Dec 14, 2003
			I got this laptop for one dollar. Something was obviously taken out of it. My guess is the battery, but I've never really dealt with laptops before. It's a Compaq Presario 1245.... I'm really not too keen on buying a battery for something I don't even know works. Can I use a compatibile power supply to at least see if it works? Can this be done without the battery?

		racketboy		Dec 14, 2003
			pretty sure you can buy replacements check eBay

		mtxblau		Dec 15, 2003
			radio shack has an adaptor for $70. Test it and return it, I think is the best bet. Just be careful with the packaging so they can resell it. And yes, it can be done without the battery. EDIT: Ugh, HPA screen. Be prepared to use that thing with a regular monitor unless you want to suffer serious migrane headaches. You can hack the monitor by replacing it with a 1400 or 1600 series TFT screen. And another note, the board on that is compatible with the K6+ line processors (dip switches are on the board, so it can be overclocked somewhat). I highly suggest the upgrade, there is a massive performance boost. EDIT2: If you find that you don't like the machine (which is fairly easy to do) let me know, I'll purchase it from you. I have a similar (dead - 1247) machine in need of parts.

		Resident_Lurker		Dec 15, 2003
			Another thing I just discovered: The AC adapter jack... well, there is no jack. The hole where one might plug in the adapter is just that. A hole. I'll have to open it up and do some more investigating.

		Gallstaff		Dec 16, 2003
			Haha, it sounds like they dont want you to be able to use this thing

		Resident_Lurker		Dec 17, 2003
			Screw that, I want to use this thing. Hopefully not much else is wrong with it. Here's to hoping it can be fixed. :cheers Actually, does anyone know why someone would remove the entire AC jack? Can you even use that on another laptop?

		Gallstaff		Dec 17, 2003
			Thats what seemed weird to me. It seems like before you bought it, the previous owner wanted to make sure there was no way that power could get to the laptop.

		Curtis		Dec 17, 2003
			Heh - are you even sure there is still a motherboard in it? Usually everything is soldered onto the PCB.

		Gallstaff		Dec 17, 2003
			if nothing else he could sell the drives for a few bucks

		Scared0o0Rabbit		Dec 17, 2003
			...assuming it has drives.

		mal		Dec 17, 2003
			Heh, there is that too.

		Gallstaff		Dec 17, 2003
			Well it has a cd-rom drive... unless they decided to be TOTAL bastards and stealth the bay with the face plate so it just looks like there's one.

		mtxblau		Dec 17, 2003
			The 1200/1400/1600 series A/C port actually wears out really quick. Makes sense if they wanted to fix a 1400 or 1600.