$399 laptop Compaq

[Jawadali]

Just got one this morning in store (I didn't have any coupons for in-store or online). It didn't seem that people were that interested in it, which surprised me.

Also picked up 3 of the Targus wireless notebook mice listed as $10 after rebate (limit 10), since if you purchase 3 accessories, you get 20% off the pre-rebate price for each accessory. I needed two anyway.


I'll be doing some Windows XP driver hunting before opening it; though.

It would have been a better deal if it had a Pentium Dual Core at this price point, but I guess this one has better integrated graphics compared to what an Intel-based one would have.

 

[beat mania]

Even just a Turion X2 would've been better with a bit more cache ...

 

[raddreamer3kx]

will I get charged tax if I purchased online through staples? NYC.

 

[cyberkost]

Originally posted by: raddreamer3kx
will I get charged tax if I purchased online through staples? NYC.

yes.

 

[gigahertz20]

Can anybody answer my Vista question I had in my last post?

Also, for those of you who that have bought it. The motherboard BIOS on mine was F.05, the newest version is F.07

Go here to download the latest BIOS version,

http://h10025.www1.hp.com/ewfr...694906&os=2093&lang=en


It's very easy, download it, then hit the BIOS update button.

 

[raddreamer3kx]

Originally posted by: cyberkost

Originally posted by: raddreamer3kx
will I get charged tax if I purchased online through staples? NYC.

yes.

man I would get this but tax plus I HATE Compaq's.

 

[Rage187]

Dont forget to run Decrapifier http://www.pcdecrapifier.com/download

It scrubs all the bloatware off.

 

[htne]

Did anyone else notice that Frys seems to be selling almost the same thing for the same price? Their ad in the Sunday morning Houston Chronicle features the "F763NR" for $399, no rebates. Note that the model number is off by one (F762NR versus F763NR). Anyone care to bet that the number is different so that price matches won't work?

link to Frys

The price online is $599, but the SKU number is the same, so this is the same unit as in the store for $399.

 

[gigahertz20]

Tried to get my local staples to accept the $100 Office Max coupon, the woman manager said they couldn't take it because there were no local competing Office Max's nearby, oh well, just going to return my store bought one. I will still receive the one I bought online using the $50 coupon code.

 

[aeporter427]

Long time vulture, new poster. I went to BB to see if I could pricematch and use my RewardZone coupons and they didn't have the exact model, they could only match to a C762NR for $450 (had a Pentium Dual Core 1.73 GHz instead of the AMD X2 1.9 GHz). However, they had the F756NR on sale for $499.

Specs are:

AMD Turion 64 X2 TL58 1.9 GHz 512 KB cache
15.4" WXGA
160 GB (5400 RPM)
2 GB DDR2 SDRAM
802.11 g built in
8x DVDRW dual layer
Vista Home Premium

What do you think? I bough it but wanted to run it by you guys to see it this was a deal or not to avoid the restocking fee if it's not.

Thanks.

Oh, it also has a NVIDIA 7000 video card I think.

 

[chinkgai]

Originally posted by: htne
Did anyone else notice that Frys seems to be selling almost the same thing for the same price? Their ad in the Sunday morning Houston Chronicle features the "F763NR" for $399, no rebates. Note that the model number is off by one (F762NR versus F763NR). Anyone care to bet that the number is different so that price matches won't work?

link to Frys

The price online is $599, but the SKU number is the same, so this is the same unit as in the store for $399.

looks about the same

 

[gigahertz20]

THIS IS SO FRUSTRATING! :|

I installed a fresh copy of Vista on the laptop and can't get online, I have no network adapters. I went to the compaq driver site,

http://h10025.www1.hp.com/ewfr...roduct=3694906&lang=en


and the only network driver they have is the Broadcom wireless network driver, installed it, and nothing. I still have no network adapter or able to even scan for wireless networks...so I guess the driver doesn't work.

After that, I used CPU-Z to find out what kind of motherboard chipset drivers I need, it displayed that my chipset was nForce 560, so I went to nvidia.com and downloaded the chipset drivers, restarted computer, still nothing. I also instead the latest version of EVEREST Ultimate Edition which displays just about everything related to your computer, and it displays no network adapters.


I have no idea what to do, I can't get online to install updates or install any other drivers. If anybody can help, I'd love you forever.

 

[beat mania]

Originally posted by: gigahertz20
THIS IS SO FRUSTRATING! :|

I installed a fresh copy of Vista on the laptop and can't get online, I have no network adapters. I went to the compaq driver site,

http://h10025.www1.hp.com/ewfr...roduct=3694906<=en


and the only network driver they have is the Broadcom wireless network driver, installed it, and nothing. I still have no network adapter or able to even scan for wireless networks...so I guess the driver doesn't work.

After that, I used CPU-Z to find out what kind of motherboard chipset drivers I need, it displayed that my chipset was nForce 560, so I went to nvidia.com and downloaded the chipset drivers, restarted computer, still nothing. I also instead the latest version of EVEREST Ultimate Edition which displays just about everything related to your computer, and it displays no network adapters.


I have no idea what to do, I can't get online to install updates or install any other drivers. If anybody can help, I'd love you forever.

I haven't opened mine up yet but I'm sure the driver is backed up somewhere on the hard disk, so someone can send that to you.

Or try this http://h10025.www1.hp.com/ewfr...roduct=3646603&dlc=en#

Originally posted by: htne
Did anyone else notice that Frys seems to be selling almost the same thing for the same price? Their ad in the Sunday morning Houston Chronicle features the "F763NR" for $399, no rebates. Note that the model number is off by one (F762NR versus F763NR). Anyone care to bet that the number is different so that price matches won't work?

link to Frys

The price online is $599, but the SKU number is the same, so this is the same unit as in the store for $399.

I think Compaq create different model numbers for different chain stores. On the computer itself it all says F750 or something like that, from what I saw at the display. Its a very shady pratice IMO ...

 

[allisolm]

Originally posted by: gigahertz20
THIS IS SO FRUSTRATING! :|

I installed a fresh copy of Vista on the laptop and can't get online, I have no network adapters. I went to the compaq driver site,

http://h10025.www1.hp.com/ewfr...roduct=3694906&lang=en


and the only network driver they have is the Broadcom wireless network driver, installed it, and nothing. I still have no network adapter or able to even scan for wireless networks...so I guess the driver doesn't work.

After that, I used CPU-Z to find out what kind of motherboard chipset drivers I need, it displayed that my chipset was nForce 560, so I went to nvidia.com and downloaded the chipset drivers, restarted computer, still nothing. I also instead the latest version of EVEREST Ultimate Edition which displays just about everything related to your computer, and it displays no network adapters.


I have no idea what to do, I can't get online to install updates or install any other drivers. If anybody can help, I'd love you forever.

Try posting in networking.

 

[gigahertz20]

Okay, TRY POSTING IN NETWORKING. Not here.
Moderator allisolm
I can post more screenshots if any of you want to see something else to identify what kind of network adapter I need to download to get on the internet with this laptop. I don't understand it, I downloaded the nForce 560 drivers from nvidia, Everest is reporting something different though, not sure where to go.....confusing.

I can post more as well...if somebody needs to see something to identify where to go for the network driver

Screenshots:

http://img530.imageshack.us/img530/3287/cpuzxp0.jpg (Processor and other stuff)

http://img530.imageshack.us/img530/2684/desktop2aa9.jpg (CPU-Z reporting nForce 560)

http://img89.imageshack.us/img89/7540/desktop3bj2.jpg (North bridge + South bridge from Everest Ultimate edition)

 

[Delbert]

Do you have any wireless connection available?
You could try taking off the small cover on the bottom where your wireless adapter card lives. ID it, and try finding a driver for it.
At least as a way to download other updates/drivers.

Example of the wi-fi adapter in my new Compaq here.

 

[jrichrds]

Although HP posted Broadcom wireless drivers (it was used in other F700 series laptops), this one uses Atheros wireless....which I personally think is better.

 

[jrichrds]

Originally posted by: beat mania

Originally posted by: htne
Did anyone else notice that Frys seems to be selling almost the same thing for the same price? Their ad in the Sunday morning Houston Chronicle features the "F763NR" for $399, no rebates. Note that the model number is off by one (F762NR versus F763NR). Anyone care to bet that the number is different so that price matches won't work?

link to Frys

The price online is $599, but the SKU number is the same, so this is the same unit as in the store for $399.

I think Compaq create different model numbers for different chain stores. On the computer itself it all says F750 or something like that, from what I saw at the display. Its a very shady pratice IMO ...

These are large-scale CTO (Configure-to-order) laptops...each gets assigned their own model number even if the config happens to be the same. All of the F700 series are based off of the same basic design with the differences being in the configuration (memory size, hard drive size, CPU speed). Many different "models" within the F700 series end up having the same specs due to different retail stores ordering the same config.

Having a unique model # assigned to each large-scale CTO order is also why these budget Compaq models have such a short shelf life. A retail store like Best Buy places a large CTO order for a promotion they plan to run, and then once they sell out, they move onto another model. I've seen these kinds of laptops clearanced a few weeks after being introduced as a "doorbuster" sale item.

 

[bryanW1995]

Originally posted by: cyberkost

Originally posted by: deptrai
Anyone know if this can be upgrade to 2GB of ram? If so, which should be compatible with this?

The description says "Memory Expandable to 3GB", so it may even have 3 SODIMM slots. Vista is gonna crawl on it though with 1GB, portion of which is given away to video ...

I thought that I would have problems with my inspiron 1525 with only 1gb ram, but after deleting all the dell crap I got it down to 600 mb at startup. 400mb free ram isn't great, but it's enough to use it for surfing/light office work just fine.

 

[gigahertz20]

Originally posted by: jrichrds
Although HP posted Broadcom wireless drivers (it was used in other F700 series laptops), this one uses Atheros wireless....which I personally think is better.

After hours messing around with trying to get an internet connection, I got my wired network adapter to work. I had to find some obscure driver on the internet for the network card, the network card is the Nvidia Corp MCP67 Ethernet card, of course Nvidia did not have that driver on their site, I found it on some third party site.

My wireless card will still not work, I know the wireless card is the Atheros AR5006X. I installed a driver for it but I get an error message in the windows device manager saying, "This device cannot start. (Code 10)"

Maybe one of you who are technically inclined enough can figure out how to locate and send the driver on your laptop to me, so maybe my wireless will work, my e-mail is gigahertz19@gmail.com

I'm sort of wishing I didn't do a clean Vista install on this laptop now.....argh....

 

[DamnRena]

giga u should try this. this is what i did to install a nexxtech network card to work.

go to add hardware, click next then wait till it searches, click on the wireless card or network or w/e then hardware update wizard will come up then click no not this time, click advanced then next then click dont search i will continue.....then next, find the network card or wireless card then next, then click on have disk, search for the driver and click on it. it should install then repeat the steps but when ur on the last step instead of clicking have disk find it in the left box if not i guess this only works if you have the cd.

if ur confused aim me at lilopy5 i will try and help

 

[Jawadali]

Originally posted by: gigahertz20

Originally posted by: jrichrds
Although HP posted Broadcom wireless drivers (it was used in other F700 series laptops), this one uses Atheros wireless....which I personally think is better.

After hours messing around with trying to get an internet connection, I got my wired network adapter to work. I had to find some obscure driver on the internet for the network card, the network card is the Nvidia Corp MCP67 Ethernet card, of course Nvidia did not have that driver on their site, I found it on some third party site.

My wireless card will still not work, I know the wireless card is the Atheros AR5006X. I installed a driver for it but I get an error message in the windows device manager saying, "This device cannot start. (Code 10)"

Maybe one of you who are technically inclined enough can figure out how to locate and send the driver on your laptop to me, so maybe my wireless will work, my e-mail is gigahertz19@gmail.com

I'm sort of wishing I didn't do a clean Vista install on this laptop now.....argh....

After hearing all of the trouble your going through, I think I might end up returning mine, since I planned to install XP on it. You're having that much trouble with Vista, so I don't even want to think about how much of a pain an XP install will be.

 

[Shaotai]

Originally posted by: chinkgai

Originally posted by: htne
Did anyone else notice that Frys seems to be selling almost the same thing for the same price? Their ad in the Sunday morning Houston Chronicle features the "F763NR" for $399, no rebates. Note that the model number is off by one (F762NR versus F763NR). Anyone care to bet that the number is different so that price matches won't work?

link to Frys

The price online is $599, but the SKU number is the same, so this is the same unit as in the store for $399.

looks about the same

Indeed it is. A friend tried to get one at Staples and they were all out.
I told her it was also at Fry's, so she walked across the street to Fry's and picked one up!
(This is at the Renton Fry's in Seattle)

 

[DW in UT]

Not trying to steal this thread, but another $400 laptop this week is this Acer from Radio Shack

Looks like the deal has you pay $550 then rebate comes as a $150 prepaid Mastercard. (Mastercard good anywhere, or just at Radio Shack?)

 

[gigahertz20]

Originally posted by: Jawadali

Originally posted by: gigahertz20

Originally posted by: jrichrds
Although HP posted Broadcom wireless drivers (it was used in other F700 series laptops), this one uses Atheros wireless....which I personally think is better.

After hours messing around with trying to get an internet connection, I got my wired network adapter to work. I had to find some obscure driver on the internet for the network card, the network card is the Nvidia Corp MCP67 Ethernet card, of course Nvidia did not have that driver on their site, I found it on some third party site.

My wireless card will still not work, I know the wireless card is the Atheros AR5006X. I installed a driver for it but I get an error message in the windows device manager saying, "This device cannot start. (Code 10)"

Maybe one of you who are technically inclined enough can figure out how to locate and send the driver on your laptop to me, so maybe my wireless will work, my e-mail is gigahertz19@gmail.com

I'm sort of wishing I didn't do a clean Vista install on this laptop now.....argh....

After hearing all of the trouble your going through, I think I might end up returning mine, since I planned to install XP on it. You're having that much trouble with Vista, so I don't even want to think about how much of a pain an XP install will be.

You will probably have a very hard time of getting XP to install on this, there are hardly any drivers. Vista is fine, if you want XP just run it in a virtual machine...read below...from http://aumha.net/viewtopic.php?f=14&t=27411

Since you are dealing with an OEM 802.11A/B/G/Draft-N device, you should have stayed with Vista, in my opinion, and installed XP in a virtual machine. The Atheros wireless adapter you have is not a retail adapter. It may use the Atheros 5xxx6 chipset, and it might even follow the Atheros reference design. But more than that you cannot say. It really is not a great idea to uninstall an OEM Vista installation, and downgrade the OS, when dealing with OEM proprietary implementations of hardware.

Your best path to success would be to restore your OEM Vista image, install Microsoft Virtual PC, and install your XP version as a Virtual OS client accessing the internet through the Vista Host by means of ICS. Make sure the version of XP you are using is the retail version and not an branded-big-box OEM implementation, even one built for an earlier Acer computer. Otherwise your version of XP may mis-identify the driver needed. In that situation you need to load something like Sysinternals FILEMON utility to see what .INF file XP's hardware wizard is using, and rename the file so that the wizard cannot see it.

In the alternative, I would call Acer and ask for a backgrade XP OS CD that is used for that laptop model and feature set. It is reasonable of them to charge you for this, so be nice to the Tech Support folks and see if they will send you the CD for a reasonable charge.

Your last course of action would be to return the laptop to the dealer as it is brand new. Revert the laptop to Vista using the restore partitiion. Then purchase one with XP pre-installed.