My father in law has, on his desk at home, a Mid-Range server unit. He is running into problems with it, which isn’t surprising… it was used, and he managed to shove Win98 on it and has been running this bastardized system for a while.
It’s a Compaq, and I admit I don’t know much about it. He says he can’t use normal RAM on it… where can he get some? What’s the best way to completely erase the hard-drives and reload what he wants?
Basic advice, please… thanks all!!
Your description is rather vague. Can you tell us the model of the Compaq (they make different varieties of servers), or motherboard type, and/or hard drive type?
As far as the RAM goes, you probably mean SDRAM as normal RAM. Does his box use Rambus or RIMMS?
As far as erasing the hard drive, he can use a utility program to low-level format the drive (write zeros to it), so it will be like factory new and completely devoid of any info on it.
I’m not sure about any of the info you’ve asked… I will talk to him tomorrow, but I’m not sure he knows…
As an aside, if I took the Hard drives and ran them over a de-gauser, would that work? Would they still be usable afterwards?
I’m not sure what you mean by a ‘de-gauser’, but in my mind I envision you running a large magnet over the surface of the hard drive! I would not recommend this, as it may void your warranty. 
Besides that, I forgot to mention the fact that you may want to back up any information you want to keep from the drive and make sure you have all of the software disks and cds for installation before you do an reformatting of your hard drive(s).
I’m sure someone with more knowledge will come here to give you better information. In the meantime, I am off to bed, but I will check this thread tomorrow for updates.
You’re trying to erase everything on the hard drive? Usually all you need to do is reformat the hard drive. You can do this by booting the system off a Windows setup CD or floppy, going to the command line instead of (or from) the setup program, and running the format command (“FORMAT C:”). Then reboot the system and run the setup program this time to install Windows.
If the system originally came with an older OS, and you don’t want to upgrade the hadware (especially memory), you might consider going back to the original OS. I have one laptop with 24 MB meory which runs just fine on Win95 but very poorly on Win98, for example.
If the system doesn’t accept standard DIMM (SDRAM) memory, maybe it uses the older SIMM memory. I expect you can get used ones dirt cheap, but don’t know where - ebay, maybe? New SIMMs are hard to find and expensive because there’s so little demand. If it’s something more esoteric, I’m not sure if it’d be worth upgrading.
No. Definitely do NOT do this. Hard disks have “servo tracks” that are written at the factory, they are not used to store data, but to assist the read/write head in positioning. If you erase these, there is no way to restore them, and your drive is destroyed. There is no way to erase the servo tracks just using the drive, for a good reason! Wipe them with a degausser, and you’ll regret it.
If you want to wipe the drive, just reformat like scr4 says.
Not Enough Data to answer.
Compaq makes alot of server crap, it could be anything. Write back when you have more infomation on what it is.
Well, I talked to the father in law… and he has no idea. He made a lot of technical sounding noise, but I think that he isn’t sure himself. The only thing that I got for sure is that it isn’t PCI RAM, and that he thinks the stuff he needs is phenominally expensive… so who knows?
Ah well. He’s supposed to try installing a PC to burn his “artwork” to… if he does that, I’ll try to be there so that I can see it with the box off… mayhaps I’ll get some more info for you all…
Find out what model it is. Compaq has different kinds of RAM for different servers. Their Xeon boxes use ECC SDRAM which is keyed differently than regular SDRAM. Their Pentium II/!!! boxes use regular SDRAM. Their Pentium Pro boxes use EDO DIMMS. Older servers use normal FPM DRAM.
Once you get the model number (and find out how old it is) you can do a search on Compaq’s website to find out the parts listing.
On erasing the hard drive, if you can get ahold of a “Smart Start” CD, you can boot from that and use their built-in erase utility, which is the recommended way to start building a server. It will also install a Diagnostic Partition which can be very useful, as Compaq servers are notorious for not having a user-configurable BIOS built-in. You may be able to get a Smart Start CD from a local computer shop that sells server hardware. God knows I have tons of them.
Tristian a few things:
1: In order for the folks here to help we’ll need to know the model # of the machine. It should be on the back of the machine. This will be sufficient to tell you the type of RAM it needs.
2: You are using the term “server” to describe the machine. As others have noted real Compaq “servers” are optimized for heavy duty, 24/7 corporate operation and are typically a somewhat different class of machine than standard PC towers or desktops. Components (esp memory) for these “server” units tend to be more expensive and specialized than standard PC hardware equivalents. Not very many of Compaq’s “servers” made over the past 5 years would fit comfortably “on a desk” as you describe your FIL’s machine.
3: Typically, Compaq PC BIOS configuration (since the early 90’s) is accessed by holding down or tapping the F-10 key during bootup. A Compaq “server” BIOS may operate differently.
4: If it does require non-standardized memory modules, either due to age or the fact that it’s a true “server”, you are probably better off telling him to get a new PC as the cost the specialized modules will likely exceed the entire purchase price of a perfectly competent 500 - 600 new machine or re-furb with 64 to 128 megs onboard.
Well, I still haven’t gone across the street to get the info, but I assure you that it’s a server unit… older, I think but an honest to god server…
He got it about a year and a half ago, as a perk for cleaning out a warehouse full of computer equipment. He had set it aside to tell his boss that it was a usable piece of equipment, and his boss told him he could keep it.
This thing is about 3x as heavy as my home PC, it’s about twice the size as well. It takes up a large chunk of my Father in laws desk, but it’s a huge desk, so he doesn’t mind all that much.
I may keep bumping this as I get more info. He’s using it as a home PC, and is thinking about hosting a web site off it… eventually. He is mayhaps thinking of setting up a “pay” website that’s very graphic intensive… ehehehe… Those of you that are into Celebrity fakes have probably seen his work… very good stuff, not pornographic (usually).
He’s running Win98 right now. It’s one of the most bastardized systems I’ve seen… it’s almost funny. More info to come.
Saying “an honest to god server” isn’t necessarily meaningful. Most Compaq servers are still just PC’s, but with special options like redundant power supplies, rackmount chassis, hot-plug hard drives, built-in RAID, enormous fans, multiple network interfaces, etc.
My desktop minitower I use for development would have consituted “an honest to god server” a year and a half ago, and on the flipside, I’ve got a decommissioned Compaq (proliant?) server at work from a couple years ago that wouldn’t even make a decent Quake III machine if I put a 3d card in it.
The parts for it may still be phenominally expensive, but I’d investigate using non-compaq parts unless you want to pay server prices for a desktop machine. In addition, it might be more space- and money-efficient to auction it off on ebay and buy a nice new desktop machine.
“Well, I still haven’t gone across the street to get the info”
Get going.
Astro,
1 - It may not necessarily be on the back of the machine. You may be able to find the serial number, which may or may not have the model on it, but if you check the front it should say Proliant ‘something’.
2 - Though that may describe the servers I work with, there are plenty of Compaq mini-towers and towers that could fit comfortably under or on top of a desk. The 2500, 1600, ML350, ML370, etc.
3 - The server BIOS works the same, but you need to have the proper diagnostic partition on the hard drive, or a Smart Start CD.
Tristan,
If it’s twice as big (tall or wide?) and three times as heavy as a normal PC, it’s definitely a server. If it’s tall, it is probably a Proliant 1500 or 2000. If it’s wide, it’s probably a Proliant 3000. Find out what kind it is, and I may even have parts.
galt
I have tons of decommissioned servers at work, and they would barely run Quake I, not to mention Quake II or higher. They’re not good for anything, except maybe a Linux box or really weak NT file and print server.