HP Compaq NX9600 -- Adding Memory

[TenOC]

To quote Sergeant Schultz "I know nothing" about computer memory.

From my OLD HP Compaq NX9600 service manual .I want to add at least 1 Gb maybe 2 GB of additional memory

512MB or 1024MB standard, 400-MHz DDR2 SDRAM standard; two SODIMM slots Upgradeable to 2048 MB maximum (1024MB in slots 1 and 2)

On eBay I find a number of low cost used memory. This is an example of one.Low Cost Memory

Questions;

The manual says 1 Gb in each slot. Does this mean that I cannot add 2Gb in a slot For a total of 3 Gb

Modern memory is faster than 400 MHz. Will faster memory work? Is there any advantage to a faster memory or does a motherboard limit the speed to 400Mhz?

[TenOC]

UPDATE:

Windows 7 installed without any problems. All drivers download automatically. No errors in Device Manager. However, when downloading update from MS I am getting an error on one update. Trying to figure why. It is the 2020-10 security update to .NET Framework.

[ferretgrandpa]

I think that 'theoldwizard1' has a great idea, go to one of the many Linux.

If you to run old and seriously out date hardware think about the puppyLinuxes, as long as you have a usb port, you can boot up into a puppy linux.

For more info about puppy here is the url for their discussion forum (you can also download from there)

https://forum.puppylinux.com/index.php

I've been using a puppy since '07 and as my 'daily driver' since '09. Any problems that I have had were my fault.

Tom

[delwhjr]

You can disable the signature enforcement but this can open your unit to other issues, mainly security. You need to know how to use the command prompt or test mode.

[1492]

Unless the OP wants to engage in a science project, my guess is that WIN 10 hardware check will fail its supported hardware requirements, and will not install. The issues are not just related to the legacy P4 processor? But also to hardware devices that are built into the laptop motherboard. If this was a P4 desktop, you might be able to get WIN 10 to install by upgrading select supported hardware, assuming that the P4 processor passes WIN 10 hardware check. You rarely have upgrade device options with laptop motherboards.

[1492]

Gdetrailer wrote:

1492 wrote:
Compaq doesn't provide drivers for WIN 10/WIN 7 for the NX9600. So basically wasting your time/money purchasing any upgrades for this project. Not surprising for a 2005 era laptop? Best just recycle it?

Performance on WIN 10 with just 2G memory would be pretty pathetic? Even if just browsing the Net as memory usage tends to rise with all the integrated website media/scripting and multiple tabs open. I generally install at least 16G+ memory on all my WIN 10 notebooks/desktops, so long as memory is not soldered into the motherboard - something to check with notebooks?

You should be able to find a good used more recent notebook, with a much faster processor such as a core i5, with WIN 10 already installed. Possibly also with an SSD for around $200.

Umm, yeah, right..

You do realize that you CAN work around the lack of driver support by using the driver INF files from OLDER OS?

INF files are a text file which IDs the hardware brand and model, then tells the OS what GENERIC WINDOWS DRIVER TO USE!

YES, I HAVE DONE THIS so I do know it works!

You've used 'modified' legacy drivers with WIN 10 install? Interesting since Microsoft instituted Driver Signature Enforcement, WIN 10 won't load un-signed kernal-level drivers? Represents a security issue?

[Gdetrailer]

1492 wrote:
Compaq doesn't provide drivers for WIN 10/WIN 7 for the NX9600. So basically wasting your time/money purchasing any upgrades for this project. Not surprising for a 2005 era laptop? Best just recycle it?

Performance on WIN 10 with just 2G memory would be pretty pathetic? Even if just browsing the Net as memory usage tends to rise with all the integrated website media/scripting and multiple tabs open. I generally install at least 16G+ memory on all my WIN 10 notebooks/desktops, so long as memory is not soldered into the motherboard - something to check with notebooks?

You should be able to find a good used more recent notebook, with a much faster processor such as a core i5, with WIN 10 already installed. Possibly also with an SSD for around $200.

Umm, yeah, right..

You do realize that you CAN work around the lack of driver support by using the driver INF files from OLDER OS?

INF files are a text file which IDs the hardware brand and model, then tells the OS what GENERIC WINDOWS DRIVER TO USE!

YES, I HAVE DONE THIS so I do know it works!

The main ones are the chipset which is where the USB hardware resides (which catches the USB keyboard/mouse HID driver) although on that old of hardware the built in keyboard COULD be PS2, Video, but Win10 CAN sub in the BUILT IN GENERIC video driver (and it works pretty well), audio (generally Realtec), Network (wired and wireless), perhaps a webcam and mic.

Is the OP wasting time?

Perhaps, but sometimes playing around gives you a better understanding of the OS and the OP already has it, has a win7 license and Win7 license CAN be used in a upgrade mode to activate Win10..

I think OP will run into more issues trying to install Win7, MS when they kicked Win7 to the curb unlike with XP, they DELETED ALL driver support form the MS UPDATE SERVERS. Installing things like printers on Win7 is pretty much impossible unless you have a XP, Win2000 or Win7 driver disk laying around..

Starting with Win7, MS REMOVED pretty much all legacy drivers for printers and a lot of other hardware.. To install you HAD to allow Win7 to run Windows Updater to find the missing drivers. The problem now is those update webpages no longer exist, rendering Win7 an orphan child.

I HAVE BEEN THERE, DONE IT with trying to find Win7 drivers, not fun and plenty frustrating. Had to scramble back when Covid shut down everything to stand up a PC in a hurry for my DW to be able to work from home.. I had a Win7 PC I had setup for my DD back when she was in High School so PC was handy..

Had to get Win7 to talk to a older Brother printer/fax/scanner so my DW could do her job (remember, stores were shuttered so buying new was not an option).. After searching high and low on the Internet for drivers I was about to give up and discovered I had a old CD for that unit! It was marked XP/Win2000.. Loaded the disc, pointed Win7 to the INF files (not the installer program)and wala.. Now had a working printer/fax/scanner..

If I wasn't up against a time constraint, I would have simply just blasted a PC with a copy of Win10, would have been a whole lot easier..

Win10 DOES work the same way, had a HP industrial/retail PC (RP5800), MS Win10 does not support that PC in any way, shape or form, HP also does not support that PC either for Win10, no drivers available for Win10. But I WAS able to install Win10, point it to the INF files for the last supported OS and Wala, working video, working USB, working sound, working NIC card..

Many hardware devices are built in groups of "families", using similar chip in the family that can use same drivers, older chips often can be used with a newer version of drivers.. Have done that plenty of times with NIC drivers for imaging HDs from older version of Ghost.

Just because there is no direct support, there are often ways to work around the problem..

Sometimes it is more about the principle that folks say it can't be done that makes one WANT to do it just to show that it CAN be done.

Is a P4 going to win the Indy 500? No, but it is plenty of horsepower to surf Internet, write some emails, write word docs or spreadsheets, even stream/play SD video.. Not so much for HD video or playing the latest HD video games..

Give the OP a break.

[time2roll]

I stopped upgrading computers a long time ago. Always turned out to be a patch that was dead in 6 months or less. Much better value to get a new computer.

Or is this for a museum where you want it to work with the original software?
Should not need to upgrade to run the original configuration.

[1492]

Compaq doesn't provide drivers for WIN 10/WIN 7 for the NX9600. So basically wasting your time/money purchasing any upgrades for this project. Not surprising for a 2005 era laptop? Best just recycle it?

Performance on WIN 10 with just 2G memory would be pretty pathetic? Even if just browsing the Net as memory usage tends to rise with all the integrated website media/scripting and multiple tabs open. I generally install at least 16G+ memory on all my WIN 10 notebooks/desktops, so long as memory is not soldered into the motherboard - something to check with notebooks?

You should be able to find a good used and more recent notebook, with a much faster processor such as a core i5, with WIN 10 already installed. Possibly also with an SSD for around $200.

[theoldwizard1]

Gdetrailer wrote:
75 pages HERE all about running Win10 on old hardware like P4 processor say's you are dead wrong about your assumption.

The issue is not the processor, it is drivers for the things like keyboard, mouse, display, USB ports, etc. Hit and miss.

Also, I'll bet Win 10 would be swapping its brain out on 2 GB of memory.

Time for Linux !

[Gdetrailer]

Ed_Gee wrote:


I see this differently. That 75 pages was mostly a bunch of people trying to dink and tinker with old computers to make Windows 10 work ... and most of those cited were not as old as the Original Posters 15+ year old Laptop. Also, I cannot see anywhere in the OP's post where he spent $100. on his laptop.... it appears to be an old one he has always had .. Regardless, 15 years is well beyond good service and needs be retired. Windows 10 will almost certainly be slower than cold tar on that laptop, if it can be installed at all. Last year I purchased a completely refurbished Lenovo Thinkpad T410 laptop on Amazon for $160. ... with new battery. That was an Intel Core i5 with 16GB Ram. It is foolish to fuss with such an old Laptop such as OP's when such modern refurbished laptops can be had for such low prices. Admittedly, I see Amazon selling the T-410 now for $279. ....but there are others at lower price, if one only makes the effort to search. Gave up my IBM Thinkpad R52e years ago when it could no longer upgrade to Windows 8, even ... and that one was a P4 1.5GB Ram unit similar to the OP's. Of course if one wants to dink and tinker with that old stuff...more power to them ... maybe it will work ... albeit very slowly.... not my problem.

You didn't read all 75 pages, did you?

You obviously do not have the lets try and see if it works attitude either and perhaps time to bow out?

Like I prefaced before, I am generally all for reusing stuff, in some cases not so much. While this certainly is a case where if you want the top notch most sparkly brand spanking new laptop this is not for you, perhaps the OP wishes to learn and at the same time use something that others like you have discarded to the landfills.

Op has the laptop and was planning to drop Win7 on that laptop which originally has XP, that in of it's self is a real issue. As I have explained, MS HAS removed all legacy hardware drivers for ALL legacy OS versions below W10 from their main website. Once again this causes a real headache because starting with Win7 and continued forward with W8, W8.1 and yes W10 MS has stripped out a lot of drivers that USED to be present in the installer.

Double whammy is HP same as MS has become extremely hostile to old hardware and OS support.. Older hardware drivers are in executable files which are OS dependent to operate making getting to the INF files (which is all that is needed in most cases) a bit of a tall challenge.

In a nutshell, OP will find issues getting W7 to connect to MS Update website to find drivers for Win7 because it is no longer hosted there. This "feature" is embeded in the OS. The drivers have be relocated to a Archived website and even when you do access that website the drivers there POINT to the now missing original location.

That is how we got to the point I make that OP might be further ahead to attempt W10 install since you CAN use the Win7 license key to activate that install with a digital license AND with a little playing around most likely can sub in XP, Win2000 or existing Win7 driver INF files and get W10 to work fine.

I have my doubts that W10 is going to run like a slug, it IS a much lighter OS, it loads and runs fewer drivers in memory making for a more efficient OS than the OSs of the past.

So far, even though I am not a fan of W10, it IS an improvement over W8 and W8.1 for speed and those were slightly more efficient than W7.

There is zero harm in trying and especially since the OP HAS the laptop..

Perhaps the OP does not envision tossing $300-$400 worth of a recycled (aka refreshed) Laptop to a kid???

[Ed_Gee]

Gdetrailer wrote:

Ed_Gee wrote:
The specs say a maximum of 2GB memory. This is a P4 computer....so outdated I doubt it can even run Windows 10. Don't expect much performance increase by adding RAM. You should really consider something newer....
Specifications overview

75 pages HERE all about running Win10 on old hardware like P4 processor say's you are dead wrong about your assumption.

In a nutshell, P4 "J" version supported "NX" instructions which Win10 requires.. That P4 version started shipping around 2004-2005 timeframe..


Listen, the OP already spent $100 just to buy the laptop (that IS a lot of money to simply throw your hands in the air and surrender). OP has it, may as well try it, has nothing to lose other than maybe some hair pulling and time lost..

Win10 most likely has a better chance of running than Win7 or any flavor of Win8.. The progression of the OSs has been trimming down what is loaded and running at all times. Older OSs loaded every single driver known to man in the startup process and never unloaded them even if the hardware did not exist on that PC..

If OP can get past the installer and driver issues, it most likely will be fine. I will admit, 1 GB of Ram will be pretty skinny, should be comfortable with 2 GB. OP most likely will need to load 32 bit version, not sure if 64bit will even install but has good chance 32bit W10 will.

If OPs computer specs say max of 2 gb ram, that is the max the MB will accept, they are limited to two 1gb memory chips, some MBs may be flexible and allow one 2 MB ram chip but that is not always the case. Manufacturer should have a chart listing exactly what to use and how to install.

All else fails, use the part number on the chip and run an Internet search to see exactly what it crosses to. Memory chips vary a lot in how they are wired.

I see this differently. That 75 pages was mostly a bunch of people trying to dink and tinker with old computers to make Windows 10 work ... and most of those cited were not as old as the Original Posters 15+ year old Laptop. Also, I cannot see anywhere in the OP's post where he spent $100. on his laptop.... it appears to be an old one he has always had .. Regardless, 15 years is well beyond good service and needs be retired. Windows 10 will almost certainly be slower than cold tar on that laptop, if it can be installed at all. Last year I purchased a completely refurbished Lenovo Thinkpad T410 laptop on Amazon for $160. ... with new battery. That was an Intel Core i5 with 16GB Ram. It is foolish to fuss with such an old Laptop such as OP's when such modern refurbished laptops can be had for such low prices. Admittedly, I see Amazon selling the T-410 now for $279. ....but there are others at lower price, if one only makes the effort to search. Gave up my IBM Thinkpad R52e years ago when it could no longer upgrade to Windows 8, even ... and that one was a P4 1.5GB Ram unit similar to the OP's. Of course if one wants to dink and tinker with that old stuff...more power to them ... maybe it will work ... albeit very slowly.... not my problem.

[Ed_Gee]

Gdetrailer wrote:

Ed_Gee wrote:
The specs say a maximum of 2GB memory. This is a P4 computer....so outdated I doubt it can even run Windows 10. Don't expect much performance increase by adding RAM. You should really consider something newer....
Specifications overview

75 pages HERE all about running Win10 on old hardware like P4 processor say's you are dead wrong about your assumption.

In a nutshell, P4 "J" version supported "NX" instructions which Win10 requires.. That P4 version started shipping around 2004-2005 timeframe..

I see this differently. That 75 pages was mostly a bunch of people trying to dink and tinker with old computers to make Windows 10 work ... and most of those cited were not as old as the Original Posters 15+ year old Laptop. Also, I cannot see anywhere in the OP's post where he spent $100. on his laptop.... it appears to be an old one he has always had .. Regardless, 15 years is well beyond good service and needs be retired. Windows 10 will almost certainly be slower than cold tar on that laptop, if it can be installed at all. Last year I purchased a completely refurbished Lenovo Thinkpad T410 laptop on Amazon for $160. ... with new battery. That was an Intel Core i5 with 16GB Ram. It is foolish to fuss with such an old Laptop such as OP's when such modern refurbished laptops can be had for such low prices. Admittedly, I see Amazon selling the T-410 now for $279. ....but there are others at lower price, if one only makes the effort to search. Gave up my IBM Thinkpad R52e years ago when it could no longer upgrade to Windows 8, even ... and that one was a P4 1.5GB Ram unit similar to the OP's. Of course if one wants to dink and tinker with that old stuff...more power to them ... maybe it will work ... albeit very slowly.... not my problem.

Listen, the OP already spent $100 just to buy the laptop (that IS a lot of money to simply throw your hands in the air and surrender). OP has it, may as well try it, has nothing to lose other than maybe some hair pulling and time lost..

Win10 most likely has a better chance of running than Win7 or any flavor of Win8.. The progression of the OSs has been trimming down what is loaded and running at all times. Older OSs loaded every single driver known to man in the startup process and never unloaded them even if the hardware did not exist on that PC..

If OP can get past the installer and driver issues, it most likely will be fine. I will admit, 1 GB of Ram will be pretty skinny, should be comfortable with 2 GB. OP most likely will need to load 32 bit version, not sure if 64bit will even install but has good chance 32bit W10 will.

If OPs computer specs say max of 2 gb ram, that is the max the MB will accept, they are limited to two 1gb memory chips, some MBs may be flexible and allow one 2 MB ram chip but that is not always the case. Manufacturer should have a chart listing exactly what to use and how to install.

All else fails, use the part number on the chip and run an Internet search to see exactly what it crosses to. Memory chips vary a lot in how they are wired.

[Gdetrailer]

Ed_Gee wrote:
The specs say a maximum of 2GB memory. This is a P4 computer....so outdated I doubt it can even run Windows 10. Don't expect much performance increase by adding RAM. You should really consider something newer....
Specifications overview

75 pages HERE all about running Win10 on old hardware like P4 processor say's you are dead wrong about your assumption.

In a nutshell, P4 "J" version supported "NX" instructions which Win10 requires.. That P4 version started shipping around 2004-2005 timeframe..

Listen, the OP already spent $100 just to buy the laptop (that IS a lot of money to simply throw your hands in the air and surrender). OP has it, may as well try it, has nothing to lose other than maybe some hair pulling and time lost..

Win10 most likely has a better chance of running than Win7 or any flavor of Win8.. The progression of the OSs has been trimming down what is loaded and running at all times. Older OSs loaded every single driver known to man in the startup process and never unloaded them even if the hardware did not exist on that PC..

If OP can get past the installer and driver issues, it most likely will be fine. I will admit, 1 GB of Ram will be pretty skinny, should be comfortable with 2 GB. OP most likely will need to load 32 bit version, not sure if 64bit will even install but has good chance 32bit W10 will.

If OPs computer specs say max of 2 gb ram, that is the max the MB will accept, they are limited to two 1gb memory chips, some MBs may be flexible and allow one 2 MB ram chip but that is not always the case. Manufacturer should have a chart listing exactly what to use and how to install.

All else fails, use the part number on the chip and run an Internet search to see exactly what it crosses to. Memory chips vary a lot in how they are wired.

[Ed_Gee]

The specs say a maximum of 2GB memory. This is a P4 computer....so outdated I doubt it can even run Windows 10. Don't expect much performance increase by adding RAM. You should really consider something newer....
Specifications overview