Packard Bell

[Mykex]

I imagine if this the norm just the subject got a chuckle and an oh no this poor soul,but anyway to the story.

Ok someone tell me this cant be right.
Friend asked me to look at his PC to see if there was anything I could do to perk it up.

I being a great bro I grabbed an extra stick of 64mb sdram some heatsink paste and a positive attitude. This was all shot to pieces apon opening the case!
This PC is 2yrs old mind you. I found a SIS mainboard with atx connectors and simm ram????? On top of the cirix300 socket7 with a pathetic looking HS/Fan.
Also hard drive monted verticaly to the front of the PC?????

Well I added the paste and closed the case and am still left woundering if this was an acid flashback or something. Is PackardBell that bad?
If I hook him up with a newer and more normal Mobo/CPU will I run into Compaq like problems just trying to salvage his case and drives?....
Compaq like problems include cases that dont fit anything other than the mainboard they supply. Strange switches to the bizare looking PSU. Ive been down this road with a Compaq PC and ended up taking a 22oz. hammer to it after 2 weeks I really dont want to go there again......So is this the same road or will it be less bumpy? Mykex

Btw anyone know how to get any info on this pc without a password to PackardBell's site?

[This message has been edited by Mykex (edited 11-18-2000).]

[Ed_S]

Now you know why they went out of business!!

Yes, they WERE that bad. Almost everything in it is proprietary, just like the Compaq you mentioned. The best thing I found to do with one is to salvage whatever standard parts are there (usually just the drives) and forget the rest.
If the drives are outdated, it might be best to leave it alone since it's a functional machine. Sell it or donate it.

Best remaining info source I know of is Ray's Packard Bell Site (http://www.geocities.com/SiliconValley/Lakes/8774/)