Hardware Indentification Software

divine` · 2 Dec 2006 at 19:35

Housemate has an old Compaq PC that we recently upgraded to Windows XP. However in the process use of the Audio vanished and I cannot for the life of me find out what Soundcard/Chip is in here.

Is there any clever software about that will help me find out what it is so I can go hunt down some drivers?

Cheers

Cob · 2 Dec 2006 at 19:37

CPU-Z will tell you the motherboard model and you should then be able to use Google to find drivers for it.

postmanfw · 2 Dec 2006 at 19:40

Everest does the same job but gives a bit more detail

divine` · 2 Dec 2006 at 19:41

Seems its a Compaq 0530h

...now to hunt for the drivers

bledd · 2 Dec 2006 at 19:50

hp own compaq now

http://welcome.hp.com/country/us/en/support.html

look there, search compaq, then model number

if its a compaq, look at the screen before bios, or maybe in bios screen my testing box is a compaq and it flashes the model number

if its onboard, is probably a 'soundmax' chip

-edit, this is what i use for finding out hardware..

http://bleddyn.co.uk/tools/pci.exe

place that on c:\pci.exe

double click it and do 'extract here' (so it goes to C:\pci32 )

then start, run, cmd.exe (press enter)

c:\pci32\pci32.exe (press enter)

basmic · 2 Dec 2006 at 19:50

Should have a barcode on the back of the case, with a series of numbers or letters - this is the service tag. Punch into Compaq's site, and download. :cool:

divine` · 2 Dec 2006 at 19:56

Well typing in the code on the back makes HP/Compaq think its an HP Pavillion PC, not a Compaq Presario.

The Machine is a Presario 5296 (PIII 450MHz etc.) and the only drivers listed for it are for Win 95/98 and ME :/

bledd · 2 Dec 2006 at 19:57

i've edited my original post, has a tool in there that'll help you.