In order of preference I'd opt for a different system, a larger HD
and then a CDROM.  I have one of these that I picked up at a local auction
house and attempted a couple of CPU upgrades that didn't work out (I have
faster systems that I'm putting my CDROMs into)...

        There are still new eMachine type boxes that go for $400-$700
(http://www.e4me.com/ and others) that have everything that you're trying to
add or a used system that would be the cost of a new hard drive to twice
that at  most (with the low cost systems its hard to make the case for
buying used).

        New HD's can be had for @$100 for 4-8Gig size.

        For a CDROM these systems date back to when they were controlled by
the sound card.  It is likely that you will either need to get a secondary
IDE controller card or a sound card capable of doing this.  You might try
the auctions for a used CDROM/soundcard set (it'd be a slower speed card).


        Good Luck,
Marshall Bautista

------------------------------

Date:    Sun, 24 Oct 1999 15:23:17 -0400
From:    Mary Elise Zimlich <[log in to unmask]>
Subject: cd drive on computer with 200MB HD?

Thanks for the help.
I got my friends computer open (hope I can close it back up). Indeed the
hard drive is 200MB. Is it worth putting a cd drive in the computer with
such a small HD. My feelings are since she won't have room for any programs
she needs to upgrade the HD, too.
This is a Compaq Prolinea 4/33S with win 95 (with such a small HD?) and 36
MB ram, a floppy drive and the tiny hard drive. It's a desktop model and it
is really proprietary. The ide cable to the HD does not have a spare
connector and there is not a spot on the
motherboard for another ide cable. So actually, I don't even know if I can
put a drive in- I was going to change the cable, but that might not work.
This may be beyond my level of expertise.

Thanks again,
Mary

------------------------------

         PCBUILD maintains hundreds of useful files for download
                     visit our download web page at:
                     http://nospin.com/pc/files.html