Help me track down my first PC. \ VOGONS

Help me track down my first PC.

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First post, by Jade Falcon

Posted on 2017-06-20, 16:46

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OK so this may end of being a hard one. I just started trying to track down the make/model of my family's first PC.

Back in 96-97 maybe 98 but probably late 97 my family bought our first Pc. It ran win95 and from what I can recall it was a Compaq but I could be completely wrong on that last part.
The PC case was black mid tower, yes a 90s OEM system with a black case. I recall it having some written in red text on the case.

I believe it had a SoundBlaster and ether a mmx Pentium or k6-2.
It came with two games, an early demo of Incoming and a full version of Are you afraid of the dark tale of orpheo's curse. It came with a lot of other software in a fold out paper booklet. If I recall it had some sort of medical and finance software bundled with it, that's about all I recall.

The incoming disk look like this
http://a0.amlimg.com/ZTllYjM0ZmYyYTU3MmEwN2Rl … msucG5nfHx8.jpg

And if I recall it was the 3dfx version, so the system may of had a voodoo1 or rush in it. I don't recall any pass through cable on the back so maybe a rush?

Any ideas? I know its a long shot given that lack on info, but if anyone could help me find what it was I'm sure someone on vogons could.
I may still have the copy of orpheo's curse, if I can find it I'll see if it has any OEM marks on the disk.

Last edited by Jade Falcon on 2017-06-20, 19:08. Edited 1 time in total.

Reply 1 of 8, by cyclone3d

Posted on 2017-06-20, 17:23

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I don't recall Compaq having any black towers back then.

It could be an old IBM Aptiva though. Lettering is blue though.

Did it look anything like one of these?

http://www.ebay.com/itm/IBM-Aptiva-2162-S9C-P … 8-/182583943290

http://www.ebay.com/itm/IBM-Aptiva-2139-SE7-P … t-/172696256214

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Reply 2 of 8, by Stiletto

Posted on 2017-06-20, 17:40

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Compaq Presario 2200 small form factor desktop with a black case, release date 1997 (but dunno if the black color scheme was available then)
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Compaq_Presario_2200

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Reply 3 of 8, by Jade Falcon

Posted on 2017-06-20, 19:05

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I don't think it was a ibm. It did look a little like the second one. But I don't think that was it.
But my memory has faded since then. I'll looked into some other IBMs to see if I find any that look similar.

Reply 4 of 8, by Jade Falcon

Posted on 2017-06-20, 19:06

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Stiletto wrote:
Compaq Presario 2200 small form factor desktop with a black case, release date 1997 (but dunno if the black color scheme was available then)
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Compaq_Presario_2200

Definitely not that. It was a tower desktop.
If I recall the letters were raised on the case and in the middle.

Reply 5 of 8, by cyclone3d

Posted on 2017-06-20, 19:47

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Here are a couple pages from CDW with what would have been the common computers from 1997

https://books.google.com/books?id=hoP9dkY0guA … 20black&f=false

I didn't see any that were black from my searching.

Are you sure it wasn't purchased from some local builder?

Compaq is the only big brand that I am aware of that had raised red lettering.

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Reply 6 of 8, by leileilol

Posted on 2017-06-20, 20:56

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Digital had raised red blocks with white lettering on the cases and have produced Pentium-based desktop systems towards their demise

they weren't black though

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Reply 7 of 8, by Jade Falcon

Posted on 2017-06-21, 02:48

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cyclone3d wrote:
Here are a couple pages from CDW with what would have been the common computers from 1997 […]
Show full quote
Here are a couple pages from CDW with what would have been the common computers from 1997

https://books.google.com/books?id=hoP9dkY0guA … 20black&f=false

I didn't see any that were black from my searching.

Are you sure it wasn't purchased from some local builder?

Compaq is the only big brand that I am aware of that had raised red lettering.

If it was a local builder that put a lot into marketing. I don't see a local boulder making a booklet for bundled software.

But honestly the red letters could have been something a family member added to it. I'll keep digging.
I know it was more of a gaming pc. Hence the two games it came with. And the 3D video card.
It was ether a rage or a rage+voodoo1 or rush if I'm recalling right.

Reply 8 of 8, by sf78

Posted on 2017-06-21, 08:26

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Fujitsu/ICL Indiana had black cases, though it's quite a rare sight outside Europe.

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