Chances are you aren't in the market to buy an HP Compaq d330, since it was first released half a decade ago. It originally came in desktop, microtower and slim tower models, and was well-equipped for a mid-line business PC with a 3GHz Pentium 4 processor, 512MB of RAM and either a 40 or 80GB hard drive.

Overall the HP D330 computer is a slightly aged but solid business PC that has plenty of mileage left in it. All that's needed is proper care and a couple easy hardware upgrades. Here are some ideas for making the most of HP Compaq d330 desktops in your office:

1. Perform simple maintenance tasks that will extend the life of your HP D330 computer.
2. Always make sure you have the latest BIOS, drivers and software updates for your older HP D330 computer.
3. Order the right memory upgrade to immediately increase the performance of your HP Compaq d330 desktops.
   

Action Steps
The best contacts and resources to help you get it done

Properly maintain your HP D330 computer to keep it running smoothly

You can extend the life of the hard drive in your HP D330 computer by regularly defragmenting. Keeping your antivirus and spyware programs up to date and running regular system scans is another important element. These are just a few of the simple things you can do to keep your older PC in peak condition.

I recommend: CompuMentor has a great guide called "Five Steps to Extend Your Computer's Life." PC World Communications also has a very detailed Complete PC Preventive Maintenance Guide. Be nice to your older PC and it will be nice to you!

Keep your older HP D330 computer running smoothly with the most current BIOS, drivers and software

If you've had HP Compaq d330 products in your office for a number of years, or you inherited these computers from someone else, there's a good chance that you don't have the CDs that originally shipped with the computer. You can download every driver you need from the HP website. It's a good idea to download all the drivers updates for your computer and then burn them to CD.

I recommend: Select the case style and operating system of your computer on the HP website to get access to the most current software and drivers. For automated driver updates, download and run the Driver Detective tool from PC Drivers Headquarters.

Buy a memory upgrade to instantly increase the performance of your HP Compaq d330 computer

The HP D330 computer has four internal RAM slots and supports a maximum of 4GB of system memory. You should always install matched pairs of memory for the best performance. Since the D330 usually only came with 512MB pre-installed, you will see an immediate performance increase by simply doubling your memory to 1GB. This is more than sufficient for Windows XP, unless you're planning on working with memory-intensive photo and video applications. If you want to upgrade the computer to Windows Vista, you need to install at least 2GB of system memory.

I recommend: Order memory compatible with your HP D330 from Memory-Up.com. If you're unsure of which memory to purchase Crucial has a System Scanner that will automatically scan your system and recommend the exact right memory module for your PC. You can get 1GB of memory at either place for under $40.

Tips & Tactics

Helpful advice for making the most of this Guide

• •  Dust buildup is a huge contributor to overheating related hardware issues in an older PC like the HP D330 computer. Regularly popping open the case and dusting it out can prevent a myriad of issues.

The HP Compaq d330 computer is a microtower business desktop. HP Compaq d330 desktops feature an Intel Pentium 4 processor and 40 GB standard memory. While HP Compaq d330 desktops have been discontinued by HP, you can still find updates on products and services, and other HP Compaq d330 info, on the HP website.

When trying to find an HP Compaq d330, do some serious online research and shopping to decide if it's the right computer for your business and if it has the features you need. You may have to dig deep to find enough HP Compaq d330 desktops to staff an office, but you can always find a few with a quick Internet search.

Do the following when considering an HP Compaq d330:

1. Compare features to more recent HP desktops;

2. Search used, refurbished and clearance models online;

3. Get updates on HP d330 info online.

Action Steps
The best contacts and resources to help you get it done

Compare the HP d330 computer to other desktops online

HP product listings make it fairly easy to compare the HP d330 computer to other comparable business desktop models. While you can't buy an HP Compac d330 computer from HP's online store, you can compare the d330 product features with those of HP's current line of business desktops.

I recommend: Check out HP business desktops on the HP product listings to get the most current pricing and features. Use an online comparison shopping tool to compare the d330 with other products and get ratings of the online retailers before you buy.

Search online for an HP Compaq d330 computer

Discontinued HP computers may be available on clearance in retail stores, but you're much more likely to find an HP Compaq d330 online, either from online outlet stores or as used or refurbished resales. Look for established online retailers first before trying eBay or Craig's list to get a new or certified refurbished HP Compaq d330 computer.

I recommend: Try online search consolidators such as Google's Consumer Depot, which will look for all HP d330 desktops available online and produce a comprehensive list.

Shop parts and support for HP Compaq d330 computers online

The HP website offers insights into HP Compaq d330 info as well as support for any of its products. While you can't find an HP Compaq d330 online from HP directly, you can use their website to browse and shop other HP Compaq d330 products and updates.

I recommend: Don't visit the HP site if you're looking for a new HP Compaq d330. Do shop for replacement parts as well as software and driver downloads for your HP Compaq d330 computer using the HP site.

Tips & Tactics

Helpful advice for making the most of this Guide

• •  Shop around before you buy an HP Compaq d330 to be sure you're informed about the differences between the d330 and other products, and if you do decide to buy, make sure you have current product updates from HP's website. Any time you buy a discontinued product, be sure you know why the product was discontinued and that you have compared it with any successor products that replaced it on the market.

There isn't any place you can go to buy an HP Compaq d330 new because it was first released by HP about five years ago. You still might have one sitting around your office, however, because it was a popular mid-range business PC at the time of its release.

If you want to learn more about the HP d330 computer, find an HP Compaq d330 review or two or consult HP's website directly. The following HP Compaq d330 desktops advice and ratings resources will help you learn everything you need to know about this oldie but goodie:

1. Visit the HP website for invaluable HP d330 info that you can't find anywhere else.
2. Read reviews of the HP Compaq d330 computer.
3. Get troubleshooting tips for the HP Compaq d330 computer.
   

Action Steps
The best contacts and resources to help you get it done

Stop by Hewlett-Packard's website for HP Compaq d330 computer info and advisories

Even though the HP d330 computer has been discontinued, you can still find support, advisories and technical documentation on the HP website. This should be your first stop for product recall information and consumer alerts.

I recommend: Visit HP Customer Advisories for problem notifications and fixes for the HP Compaq d330 desktop. You can also find numerous other resources on the HP Compaq d330 Computer Resources page on the Hewlett-Packard Development Company site.

View reviews about the HP Compaq d330 computer from the time of its release and later

There are a couple different sources for reviews of the HP d330 computer. There were reviews from the time when the computer was originally released, back in 2004. They will give you a good idea of the specs and functionality of the computer. There are also reviews provided by those that have purchased refurbished models of this computer, which may help you in deciding whether this older computer will be useful to you in your current more modern environment.

I recommend: Read reviews of those who purchased used and refurbished HP Compaq D330 computers at TigerDirect. Read an original review of the d330 published on the PC Pro website by Dennis Publishing in January of 2004.

Find the latest troubleshooting advice for you HP Compaq d330 computer

Even though the HP d330 computer has been around for a while, you can still find relevant troubleshooting information. There are numerous online resources that will help you get the advice and support you need while tackling your problems.

I recommend: Search the FixYa website for HP d330 specific troubleshooting advice. You can search questions posted by other users that have already been answered, or post your own questions. HP offers a troubleshooting guide for the HP d330 desktop online. If needed, you can find reference guides and manuals for the d330 on Retrevo.

HP Compaq d330 desktops were first released half a decade ago. They were billed as mid-line business PCs, and came in three different form factors—desktop, micro tower and slim tower. The HP d330 computer was well-equipped for its time, shipping from the factory with 512MB of RAM, a 3GHz processor and either a 40 or 80GB hard drive.

Chances are you aren't planning to make a HP Compaq d330 purchase, but you may still have some of these PCs in use around your office. The following HP Compaq d330 desktops basics will help you keep these older PCs running smoothly:

1. Know where you can find HP Compaq d330 info such as hardware and service manuals.
2. Buy an HP Compaq d330 memory upgrade for an immediate performance boost.
3. Keep your HP d330 computer running smoothly with the latest software and driver updates.

Action Steps
The best contacts and resources to help you get it done

Find and download vital HP d330 info like maintenance and service manuals

If you're interested in knowing how to perform routine maintenance or hardware upgrades on HP Compaq d330 computer, you'll want to have support and service manuals readily accessible. There are numerous online locations where you can find and download these resources.

I recommend: You can download all kinds of documentation on the HP site, including hardware reference guides and service and maintenance information. Most of these materials are available in PDF format. You can also find the supplementary guide on Retrevo.

Immediately increase the performance of your older HP d330 computer with a memory upgrade

One of the easiest ways to improve the usefulness of an older computer is to add RAM. Windows XP runs beautifully for most users with around one gigabyte of RAM installed. The HP Compaq d330 desktops came pre-installed with 512MB, and can support a maximum of 4GB in its four RAM slots, so there is plenty of room for expansion.

I recommend: You can purchase memory upgrades at Crucial or 4 All Memory. You can find an HP Compaq d330 memory installation guide at EDGE Tech.

Download the most current drivers for your HP Compaq d330 desktop

Oftentimes a computer manufacturer will release driver and software updates that fix certain issues with a computer. For instance, there is a BIOS update for the HP d330 computer that increases the efficiency of the computer's processor. Downloading the most current drivers ensures that your desktop runs at peak efficiency.

I recommend: Select the form factor of your PC on the HP website to download the drivers appropriate to your specific model of the d330. For a hands-free approach, download and run the ParetoLogic DriverCure utility, which scans your system automatically and recommends the appropriate driver updates.