Can't find WES7 for an HP t5740e thin client

[minigamer]

My son just picked up an HP thin client from a store that was going out of business. I'm trying to reformat it for him but HP doesn't seem to have the OS on their site. It's a HP t5740e. When I turn it on all I get is a web browser (no desktop, nothing). Is there any place I can download the OS and get this thing up and running for him?

 

[samuria]

Does it run an o/s a lot of these only work as a client with no option to do anything else. Does it have a hard drive?

 

[minigamer]

It has a 4gb ata flash disk. I did get to the Admin login but none of the default passwords work

 

[samuria]

So you cant install anything most of these are very cheap as all then can do is RDP to a server or pc all you can do is let it rdp to a pc

 

[minigamer]

Not trying to sound dumb but why can't I install anything? I don't have a problem getting into the bios (I have the bios password), the account password is what isn't working. Would I be able to put a lite version of xp or 7 on it with a bootable usb?

 

[samuria]

It should have a version of Windows on it but very limited it was never designed to run a full o/s 4gig is only enough to run most basic o/s and there may be no drivers

 

[Barman58]

A thin client terminal (previously known as a Dumb Terminal), is usually fitted with a network adaptor, a small amount of local storage to hold settings, and a ROM chip that contains the Boot code. It is designed to connect to a server that supplies all the code it needs to do the tasks the user wishes to perform.

There is no way to install an OS as the system does not have the space, or sufficient memory or processor to run standalone.

They were the office system of choice until the rise of windows (and other Smart terminal devices), back in the 1980s, and they did have a small resurgence a few years ago until the boom in mobile computing, again sent them into obscurity. They did have the cost advantage, when Windows based computing was in it's infancy, but this soon disappeared when the clone systems arrived and lowered the costs of Smart devices dramatically.

Without a suitable Server, and this would normally be a Mainframe computer, a Thin Client terminal is, these days, totally redundant

 

[Megahertz07]

You can install a Linux OS on a USB flash disk or USB HDD.

 

[minigamer]

Well guess I get to experiment lol. I got some parts laying around from other builds. Gonna see if I can mod this thing some how. Update you when I'm done.

 

[SIW2]

Turning a HP Thin Client T5730W into a Desktop PC - YouTube

 

[minigamer]

Thanks SIW2
I did run across that and watched it, was some what helpful but gonna go a different way. Gonna toss 8 gigs of ram in and an SSD. My only concern is the psu. I have an extra 500w psu laying around but see no way to plug it in on the MB. Any suggestions for this would be helpful

 

[Megahertz07]

Are you sure you can add a SSD? Normally this kind of computer has the SSD soldered on the MB. And Windows normally can't be installed on an external drive. If possible, SIW2 can help on this move.
I don't think you need to replace the PSU as the CPU and GPU will remain the same.
I would install a Linux. With Linux you can split the installation on different drives. You can install the CORE on the 2G SSD and the remaining on an external disk.

 

[minigamer]

Flash memory comes right out, the only thing holding it in was one of those little plastic pins. With the right cable I should be able to plug the ssd right into that area. Honestly, what's the worse that can happen? It blows up on me? Not a big deal. You never know if something is gonna work till you try, it's how we learn

 

[Megahertz07]

What kind of socket does the Flash memory has?
Is it a mSATA?

 

[minigamer]

nope but like I said with the right cable it should work. Upper right hand circled in blue is where the flash drive was

 

[Megahertz07]

I think that on the right you have a Power and SATA connector.
What is on the Flash drive? Any brand and/or model?

 

[Megahertz07]

t5740 Manuals

The 16GB SATA module should not be used with the HP PCIe/PCI Expansion Module. The secondary storage drive is not supported as a primary boot drive for the thin client.
- This can be easily solved (boot loader on the flash disk and then transfer to the SSD)
SATA module

Hardware Reference Guide

 

[Megahertz07]

Don't understand me wrong as I love to hot tune a computer.
A 8G memory will cost you ~US$50 and a 256G SSD ~US$80. To make use of 8G you have to install Win 7 64.
I think is too much money to put on a Atom CPU computer.

 

[minigamer]

It's not costing me a penny. I do builds all the time and have extra stuff leftover. And it can be done.

Hp t5740 hard drive addition


The mobo can take up to 8gigs and I have 1 stick from a prevous build. My only concern is it burning up from lack of power

 

[Megahertz07]

I opened the link and choose to play the video. I took me to a porno site.
This one is on youtube HP T5740 Hard Drive Addition - YouTube