alright, I had a chance to look at the presario 5000. It has the original label on the side with model number (5BW120), and specs. My heart sank when I read them:

600mhz Celeron

64mb of RAM

up to 11mb used as video memory

15gb HD

CD-ROM

56k modem

I put in 2 128mb sticks for 256mb, it only has 2 RAM slots. Since it's a 600mhz celly, I think it's a coppermine, Pentium III based, socket 370.

I also have a gateway carcass with a 800 somewhat (odd mhz number) Athlon in it, socket A. The board looks like it will fit, I might do a swap. The gateway case is messed up real bad. I don't know if the front USB ports will be compatible or not.

Or I could leave it like it is, put windows 2k or XP on it for my dad, and a small linux partition, or just put a bunch of OSes on it for myself.

-digital