Can't get into BIOS. Is there a boot disk that lets me boot from CD?

[imported_Stew]

I need to setup XP on an old computer. Can't get into the BIOS to make it boot from CD.

Is there a boot disk (floppy) that I can use to make it boot from CD?

 

[deathwalker]

Here ya go..you download and make 6 floppies .boot to the first floppy and the install all 6 of them and bingo..u can do install from a cd in a system that doesnt support boot from floppy.l

http://support.microsoft.com/kb/310994/en-us

 

[imported_Stew]

I don't have 6 floppies, unfortunately...

 

[JonnyBlaze]

why cant you get in the bios?

 

[imported_Stew]

Originally posted by: JonnyBlaze
why cant you get in the bios?

It's a compaq and the configuration utility was on a small partition... but it was deleted.

 

[deathwalker]

Originally posted by: Stew
I don't have 6 floppies, unfortunately...

Gee...I didnt realize you couldnt buy them anymore!

 

[Tostada]

There are plenty of boot floppy images that'll load generic CD-ROM drivers for you. If you're going to install XP after booting to one of them, though, make sure you run SmartDrive or install will take forever.

I mean, honestly, the first thing that game up when I googled "boot floppy image" was:
http://www.onecomputerguy.com/install/floppies.htm

 

[imported_Stew]

Originally posted by: Tostada
There are plenty of boot floppy images that'll load generic CD-ROM drivers for you. If you're going to install XP after booting to one of them, though, make sure you run SmartDrive or install will take forever.

I mean, honestly, the first thing that game up when I googled "boot floppy image" was:
http://www.onecomputerguy.com/install/floppies.htm

I ran smartdrive, but the XP install seemed to get stuck at one spot.

 

[Navid]

Originally posted by: Stew

Originally posted by: JonnyBlaze
why cant you get in the bios?

It's a compaq and the configuration utility was on a small partition... but it was deleted.

What has that got to do with getting into the BIOS?!
Find the manual for the motherboard and find out which key you need to press during post to get into the BIOS.

 

[imported_Stew]

Originally posted by: Navid

Originally posted by: Stew

Originally posted by: JonnyBlaze
why cant you get in the bios?

It's a compaq and the configuration utility was on a small partition... but it was deleted.

What has that got to do with getting into the BIOS?!
Find the manual for the motherboard and find out which key you need to press during post to get into the BIOS.

On Compaqs, the BIOS is basically stored on the hard drive, from what Google is telling me.

 

[furballi]

Translation...the PC is a DOG (1997 or older). It's better to stick with W98 or W2K. Go to the HP website and search for that PC. There may be a utility to reload the factory configuration.

 

[mcmikemc]

Originally posted by: Stew

Originally posted by: Navid

Originally posted by: Stew

Originally posted by: JonnyBlaze
why cant you get in the bios?

It's a compaq and the configuration utility was on a small partition... but it was deleted.

What has that got to do with getting into the BIOS?!
Find the manual for the motherboard and find out which key you need to press during post to get into the BIOS.

On Compaqs, the BIOS is basically stored on the hard drive, from what Google is telling me.

Google gave you something that some n00b, who thinks he knows PCs, posted on the net. The BIOS is not on the hard drive.

If your PC had no BIOS because you erased it on the HD you would not be able to use that PC for anything other than a door stop.


If you want to know how to get into the BIOS just post the make and model of your PC.

 

[imported_Stew]

Originally posted by: mcmikemc

Originally posted by: Stew

Originally posted by: Navid

Originally posted by: Stew

Originally posted by: JonnyBlaze
why cant you get in the bios?

It's a compaq and the configuration utility was on a small partition... but it was deleted.

What has that got to do with getting into the BIOS?!
Find the manual for the motherboard and find out which key you need to press during post to get into the BIOS.

On Compaqs, the BIOS is basically stored on the hard drive, from what Google is telling me.

Google gave you something that some n00b, who thinks he knows PCs, posted on the net. The BIOS is not on the hard drive.

If your PC had no BIOS because you erased it on the HD you would not be able to use that PC for anything other than a door stop.


If you want to know how to get into the BIOS just post the make and model of your PC.

Okay... speaking of n00bs. In this case, the actual configurable part of the BIOS is stored on the hard drive.

It was a dumb idea on Compaq's part, and that's why they don't do it anymore.

 

[xgsound]

The compaq (now handled by HP) website once had utilities to replace these types of programs. They called them softpaqs. One from my old sparse notes is #SP4711. There is also a reference to Diagnostic Program #DP5233.

These notes were in reference to a Compaq I repaired years ago and kept running for a relative for a while, but the computer and the programs are long gone now.

If you can find these programs or comments about them, you may end up with what you need.


Hope this helps,
Jim

 

[Oyeve]

Originally posted by: xgsound
The compaq (now handled by HP) website once had utilities to replace these types of programs. They called them softpaqs. One from my old sparse notes is #SP4711. There is also a reference to Diagnostic Program #DP5233.

These notes were in reference to a Compaq I repaired years ago and kept running for a relative for a while, but the computer and the programs are long gone now.

If you can find these programs or comments about them, you may end up with what you need.


Hope this helps,
Jim

Geez, I have a whole stack of those stupid Compaq discs. I hated that way back the freaking bios was stored on the HD. Took forever to do a bios update back in the day.

 

[mbevolution]

that sh*t happened to my compaq laptop, I have to take it to compusa good thing that time it's still under warranty so they just replaced motherboard and my hard drive for me, but takes 2 weeks total, reason is i downloaded the newest bios driver from their website and it somehow doesn't like me and screwed up my comp.

if you can boot w/ floppy prolly will work, I don't have a floppy drive on my laptop when it failed -_-

good luck

 

[imported_Stew]

bump

 

[Tostada]

There's no use in bumping this thread. You're being an ass, which is pretty ridiculous seeing as you're the one asking for help. You're refusing to give people any information to even begin to help you. You think saying "the XP install seemed to get stuck at one spot" is useful? Do people need to actually ask you obvious questions like which spot it stopped in?

Hell, people did specifically ask you which model Compaq you had, and you didn't even answer that. And BTW, Compaqs never put the BIOS on the hard drive. That's not possible. If you don't understand, go look up what BIOS means. You're the n00b here.