Compaq Question

[mike123]

My friend brought over his piece of crap Compaq computer for me to fix.I take a look inside its got onboard video,onboard sound,just junk.The question I have is that I would like to get into the bios,but when I start up the screen automatically says Compaq then boots right to windows.Is there a way to access the bios in a different way?

 

[copyfixer]

I have the same trouble. Other compaq's I have gotten into by holding F10 at startup, not this one though. I too need to know.

 

[AKA]

What are the model #'s. The older compaqs needed a floppy diskette in order to bring up the bios configurations. You can download them from compaq.
Compaq downloads

 

[mike123]

The one I have is a model #5714.Which file would I download to bring up bios info?

 

[copyfixer]

Mine are deskpro 2000 and prolinea 4/66. I will check the site. Thanks for the tip.

 

[AKA]

Copyfixer,

For deskpro go here Deskpro 2000

For prolinea prolinea

mike123.. to enter setup all you should need to do is use F10 on first power on. Make sure your keyboard is working if this hasnt worked for you. Does your keyboard caps light come on?

 

[Timothy]

It's F10 IF the "diagnostic" partition is installed. Does FDisk show the first partition labled non-DOS? If not, you have no diag partition, therefore F10 will not work.

How to add the diag partition? Nuke all partitions and download the utility from Compaq's site.

 

[mike123]

If I hit F10 when I power up,I gat a keyboard error.Nothing else.

 

[mike123]

Nevermind,I downloaded the Softpaq off the Compaq website and that helped me out.I added more memory,formatted the HD and I am currently installing Win ME.Being that this board has onboard sound and video,do you think ME will recognize it,or will I have to find drivers for it?

 

[AKA]

Should have the drivers for them on their website.... thats all you will need. WinMe may detect the device and install a driver for it.. but it would be a good idea to atleast download them in case WinMe drivers arent up to spec.

 

[mike123]

Thanks for all your help.I got everything running premo.

 

[copyfixer]

I guess I am screwed then. I originally wrote the hard drives to zero, then f-disked and formatted. I am not going to re f-disk and redo the partitions so I can get into bios. The systems are working ok now, why screw with it? If I ever need to, I will know what to do next time. Thanks for the help everyone.

 

[DaCurryman]

Hey A.K.A.

Any help for me to get into the BIOS...my brother's comp is a Presario 5686. This is a more detailed explanantion of my problem if you or anyone else can help...thanx.

My Problem

~ DaCurryman