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Can't access bios on Compaq Deskpro 2000

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by cornishman

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I need urgent help!! Trying to add a second hard drive on Compaq Deskpro 2000 but I cannot access the bios. I've always known 'F10' to be the access but I have been through all the function keys (plus all the others I know eg: CNTRL ALT ESC etc) butit will not boot into setup. Also I do not get the 'F10=setup' in the bottom left of the startup screen which I am also expecting. Any ideas?????

24 replies

by serge1120

Unplug the keyboard. If you are lucky, the computer will stop and tell which key must be pressed to correct the error in the bios.
Otherwise, open the computer and unplug the floppy drive. The purpose is to have an error that only the bios can correct, so the computer tells you how to get to the bios.

by cornishman

Oh I had such high hopes of this advice!! Have tried disconnecting various bits of hardware - all it tells me is that various bits of hardware are not connected !! Still does not give me any clues how to access setup.

by cornishman

Ok tried the above with no joy. Just tells me that various hardware is not connected and not how to access setup. Cleared CMOS and now won't boot at all!! Says disk error. Will boot to a win98 startup disc and when I run fdisk, it says it canot find any fixed disks. And I STILL have no way to access BIOS to sort it!! HELP!!

by aqmike

if all else fails, reset the CMOS and it will make you go into the BIOS to configure the system settings

by jean_hera

You are correct F10 will take you to the bios settings if pressed on the right time [The moment that the Cursor is full square on the top right hand corner].
However, this is a hidden partion on your hard drive with all necessary dos utilities, if this partion was deleted or you had re-partioned your hard drive, it is lost no way to access the bios unless you re-create that partion.
if this is the case, you will need either to run the recovery CD suppled with the PC - Note each PC model has its own recovery CD you can not use any Recovery CD for any compaq. Moreover the recovery CD will reset your PC as it was the day you baught it and you loose all your data.-
The other way around could be to download the necessary files from the support site of Compaq.
In any case you need to back up all your files before proceeding with restoring you bios utilities files. This Process will re-partition your hard drive and re-create the lost hiden partion, and install all necessary files to access your Bios using the F10 key.

Take Care.
Jean

by cornishman

Hi Jean! A deleted partition would explain the lack of access to setup (PC belongs to friend who hasn't mentioned playing about with it - but I wouldn't be surprised). He does not have the recovery CD and I am trying to instal a new Maxtor hard drive. Unfortunately, since resetting the CMOS (see answer 2 - and that didn't work),I can boot to a win98 startup disc but when I type 'fdisk' it comes back with "no fixed disks found" (this includes the cdrom). I am now stuck. No access to setup and no access to any drives to reformat. Any ideas????????????????

by hazzard_005

As Far as I know F10 is the correct key to enter setup on compaqs.
I've got a question. How old is the bios? If the bios is outdated it may not be capable of seeing larger hard drives. This causes the system to act erratically during boot up. You may need to flash the bios to enable large disk support.
Forgive me if this is way off base but I am not familiar with compaq 2000 and how old it is. Just figured that the only thing you stated you changed was adding a hard drive.

Good luck and I hope this helps.

by cornishman

Thanks Richard. I have no idea of the version or age of the BIOS as I couldn't access setup to see it!! Its a Pentium 1 so I guess that makes the PC at least 4 years old. I am now loathe to do anything unless someone can come up with a pretty sure fire answer on how to get out of this predicament!

by rg11

Try downloading compaq insight manager off of compaq.com . I had the same problem in the past and I think this was it. Not 100% sure though. I had to download some compaq utility then when it booted up you are prompt to press a combination of keys to enter the set up. Explore compaq.com and browse the different downloadable utilities. See their was originally a diagnostics partition on it and it the hard drive must have been repartitioned. I'll look into this and get back to you....

by cornishman

Thanks RG - appreciated - I have been looking there but could not see any utilities that fitted the problem. If you can find it, I'll look forward to more info
Cheers

by tstobbe

The easiest thing to do is go buy a eide controller card. Maxtor makes one that runs about $50. Even if a partition was deleted cmos still exist, it's not kept on the hard drive. For example if you take the drive out and boot you should still be able to get to cmos. The only other thing I would try is start hitting f10 as soon as you turn it on and keep hitting it until it beeps at you, but unless you buy the controller card you still won't be able to utilize the whole drive.

by cornishman

Thanks. I have tried doing exactly what you suggest - removed all drives - cold booted over and over - tapped away on F10 until my finger went numb - damn thing just looks at me with a self satisfied grin on its face. I'll keep the controller cardin mind, but I just don't like the thing beating me and I resent spending any more on it ! I am quite happy junking the old drive - there's no useful data on it but I assume if I ever get the new drive reformatted, I'll have to load the Compaq utilities onto it somehow?

by tstobbe

I know what you mean about not wanting it to beat you. When you cleared cmos did you do it by setting the jumper on the motherboard on the other two pins for 30 sec. and then setting it back? If you did it that way I don't see how it won't boot and tell you that you need to go into cmos settings. Also once you get that controller card it will let you format the drive, those older motherboards won't support that large of a HD.

by cornishman

Yes, that was how I did it. I just don't understand it either. Unless the owner has done more messing around than he is admitting! It's nearly 1a.m. now - I'll come back fresh to it tomorrow. Thanks for all your suggestions people....anyone else got any ideas?????

by pinoy_teknik

Is the system run's OK? If there is no other physical problem to your keyboard. Do you refer to manual already. Are you sure you get the right key in accessing the BIOS. Follow me question, your on a right way...

by shanghai sam

OK here it is. I havent tried to find this and I know that this is from around 1997 so you might have trouble- but maybe not. Partition 1 on you hard drive will be a non dos partition 24mb. This is your diagnostic partition as compaq refers to itas. You need to find Compaq plug and play Configuration Manager 1.21 and have it on this 24mb partition. This will give you a compaq screen at start up with the press option.

by rg11

OK here it is. I havent tried to find this and I know that this is from around 1997 so you might have trouble- but maybe not. Partition 1 on you hard drive will be a non dos partition 24mb. This is your diagnostic partition as compaq refers to it as. You need to find Compaq plug and play Configuration Manager 1.21 and have it on this 24mb partition. This will give you a compaq screen at start up with the press option.

by cornishman

Thanks RG - yep....that was it. Have found the diagnostic/F10 setup download on the Compaq site. Have downloaded onto hard drive - hey presto....F10 setup is back. Tricky to do without losing original data on hard drive, but I was installing a newdrive anyhow, so no worries. Thanks again.

by jean_hera

Ok, with the CMOS cleared -using the jumpers- if you have no access to the bios which is the case- and with no hard drive to start with u really leave no alternative but to an external IDE Card that will help u recognize the hard drive and deal withit partition it so that you can install on it the compaq utilities later.
I hope this will help.
Last comment, please before clearing ur CMOS make sure in the futre that u have the correct setting to set it up again.

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