Topic: Computer Down -- Unable to Reboot

[Tony]

Hi Mama Taz,

I had a Compaq Presario 7477, and yes Compaq Bios info is crap, Compaq don't want the punters messing with it  

It's the old story, unless hard drives have S.M.A.R.T. technology, hard drives appear to work fine right up untill they fail. I'm not saying it is your hard drive that is faulty, but the only PC component that has failed for me is hard drives. As the hard drive is the only component with mechanical moving parts it is understandable. I've had two hard drives fail on two seperate PC's and I've have had one replacement fail, plus one additional new hard drive fail.

So illiminating hard drive failure problems would be wise. I know Compaq have a hard drive diagnostics program that you can download onto a floppy disk. So I suggest you go on to a Compaq tech support forum or email Compaq tech support for the web link to the download. Once downloaded, reboot the faulty PC with the floppy disk, and follow the on screen instructions.  

[Adept]

Hi MamaTaz

I'm sorry the Compaq I had in work had had the BIOS program wiped from it For some reason, Compaq puts the BIOS program on the hard drive rather than in ROM as other manufacturer's do.

However, Tony's suggestion above is a good one. I am sure that there are diagnostic tools available for download from Compaq, which should help you to get to the bottom of the problem  

[MamaTaz]

I do not have a DOS Boot disk with fdisk on it.  I did download a Win 98 with DOS boot disk; however, it did not work.  I also downloaded the drive diagnostics disk from Compaq and, unfortunately, this did not work either.  I did load setup defaults on the computer's BIOS yesterday, but to no avail.  I guess it's computer repair time for the old gal.  Bless your hearts for trying to help me so much!!!!  Y'all have been wonderful!!!  Thank you!!!!

[Tony]

Oh dear,

that email you got that takes ages to download, is the Zipped up diagnostics file.

[Sandra]

Come on guys get thinking we cant let a little Compaq problem be our one and only failur to date,can we  

If the bios is on the hardrive does that mean she cant even use a utility like seagate disc wizard to wipe the drive and then start with a fresh install using her 98 boot disk for Fdisk stuff then reinstall 2K  

[bat69]

I'm not sure that just wiping the drive, will wipe everything BUT the BIOS, I have a feeling that the BIOS partition is protected in some way, however the one I was given, had lost this partition  :- so I can't say for definite

The Compaq is a damned awkward beast ... unlike anything else


BUT I haven't given up yet ... don't like to be beaten by a puter  > >

[greenking]

Isn't Compaq now part of Hewlett Packard.

[MamaTaz]

The computer also states "couldn't open boot partition" if this helps any.  And yes Compaq is now part of HP.  Thanks to all many times!!!

[greenking]

Hi MamaTaz,
I've spoken to a friend of mine and he gave me this site where you can talk direct to a compaq specialist



http://vztxcisccpro.compaq.com/bus-nacons/caller/

Hope this of some help to you but i'm a duffer and don't know much. However they're all very brainy and helpful here at PC-Pals so I'm sure they will sort you out. They always have for me.