can't setup cmos

[promicro]

Hi,

I have a 6 year old HP Deskpro 2000 computer and can't setup the cmos
because I can't interrupt the boot process as in other computers. I've tried
the 'del' key, F2, F10, F12, left 'ctrl', F8, and 'end' keys to no avail.

If anyone knows how or if this can be done please let me know...

Thanks, Rob

[Ben Myers]

RSVP with the exact model number on the front of the computer and someone may be
able to help you. The older Compaq boxes often have a setup partition, too. If
the setup partition has been deleted, you can't enter the motherboard BIOS
setup. However, the Compaq web site once had all the downloads needed to
recreate the setup partition. Whether or not HP has retained this information
is a good question... Ben Myers

On Fri, 6 Feb 2004 11:16:22 -0500, "promicro" <promicro@cshore.com> wrote:
Hi,I have a 6 year old HP Deskpro 2000 computer and can't setup the cmosbecause I can't interrupt the boot process as in other computers. I've triedthe 'del' key, F2, F10, F12, left 'ctrl', F8, and 'end' keys to no avail.If anyone knows how or if this can be done please let me know...Thanks, Rob

[promicro]

Thanks Ben,
the serial # is 6748BK82D819, I'll try your suggestion on their website but
their tech support won't help without a $$ contract... Rob


<ben_myers_spam_me_not @ charter.net (Ben Myers)> wrote in message
news:4023bd79.13210247@news.charter.net... RSVP with the exact model number on the front of the computer and someone
may be able to help you. The older Compaq boxes often have a setup partition,
too. If the setup partition has been deleted, you can't enter the motherboard BIOS setup. However, the Compaq web site once had all the downloads needed to recreate the setup partition. Whether or not HP has retained this
information is a good question... Ben Myers On Fri, 6 Feb 2004 11:16:22 -0500, "promicro" <promicro@cshore.com> wrote:Hi,I have a 6 year old HP Deskpro 2000 computer and can't setup the cmosbecause I can't interrupt the boot process as in other computers. I've
triedthe 'del' key, F2, F10, F12, left 'ctrl', F8, and 'end' keys to no avail.If anyone knows how or if this can be done please let me know...Thanks, Rob

[Ben Myers]

Okay. That is the serial number. What about the model number on the front of
the chassis? What sort of CPU is in the system? Pentium or Pentium Pro, I
presume.

If the system is older than 4 or 5 years, Compaq's online reference by computer
serial number won't help, but using the model number to search the old Compaq
technical data base may turn up the info you need. And of course HP tech
support won't help except for $$$$$$$$... Ben Myers

On Fri, 6 Feb 2004 14:33:09 -0500, "promicro" <promicro@cshore.com> wrote:
Thanks Ben,the serial # is 6748BK82D819, I'll try your suggestion on their website buttheir tech support won't help without a $$ contract... Rob<ben_myers_spam_me_not @ charter.net (Ben Myers)> wrote in messagenews:4023bd79.13210247@news.charter.net... RSVP with the exact model number on the front of the computer and someonemay be able to help you. The older Compaq boxes often have a setup partition,too. If the setup partition has been deleted, you can't enter the motherboard BIOS setup. However, the Compaq web site once had all the downloads needed to recreate the setup partition. Whether or not HP has retained thisinformation is a good question... Ben Myers On Fri, 6 Feb 2004 11:16:22 -0500, "promicro" <promicro@cshore.com> wrote:Hi,I have a 6 year old HP Deskpro 2000 computer and can't setup the cmosbecause I can't interrupt the boot process as in other computers. I'vetriedthe 'del' key, F2, F10, F12, left 'ctrl', F8, and 'end' keys to no avail.If anyone knows how or if this can be done please let me know...Thanks, Rob

[promicro]

the model is a Compaq Desktop 2000 and according to HP's site I should be
using the F10 key on bootup when the F10 message appears - but no such
message appears and F10 doesn't do anything....
Rob

<ben_myers_spam_me_not @ charter.net (Ben Myers)> wrote in message
news:4024054a.2390003@news.charter.net... Okay. That is the serial number. What about the model number on the
front of the chassis? What sort of CPU is in the system? Pentium or Pentium Pro,
I presume. If the system is older than 4 or 5 years, Compaq's online reference by
computer serial number won't help, but using the model number to search the old
Compaq technical data base may turn up the info you need. And of course HP tech support won't help except for $$$$$$$$... Ben Myers On Fri, 6 Feb 2004 14:33:09 -0500, "promicro" <promicro@cshore.com> wrote:Thanks Ben,the serial # is 6748BK82D819, I'll try your suggestion on their website
buttheir tech support won't help without a $$ contract... Rob<ben_myers_spam_me_not @ charter.net (Ben Myers)> wrote in messagenews:4023bd79.13210247@news.charter.net... RSVP with the exact model number on the front of the computer and
someonemay be able to help you. The older Compaq boxes often have a setup partition,too. If the setup partition has been deleted, you can't enter the motherboard
BIOS setup. However, the Compaq web site once had all the downloads needed
to recreate the setup partition. Whether or not HP has retained thisinformation is a good question... Ben Myers On Fri, 6 Feb 2004 11:16:22 -0500, "promicro" <promicro@cshore.com>
wrote: >Hi, > >I have a 6 year old HP Deskpro 2000 computer and can't setup the cmos >because I can't interrupt the boot process as in other computers. I'vetried >the 'del' key, F2, F10, F12, left 'ctrl', F8, and 'end' keys to no
avail. > >If anyone knows how or if this can be done please let me know... > >Thanks, Rob > >

[Ben Myers]

One of the CMOS setup options for the Deskpro systems is to display or not
display the F10 prompt. I seem to recall dimly that another option is to
disallow any entry into the CMOS, to make F10 non-functional.

Try these two possibilities:

Power up the system and hold down the F10 key immediately. Holding down the key
should cause a system message and the chance to get into the CMOS.

Remove the system battery for a few hours, to invalidate the CMOS settings,
re-insert the battery, and try again.

If neither of these possibilities works for you, the system is probably one of
those damnable ones which is supposed to have a hidden partition containing BIOS
CMOS setup and diagnostics. Compaq implemented this "feature" in a number of
its systems, much to the dismay of people charged with the responsibility of
maintaining and fixing them... Ben Myers

On Sat, 7 Feb 2004 11:10:05 -0500, "promicro" <promicro@cshore.com> wrote:
the model is a Compaq Desktop 2000 and according to HP's site I should beusing the F10 key on bootup when the F10 message appears - but no suchmessage appears and F10 doesn't do anything....Rob<ben_myers_spam_me_not @ charter.net (Ben Myers)> wrote in messagenews:4024054a.2390003@news.charter.net... Okay. That is the serial number. What about the model number on thefront of the chassis? What sort of CPU is in the system? Pentium or Pentium Pro,I presume. If the system is older than 4 or 5 years, Compaq's online reference bycomputer serial number won't help, but using the model number to search the oldCompaq technical data base may turn up the info you need. And of course HP tech support won't help except for $$$$$$$$... Ben Myers On Fri, 6 Feb 2004 14:33:09 -0500, "promicro" <promicro@cshore.com> wrote:Thanks Ben,the serial # is 6748BK82D819, I'll try your suggestion on their websitebuttheir tech support won't help without a $$ contract... Rob<ben_myers_spam_me_not @ charter.net (Ben Myers)> wrote in messagenews:4023bd79.13210247@news.charter.net...> RSVP with the exact model number on the front of the computer andsomeonemay be> able to help you. The older Compaq boxes often have a setup partition,too. If> the setup partition has been deleted, you can't enter the motherboardBIOS> setup. However, the Compaq web site once had all the downloads neededto> recreate the setup partition. Whether or not HP has retained thisinformation> is a good question... Ben Myers>> On Fri, 6 Feb 2004 11:16:22 -0500, "promicro" <promicro@cshore.com>wrote:>> >Hi,> >> >I have a 6 year old HP Deskpro 2000 computer and can't setup the cmos> >because I can't interrupt the boot process as in other computers. I'vetried> >the 'del' key, F2, F10, F12, left 'ctrl', F8, and 'end' keys to noavail.> >> >If anyone knows how or if this can be done please let me know...> >> >Thanks, Rob> >> >>

[promicro]

well, it looks like I have a Compaq with the hidden partition - trying what
you suggested did not help but thanks anyway...

Rob
<ben_myers_spam_me_not @ charter.net (Ben Myers)> wrote in message
news:4025109e.16830103@news.charter.net... One of the CMOS setup options for the Deskpro systems is to display or not display the F10 prompt. I seem to recall dimly that another option is to disallow any entry into the CMOS, to make F10 non-functional. Try these two possibilities: Power up the system and hold down the F10 key immediately. Holding down
the key should cause a system message and the chance to get into the CMOS. Remove the system battery for a few hours, to invalidate the CMOS
settings, re-insert the battery, and try again. If neither of these possibilities works for you, the system is probably
one of those damnable ones which is supposed to have a hidden partition
containing BIOS CMOS setup and diagnostics. Compaq implemented this "feature" in a
number of its systems, much to the dismay of people charged with the responsibility
of maintaining and fixing them... Ben Myers On Sat, 7 Feb 2004 11:10:05 -0500, "promicro" <promicro@cshore.com> wrote:the model is a Compaq Desktop 2000 and according to HP's site I should beusing the F10 key on bootup when the F10 message appears - but no suchmessage appears and F10 doesn't do anything....Rob<ben_myers_spam_me_not @ charter.net (Ben Myers)> wrote in messagenews:4024054a.2390003@news.charter.net... Okay. That is the serial number. What about the model number on thefront of the chassis? What sort of CPU is in the system? Pentium or Pentium
Pro,I presume. If the system is older than 4 or 5 years, Compaq's online reference bycomputer serial number won't help, but using the model number to search the oldCompaq technical data base may turn up the info you need. And of course HP
tech support won't help except for $$$$$$$$... Ben Myers On Fri, 6 Feb 2004 14:33:09 -0500, "promicro" <promicro@cshore.com>
wrote: >Thanks Ben, >the serial # is 6748BK82D819, I'll try your suggestion on their
websitebut >their tech support won't help without a $$ contract... Rob > > ><ben_myers_spam_me_not @ charter.net (Ben Myers)> wrote in message >news:4023bd79.13210247@news.charter.net... >> RSVP with the exact model number on the front of the computer andsomeone >may be >> able to help you. The older Compaq boxes often have a setup
partition, >too. If >> the setup partition has been deleted, you can't enter the
motherboardBIOS >> setup. However, the Compaq web site once had all the downloads
neededto >> recreate the setup partition. Whether or not HP has retained this >information >> is a good question... Ben Myers >> >> On Fri, 6 Feb 2004 11:16:22 -0500, "promicro" <promicro@cshore.com>wrote: >> >> >Hi, >> > >> >I have a 6 year old HP Deskpro 2000 computer and can't setup the
cmos >> >because I can't interrupt the boot process as in other computers.
I've >tried >> >the 'del' key, F2, F10, F12, left 'ctrl', F8, and 'end' keys to noavail. >> > >> >If anyone knows how or if this can be done please let me know... >> > >> >Thanks, Rob >> > >> > >> > >

[Gereon Wenzel]

promicro schrieb: well, it looks like I have a Compaq with the hidden partition - trying what you suggested did not help but thanks anyway... Rob

Hi Rob,
If there was a HDD swap once the partition may be gone.
Try to find the Setup Disks for your system at
http://h18000.www1.hp.com/support/files/deskpro/us/index.html
It will be a two diskette selfextracting image.
There are two different DP 2000 series using different releases of
Setup.
I have one working fine with the DP4000 disks, while another fails.

If you want to set up a new F10 Partition you will need the
Diagnostics disk as well.
The F10 Partition can be only restored if there is still something left.
If there is no such partition on your disk,
you will have to wipe the disk from any partitions before you can build
a new F10 Partition.

Gereon Wenzel

[promicro]

Hi Gereon,

I downloaded the setup and diagnostic files from the website you sent and it
does all I need - thanks, Rob

"Gereon Wenzel" <wenzel@ibh.rwth-aachen.de> wrote in message
news:4027AC20.A2725085@ibh.rwth-aachen.de... promicro schrieb: well, it looks like I have a Compaq with the hidden partition - trying
what you suggested did not help but thanks anyway... Rob Hi Rob, If there was a HDD swap once the partition may be gone. Try to find the Setup Disks for your system at http://h18000.www1.hp.com/support/files/deskpro/us/index.html It will be a two diskette selfextracting image. There are two different DP 2000 series using different releases of Setup. I have one working fine with the DP4000 disks, while another fails. If you want to set up a new F10 Partition you will need the Diagnostics disk as well. The F10 Partition can be only restored if there is still something left. If there is no such partition on your disk, you will have to wipe the disk from any partitions before you can build a new F10 Partition. Gereon Wenzel