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How do I get into BIOS on a Compaq Laptop?

  • 10-08-2005 9:24am
    #1
    garthv
    Registered Users, Registered Users 2 Posts: 4,698 ✭✭✭


    Hey folks ,
    I recently became the delightful owner of a Compaq Armada 7800. Really old machine but its better than nothing. Anyway, Ive been trying to get into the BIOS screen to boot from disk so i can do a full wipe of the system but it just doesnt want to go. Ive tried holding f1, holding f2 , holding f10 (all the f buttons) , Ive tried delete , Ive tried taking out a RAM chip so the machine should boot into BIOS to detect the hardware change but nothing is working!!! Any help would be really appreciated :)


Comments

  • #2
    SouperComputer
    Registered Users, Registered Users 2 Posts: 6,949 ✭✭✭SouperComputer


    possibly ctrl, shift and escape.

    failing that, just hold a few keys down while starting up to generate a keyboard error and you should be able to get into BIOS


  • #3
    KTRIC
    Closed Accounts Posts: 9,463 ✭✭✭KTRIC


    I bought an E700 Armada last week from a guy on boards.ie and I have exactly the same problem. I was just about to put up a thread and i seen this.


  • #4
    daywalker
    Registered Users, Registered Users 2 Posts: 552 ✭✭✭daywalker


    on older laptops you could only access the BIOS thru a diagnostic partition or thru software in windows

    have a look at this thread for some references to your answer
    forums1.itrc.hp.com/service/forums/questionanswer.do?threadId=514749

    if windows is not available the software is accessed from a hidden partition using a compaq boot disk


  • #5
    garthv
    Registered Users, Registered Users 2 Posts: 4,698 ✭✭✭garthv


    Yeh I saw that site...what software in windows do I use though?
    Dont have a compaq boot disk...can it be downloaded?


  • #6
    SouperComputer
    Registered Users, Registered Users 2 Posts: 6,949 ✭✭✭SouperComputer


    from memory, the 7800 has a BIOS that you can access without software, but I could be wrong. Some REALLY old deskpros (ala 133mmx) had such a partition.

    700 series defo has a BIOS that you can access without software, I had to do it only yesterday.


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  • #7
    daywalker
    Registered Users, Registered Users 2 Posts: 552 ✭✭✭daywalker


    GaRtH_V wrote:
    Yeh I saw that site...what software in windows do I use though?
    Dont have a compaq boot disk...can it be downloaded?

    on my old toshiba laptop i used the toshiba apps, so probably similar compaq apps, there is a link on that forum thread which you could download and try, else you'll have to do a search for 7800 apps on the hp site


  • #8
    garthv
    Registered Users, Registered Users 2 Posts: 4,698 ✭✭✭garthv


    SouperComputer wrote:
    possibly ctrl, shift and escape.

    failing that, just hold a few keys down while starting up to generate a keyboard error and you should be able to get into BIOS
    CTRL , SHIFT + ESC seemed to work, it stopped to start-up and it brought a small blue box up in the top right hand corner saying BIOS with a few numbers after it....But thats it, its not going into the BIOS screen and any key I press does not enter into the BIOS...This is doing my head in!!


  • #9
    tryanythingonce
    Closed Accounts Posts: 2 ✭tryanythingonce


    Try pressing esc or f10 when the curser is on the top right hand corner in boot up


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