Format hard drive

[Guest]

Hello - we have win xp home with SP2 - we want to completely reformat the C:/
and reinstall windows. Due to all kinds of problems ... we just want to
start over with this computer on a clean slate !

We have the manufacturers 'recovery' CD, and have attempted to restart the
computer with the CD in, but nothing happens, other than a normal start up.

We called Compaq tech support, and they had us restart the computer over and
over with CD in, while pressing various buttons (ie : F1, F2, F10, delete
etc) None of these attempts got the CD to start running.

Compaq is supposed to call us back when they find a solution - maybe someone
on here has some ideas ? How to go about re-installing windows completely
when the recovery CD won't work ?

 

[Guest]

What kind of keyboard do you, it slightly needed to activate the F key to
work when restarting or starting a computer. There is a key on microsoft
keyboard named F Lock which you should press to activate F-key's, after that
you can use F1, F2 and so on....

 

[Guest]

Thanks for your comment Nicoliani, we have a Compaq keyboard Model 9000A. It
is the keyboard provided by Compaq when we bought the computer. There is no
button that says F Lock. I have num lock, caps lock, scroll lock etc. , and
a bunch of oval buttons with pictograms.

I do know however that the 'space' key works during start up, I have been
able to get into safemode that way.

I have been reading around more on the internet, and feel that my problem is
because my computer isn't able to 'boot from the CD'. I read somewhere that
I need to get into my BIOS to change the startup sequence ? Not sure how to
go about getting my computer to boot from the CD. None of the F keys seem to
do anything during startup. Not sure how to get into BIOS.

 

[Guest]

to enter the BIOS during boot up hold down one of the following keys:

Hold down the <Del> key
Hold down the <F1> key
Hold down the <F10> key

To enter the BIOS from a DOS prompt...( ...NOT from inside windows)

<Alt><Cntrl><Esc>
<Alt><Cntrl><Enter>
<Cntrl> <Alt> <A>
<Cntrl> <Alt> <S>

Some manufacturers have their own way for entering BIOS as shown below...

Acer - Ctrl+Alt+Esc
Compaq - F10
Compaq Presario - Press <Alt> <Ctrl> <Esc> at boot when you see the "Compaq"
log in big letters

 

[bud]

Hello - we have win xp home with SP2 - we want to completely reformat the
C:/
and reinstall windows. Due to all kinds of problems ... we just want to
start over with this computer on a clean slate !

We have the manufacturers 'recovery' CD, and have attempted to restart the
computer with the CD in, but nothing happens, other than a normal start
up.

We called Compaq tech support, and they had us restart the computer over
and
over with CD in, while pressing various buttons (ie : F1, F2, F10, delete
etc) None of these attempts got the CD to start running.

Compaq is supposed to call us back when they find a solution - maybe
someone
on here has some ideas ? How to go about re-installing windows completely
when the recovery CD won't work ?

The last compaq I had would also let you re-install off the hard drive. I
just can't recall but there was a link to start it in the start menu
somewhere. Anyway here are the instructions for setting the boot order in
the bios from the compaq site.
Change the boot order in the BIOS


1.. Turn off the computer:

a.. If the computer works, click Start, click Turn Off Computer, and
then click Turn Off.

a.. If the computer is not in Windows, press and hold the power button
approximately five seconds until the computer turns off.


2.. Disconnect devices that are connected to USB, Firewire, parallel and
serial ports, except the keyboard, and the mouse.

3.. Turn on the computer.

4.. When the color screen with the logo appears, press the F1 key on the
keyboard until Entering SETUP is displayed. (You only have a few seconds to
press the F1 key before the normal startup process continues.) Wait until
the BIOS setup program opens.

5.. Press the right arrow key to select Boot.

6.. Press the down arrow key to select Boot Device Priority, and then
press Enter on the keyboard.

7.. Change the first boot device to CD-ROM using one of these methods:

a.. Press the down arrow key to select the CD-ROM item. Press the +
(plus) key to move the CD-ROM item up until it is the first item in the
list.

a.. Press the down arrow key to highlight the First Boot Device
selection. Press the + (plus) key until CD-ROM is the selection.


When installation is complete, return the BIOS to the original setting.

 

[Mike Hall \(MS-MVP\)]

Lori

Other than any solution provided by Compaq, you could purchase a retail
version of XP and install it yourself..

 

[Tom]

And that would more than likely void the warranty from Compaq, since it
would no longer be the OEM install.

 

[Mike Hall \(MS-MVP\)]

.... And that is a bad thing?

--
Mike Hall
MVP - Windows Shell/user

 

[Tom]

Isn't that up to the OP, and not you? IF she depends on Compaq for service,
especially if a piece of hardware goes south (and it is warrnatied), they
won't replace it, so will you? Anyway, you suggest someone spend at least
$200 to void everything else of value under warranty. I have no problem with
offering that advice, as long as one adds the ramifications to suggesting
such an action.

 

[Mike Hall \(MS-MVP\)]

Tom

The computer could be a few days off being out of warranty for all we know..
there is little indication that it is brand new..

Compaq support are not exactly excelling themselves.. quote from the OP..
"We called Compaq tech support, and they had us restart the computer over
and over with CD in, while pressing various buttons (ie : F1, F2, F10,
delete etc) None of these attempts got the CD to start running."

The recovery CD is obviously not going anywhere, and companies like Compaq
do not keep copies much longer than 6 months. if at all.. I would have
thought that if a replacement CD was available, the OP would have been told
that it is in the mail.. but the OP wasn't told that..

The most likely part to fail is the hard drive.. Compaq may well supply one
F.O.C. within the warranty period, but it would not have the original
software on it.. customers would be expected to use the original recovery CD
or buy their own..

Re. invalidating the warranty, I believe that in instances like this, Compaq
and others do suggest that the customer buy their own copy of XP.. I doubt
that Compaq would not honour the warranty in view of the facts as discussed
between Compaq and the OP..

And at no point did I issue an order to OP.. I am sure that the OP is quite
capable of taking my suggestion to Compaq and asking them directly..

--
Mike Hall
MVP - Windows Shell/user

 

[Tom]

Tom

The computer could be a few days off being out of warranty for all we
know.. there is little indication that it is brand new..

<snipped>

Nuff said since you only assume things! Please do yourself a favor, and try
not to think for others, ask them. It's one thing to give help, totally
another with this.

 

[Mike Hall \(MS-MVP\)]

Tom

I have just come across some of your 'help' in another group.. remember the
guy with two XP's on his drive?.. and you consider what you typed in that
thread was help?

You should think carefully about the quality of your own contributions
before summarily criticizing others..

--
Mike Hall
MVP - Windows Shell/user

 

[Michael]

Is the machine set to boot from CD in the BIOS ????

 

[Tom]

LOL! Using another post in another thread I made, as a
defensive ploy, how quaint. Look, if you can't face up to
giving improper advice, just say so, it is OK, as I see
you cannot see the flaw in an expense you may be
suggesting to this person. As far as the other post I
made, nothing wrong it, but it was funny not seeing you
copy it here for examination.

Anyway, it is time for you to swallow your overzealous
ego, and move on!

 

[Mike Hall \(MS-MVP\)]

Tom

I was saving 'your' face by not displaying it in here, not mine..

--
Mike Hall
MVP - Windows Shell/user

 

[Tom]

LOL!

Tom

I was saving 'your' face by not displaying it in here, not mine..