Pls Help--Need to access the BIOS of a Compaq Presario CDS 860

[Phisherman]

I was given an old Compaq Presario CDS 860 and can't figure out how to
access the BIOS. I tried F5, F8, and F10. I pressed the function key
during bootup, but still got no BIOS screen. I tried each of the
three keys mentioned at least three times. Any ideas?
Does this machine even have an accessible BIOS?
I know there are several jumper switches on the MoBo to control
onboard video, processor type, enabling onboard sound , etc. (The
machine boots up just fine with Windows 95, although I may decide to
load Linux onto it.) Thanks.

 

[Jan Alter]

Hi,

I'm sorry I can't give you the key or combinations, but you might try
the Compaq website to see if they've got the manual for this machine, which
should give it to you.

 

[RedBack]

Hi,

I'm sorry I can't give you the key or combinations, but you might try
the Compaq website to see if they've got the manual for this machine, which
should give it to you.

Try F1, or F10 that's what I have in my list for Compaq BIOS

RedBack

 

[Gene Puhl]

I was given an old Compaq Presario CDS 860 and can't figure out how to
access the BIOS. I tried F5, F8, and F10. I pressed the function key
during bootup, but still got no BIOS screen. I tried each of the
three keys mentioned at least three times. Any ideas?
Does this machine even have an accessible BIOS?
I know there are several jumper switches on the MoBo to control
onboard video, processor type, enabling onboard sound , etc. (The
machine boots up just fine with Windows 95, although I may decide to
load Linux onto it.) Thanks.

IIRC, the older Compaq's had a partition on the HD that loaded a BIOS access
program when you pressed F10 while a block cursor flashed in the upper RH
corner of the screen for about 3 sseconds. If the hard drive got wiped, you
had to D/L a boot disk program from Compaq to achieve the same result.
HTH