HDD Question

Trying to get A compaq back up and running. I get the compaq screen and then a message "Operating system cannot be found on any devices. Press any key to continue". When I press a key I get a sound from the HDD similar to a door buzzer (Just like Bi-Mart). Also cannot access BIOS. Connected ONCE to "F-10 start-up", but when I hit F-10, I got the door buzzer noise. HDD toast?? TIA

 

If that's actually the hard drive buzzing like that, it's toast.

Don't know what key prompt Compaq uses for getting at BIOS. Common ones are Delete, Excape, F2, possibly something else.

 

Thanks GT. I tried them all, no joy. I've got this Compaq sold (I hate to do that to someone else, but they want it!) if I can get it up and going. New Hdd manana, thanks again.

 

A quick Google turned up a couple other unique prompts that Compaq has used. Give these a try....

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

 

Thanks!! I googled and came up dry....what did you use for search? I'll try this when i get home.

 

General Google search for compaq bios prompt

 

Re: HDD Question need more help!!

Today I was given a Quantum Fireball HDD, The guy told me it was good drive, but knew little more than that. I have goggled and googled and cannot find any info about this particular drive. Please help.
On the end of the drive is the number "7325A1C"
Tag gives HP part# as 02788-80101
Other info on tag: C/H/S 4969/16/63
2550 MB at disc drive
Info at end of tag:
2550AT TM25A101 rev 02-E A682D
Is this a good drive?? I know beans about hardware folks, what can you tell me about this drive. Thanks a lot!!

 

2.5 gigabytes is pretty small by todys standards. Quantum Fireballs have always been decent drives, but that one's going to be several years out of date.

 

Fiddle.....I thought I had made out. No wonder he gave it up free. Well, thanks again GT, I guess ir's off to the puter store and cut loose with the bucks.

 

If I'm not mistaken, Quantum was bought by Maxtor, so they might have some info on their site... Probably not though.

 

If you have a Best Buy near you, you can buy an 80Gb Western Digital HDD w/ 8Mb buffer for $49.99 after rebates.

 

Not likely a HDD failure. "Operating system cannot be found" is an error that occurs after the BIOS. Specifically, it's either an error in the Master Boot Record or the partition table.

You might be able to fix it by running FDISK /MBR from a 98 startup disk (if you're on 9x) or by running FIXMBR from the Recovery Console (Windows NT/2k/XP).

If that doesn't work, you'll have to delete all the partitions on the drive and recreate them. It might be worthwhile to do a manufacturer low level format on the drive, but that is probably no necessary. Additionally, those manufacturer tools can do some diagnostics on the drive mechanics and electronics to determine if a more serious failure occurred.

 

This is an OEM installation. The former owner never made an emergency floppy, I've been trying with my ME floppy. Went to bootdisk dot com and d/l the OEM floppy, but it does not recognize it. All I have is the "recovery" disc that came with the puter. I cannot even get into the BIOS no matter what I do. I'd like to get it running, but if push comes to shove I can always use it for spare parts for my other Compaq. The only thing it does is open the big red colored "COMPAQ" screen and then gives me the error message. That, plus the fact that I have never messed with a HDD, BIOS, etc before...so it is a learning experience also.