Old Presario 1998 Issues

[gamerx365]

Trying to resurrect my outdated Presario. I don't know if the CD drive is bad, but the Hard Drive went bad and I got a new (used) one, however the drive wont be detected on my operational computer when connected. Is this drive probably bad too? I can't get to the BIOS on the old Presario because I hear you need a boot partition for a compaq, which that Hard drive is gone and it doesn't look like I can get anything on this one. Should I admit defeat, or do you have any Ideas?

[BC_Programmer]

well, without the setup partition, you cannot get into the BIOS setup. (this is simply awful design! I mean, my 286 could get into it's CMOS setup without a disk...)

anyway, you didn't provide an exact model number- a google tells me that it's probably a 5140.

There are references to a "setup disk", a floppy disk that could be used to access the CMOS screens.

Compaq thankfully has a good page of files relating to that model:

http://h10025.www1.hp.com/ewfrf/wc/softwareList?os=20&lc=en&dlc=en&cc=us&product=93092&lang=en

try the two items listed at the bottom, titled "system management".

[gamerx365]

The floppy drive is also not installed. Do you think it would be worth while to pick one of those up as well?

[Computer_Commando]

You can get to the BIOS on those old Compaq's, I had a few and they are a PIA.  When you see the red flashing block in the upper right hand corner of the screen, tap the F10 key.  I think you see if just prior to the red Compaq splash screen.