Can't open computer case..need help

[puffnstuff]

I am trying to take the case off or open it on a Compaq Presario 5004 to check the cable on the CD_Rom.  I followed the directions to open the side by taking the screws out but there is no way I can get it off.  I have opened many computers but this one just is impossible.  

[Raptor]

Try using a screwdriver as leverage.

Some cases are just stuck. I once broke a screwdriver on a computer case. (Hewlett Packard Club 2460..)

[patio]

Some panels are on rails...try sliding it towards the rear of the unit.

patio.

[puffnstuff]

  Well, I appreciate both of the above answers but I had already tried both of those beforehand.
The part about the broken screwdriver gave me an idea.   I thought that I might destroy the case earlier but then I went and got a few more screwdrivers, a rubber mallet and a small crowbar.  I finally got 3 sides up (bent it quite a bit)  and realized that something was making the other side stick.  Since I could then use a flashlight, I could see that there was another thingy that you could push across and that released a little bar that was holding it.
Now why couldn't Compaq put that in their directions or on their website??  I really feel stupid now...I spent hours trying to open it.  Thanks for the help and I will be back!!

[dl65]

puffnstuff....LOL .....There is probably a release latch on the rear of the case .....push it to the side and it should release ....the cover . Some cases are made that way .

dl65  

[Computer_Commando]

...Now why couldn't Compaq put that in their directions or on their website??  I really feel stupid now...I spent hours trying to open it....

Don't feel bad, I had the same one (5006) and it took me hours to figure it out, too.  One of the reasons Compaq went out of business.  BTW, did you find the CD storage door on the front?

[patio]

Compaq never intended for their customers to be inside the machine for fear of what they might find.

patio.  

[Raptor]

Why did you have to check the cable?

[puffnstuff]

Someone gave this computer to my sister and it was all screwed up.  It had a dvd drive that didn't work and after I opened the case  up, I re-connected it.  But it has more problems than that.

[GX1_Man]

We're up for a challenge. Let's get it fixed. Post details of the system and problems.

[puffnstuff]

Gee if you are that good you can help me with my laptop...I really miss it!
This computer though, I think that I erased everything by putting in the Recovery CD.  I took the option to restore it to the factory settings.  Now I can't even get it to boot up with an emergency disk.
I am using my moniter from my older computer when working on this one so I have it disconected right now so my Grandson can use mine.  (I keep switching it back and forth)
In the morning, I will reconnect it and go to the bios and tell you exactly what it says.  Right now I can only tell you that it is a Compaq Presario 5004US that came with Windows ME installed on it.  
The former owner upgraded it to the XP.  I don't have any disks with it other than the drivers and the recovery CD.I do have a copy of the XP upgrade that she did.  I tried it first and it wouldn't do anything.  I did do a check disk on it and defrag and also ran a Virus scanner on it to make sure there wasn't a virus.
I can get into the BIOS and change the boot order, etc but when it boots back up, I get  
Error: Non-systemDisk or Disk Error  Says to remove it and press any key.  I didn't have any other disks in so I keep hitting any key over and over and the same error keeps coming up.  When I go back to the BIOS, non of my choices were saven and I did press the f10 key and followed all  the instructions that I got from the Compaq site.  
Yesterday when I used the Recovery CD,  it went through all the mumbo jumbo about removing all the info, etc and I said yes to go ahead with it.  It stops and I get a blue screen with the words at the top that says Quick Restore Error #102.9  at the top and  in the center of the screen "Please contac Compaq Service or your dealer."    I click OK and then those words go away and this comes up  Working...   with the three dots but it never goes any further.
After a couple of hours, I just shut it off.
I do have the OEM disks to install Xp.  Would I be able to use these.  I'm pretty sure that the windows ME is stored on the hard drive.  My other computers are either HP or Compaq and that is how they are.   I also have the Windows 98SE OEM disks but unfortunately I don't have the ME disks.  
Let me know what all infor you will need. If you can help with this you must be a genius!

[GX1_Man]

If ME is on the hard drive but XP has been installed, I don't think you will get it back that way. If they formatted the drive when they upgraded, it is gone anyway. Sometimes Compaq puts in a "hidden" partition to store stuff for their automatic reinstall. You would have to be able to boot the machine to fdisk with a boot floppy (or the WinXP CD) to see what partitions are present.

"Error: Non-systemDisk or Disk Error" means the HD may not be able to be recognized for some reason, assuming there was not a generic floppy left in the drive.

So when you get in the bios, you need to see if a hard drive is found, and the size. If you have a Win98SE boot disk (free at www.bootdisk.com) you can try booting from that and then type in fdisk and display drive information (option 4) and post back all of the gory details.

Is there any data on that machine you need to get off?

[puffnstuff]

I do have the  a Win98SE boot disk  and it did work before but now it won't.  I also had an option from the Recovery CD to make an emergecy disk but it won't boot it up either.  
The hard drive is recognized in the Bios but the DVD wasn't until I connected it.  I did write down that the hard drive is Maxtor 96147H6.
There isn't anything that I need to get off of the computer as it wasn't mine and my sister doesn't care either.  I do have the COA for the windows that came installed on it.  Will that help?

[GX1_Man]

In the BIOS set it to boot from the CD first, floppy second and hard drive third, if possible. If virus checking is an option in the BIOS, disable it. Download a NEW bootdisk as instructed and run fdisk and delete the primary partition. Then create a new partition and set it active. Then format the drive by booting from the floppy and type in

format c:/u

Try the recovery CD again. If that doesn't work, then we will have to install Windows from scratch. How much RAM on that machine? It should say when it boots or in the BIOS screen.

[puffnstuff]

I had the following all printed up before I saw your previous post so I will follow those instructions after this post.
This is what it has in the BIOS for system information:
PRODUCT NAME          COMPAQ PC
PROCESSOR TYPE          AMD Athlon
PROCESSOR SPEED        1100/100MHz
MEMORY SIZE                 128 MB
SYSTEM ROM DATE        11/21/00
SYSTEM ROM FAMILY     786K1
CHASSIS SERIAL  #          3DOCJCC2V046
PRIMARY DRIVE 0             58625MB                 Maxtor  96147H6

secondary drive  0                 *CD-ROM        COMPAQ DVD-ROM         DV-5700B

SECONDARY DRIVE 1      *CD-ROM       CDD4801  CDD4801       CD-ROM R/RW


I now have it doing the IDE DB SELF TEST whick takes about 45 minutes.
As you can see, it doesn't have that much memory.  If it takes the same kind as my one computer, I have another 128 mb here.

Let me know if you need any other info from the BIOS before I shut it dowm.  I did see that there is a BIOS update and I already have it on a floppy.

[puffnstuff]

Should I enable large disk support??

[GX1_Man]

Yes, always, unless you are running pure DOS, which you are not.

[puffnstuff]

Okay...now I think I am getting paranoid about doing this wrong.  After I chose yes to enable large disk support and the choices came up, I was getting ready to chose #3  ((Delete partition or logical dos drive) but chose #4 (Display partition information)
The following came up:
Partition C:
#1
Status A
mbytes 55821
System fat32
Usage  95%

#2
Status  Ext DOS
mbytes  2798
Usage 5%

The extended dos partition contains Logical DOS drives.  Do you want to display logical drive information? (y/n)

I chose yes.
this came up:
D: System_Save
mbytes 2798
System  fat32
Usage  100%

Should I still choose #3?  I don't want to erase  the system_save.

[GX1_Man]

Your computer skills are growing I see. The system.sav is where the Compaq info is hidden. No, do not delete that. In fact do not delete the primary partition unless you already have. If so, just create a primary DOS partition and set it active.

The ME is stored both on the hard drive in that small partition and on the CD. It identifies the machine model, etc. and loads appropriately. You have already said that the recovery CD did not work, and that was before your exploration. There is no need to go down that path again, unless you have a few minutes to kill.

Has ANYTHING changed in that computer in terms of components - RAM, hard drive, anything since new? Some Compaq models and other manufacturers too, had the setup keyed to the hard drive model and number, so savvy users couod not go around loading that restore information on other peoples computers. It is also set to only recognize a Compaq BIOS, etc.

I would indeed contact Compaq about a recovery CD that works if you have the model #, and the Windows key code (25 digits) that is/was stored on the hard drive and is also present on that CD in some folder somewhere.  I am assuming, and correct me if wrong, that there is NO DOUBT that it is the exact recovery CD that came with that particular machine. Some people have two Compaqs or more and get them mixed up. They must match.

If all else fails and Compaq cannot/will not help, you can install a new operating system. You said you had XP? If so, then delete all the partitions (no reason to save anything now, as your personal data is long gone) and make 1 primary partition and set it active. The XP CD will walk you through the install or here is a link:

http://www.computerhope.com/cgi-bin/yabb/YaBB.cgi?board=1;action=display;num=1128543919

There is a LOT of information there to make it easy!

Since this is no doubt a legitimate Windows XP CD you will have the code to activate it. If not, it will cease function after 30 days, or not install. Make sure the CD is clean and look for holographic markings on it.

That computer can live. Does it have enough RAM? 256 will get you by, but 512 will make it better. If you have less than 256, you might think about a used WinME off of eBay for a better experience.

Hang in there. I just need some info. Please answer the questions posed.

[puffnstuff]

Well, I did everything you suggested and it all went OK until I tried to boot up with the recovery CD.  Everything did the same as it did the other day... I selected the option to restore it to the factory settings.
It  went through all the mumbo jumbo about removing all the info, etc and I said yes to go ahead with it.  It stops and I get a blue screen with the words at the top that says Quick Restore Error #102.9  at the top and  in the center of the screen "Please contac Compaq Service or your dealer."    I click OK and then those words go away and this comes up  Working...   with the three dots  and never goes any further.

I did only assume the recovery CD was for that computer as it was the one my sister gave me.

I do have the OEM disk for the XP  with the 25 digits and I checked and it does have the holographic markings on it.   Will I still be able to use it on another computer after I use it?  Also, if I go with that option should I go back and erase the system_save part?

I do have a windows ME upgrade disk that I used on my other computer.  It also  has  the 25 digits and the holographic markings on it.     Would that work??
When you said to get a  used WinME off of eBay, I'm assuming that you meant the disks.

I think that I answered all the questions..if not, let me know.

[GX1_Man]

One copy of Windows is linked to one machine per Bill Gates. It must be activated within 30 days or it will not run. Looks like you may get to buy a second copy!

Just another good reason for Linux. No restrictive licensing. One copy for every machine you own, regardless of quantity. And most are free too!

[Fed]

W2k has none of these Micro$oft hoops to jump through.  

[puffnstuff]

GX-1 MAN
Just a quick note (in case you have to go to work or something toay and won't get back to me right away)  to tell you some of what I found out last night.  
I got into the system_save section and found tons of files but that is as far as my computer know-how goes.  I am lost from there on.  
I can get the directory list and open directories on down but don't know what to do with any of it.  
The last directory I opened was D:\CPQS\TOOLS  and when that directory opened there were tons of files.  I couldn't find anything that said setup but really don't know the right place to look.
Is this any helpful news?

[puffnstuff]

GX1_MAN
If it is a set of new disks, how can they know if you used it more than once.  I have a ME update disc and I thought for sure that I used it more than once.
The reason that I ask is because we had a laptop when I work that had everything we needed instaled ahead for us.  Enclosed with the paperwork was a brand new OEM of Winows 98SE attached to the manual.  Everything was blister sealed so I'm almost positive that it was not installed on the laptop we received.  
Would I be able to use this disk and then maybe upgrade it later?  I hate to use the XP disk in my sister's computer in case I need it later for my own laptop (which orginally has the XP.)
I also still have a copy of the XP upgrade disk that the other owner used.
I hate to have to ask you all these question but you have been so helpful so far..it seems you know EVERYTHING!

[GX1_Man]

That was a new "feature " of XP. One O/S disk per machine. If the other XP was activated already, you will not be able to activate this machine with it. Windows ME can be loaded physicially all you want, but legally only on one machine also. Eventually you will have to pay for XP if you use it - either on this machine or the other.

[Mac]

I just noticed this bit...

Partition C:  
#1  
Status A
mbytes 55821
System fat32
Usage  95%

With only 5% free-space you'll have a problem to run at all.

If you have a bootdisk with delindex.bat on it then you could boot to the A:\> prompt and type...

A:\>delindex run - and press Enter.

Edit: But not if there is XP on the drive.

That will clear a lot of junk off the drive which might give you a chance to boot it. If there isn't enough room for the swap-file it won't start at all.

You can also open delindex.bat and edit it removing the :: from the delete C:\_RESTORE folder line.

You might be able to start the factory re-install then.

You can always pre-format the C: drive using a bootdisk and then try the recovery followed by the XP upgrade but it is generally not a good idea to upgrade ME to XP without clean-installing.

You could equally use the '98 CD as qualifying media for the XP upgrade CD and do a clean install although you will need more RAM to run XP properly. 512 MB is the - practical - minimum.

If your XP CD does not have SP2 you can also slipstream it using AutoStreamer 1·0

[merlin_2]

Boot pc to safe mode...hold down  either the>..f5/f8 key  on bootup.......what does the onscreen ......list......mention?

some cases have hidden screws in the feet of the pc<those rubber washers witch if you looked contain screws> most pc cases>>>>>> slide>>>>>>the old mac had one screw dead-center at the back of it.....and the case slid off....