entering a compaq system CMOS setup

[Technichian]

I dont kno where to post this and would appreciate if anyone can tell me what is the keystroke combination to enter the BIOS/CMOS setup of a Compaq system. I have tried Esc, Ctrl + Alt + Esc , Delete but didnt succeed.
I would also like to kno if it is same for both SERVERS and PCs <IMG SRC="smilies/confused.gif" border="0">

[Sandman72]

I am not positive of this but I think it is F10.

I dont know about servers though

[Wayward Clam]

To confirm, most Compaq PCS it is F10, and you hit it while the cursor is flashing in the top right corner of the screen. However, SOME Compaqs store their CMOS information in a special hard drive partition, so if for some reason your machine doesn't have that partition (i.e. someone who didn't know this replaced the drive), you might be "stuq" with it.

[kingtbone]

Yeah for non-servers it's F10. The servers are a different story. My experience with them is the same as mentioned above. Compaqs usually(?) create a system partition at the beginning of the drive. It houses utilities for repair and recovery and other things, like regular BIOS functions. You can download disks from their homepage to re-create the system partition if you have to.

[Technichian]

Originally posted by Wayward Clam:
<STRONG>To confirm, most Compaq PCS it is F10, and you hit it while the cursor is flashing in the top right corner of the screen. However, SOME Compaqs store their CMOS information in a special hard drive partition, so if for some reason your machine doesn't have that partition (i.e. someone who didn't know this replaced the drive), you might be "stuq" with it.</STRONG>

In the PC I was referring to There is no such cursor but when you switch it On There is a Fully White Screen with Compaq written in the Middle and a small Hour Glass turning upside down on the bottom left hang corner !
<IMG SRC="smilies/confused.gif" border="0">

[AlienDyne]

Windrivers Compaq BIOS info page:

"Generally Compaq Setup can be entered by hitting the 'F10' key when booting up. As soon as you see the cursor go to the upper right hand side of the screen, hit 'F10'. Compaq setup program resides on a small partition on the hard drive and if you have fdisked and reformatted or installed a new hard drive you will need to use the Compaq setup program from here: http://www.windrivers.com/script/dri...company=Setups "

[swamprat]

If F10 does not work for you, try unplugging the floppy drive before booting. This will give you the option to enter bios.

[silencio]

Originally posted by kingtbone:
<STRONG>Yeah for non-servers it's F10. The servers are a different story...</STRONG>

Servers are F10 too.. Or you can boot to the smart start cd.

If F10 does not work for you, try unplugging the floppy drive before booting. This will give you the option to enter bios.

If there's no system partion then there is no software/bios to enter. Most boards have software stored in NVRAM that you can access and modify. This software give you your bios screen among other things. With older compaqs (newer deskpros use NVRAM) you have to have the system partition on a physical hard drive OR the boot floppies that ALIENDYNE mentioned.