Ive tried F1, F2, Delete---I had this computer bestowed on me and Im trying to get into setup its A late 1999 Compaq with a number on the front 5834 its running WIN 98 SE---Im just going to tune it up and give it to a person that cant afford a computer---any ideas on an ethernet card that plays well with 98 SE, I had a real bad experience a while back with a D- Link card it screwed up boot ini, I wanted to format the drive anyway, not really.

Thanks

Don't know about 5834, but with compaq it's usually F10.

1999 is about the time of the last Compaq models to have the BIOS setup program on the hard drive...so if the drive had been completely reformatted at one point that program may already be lost.

(Compaq continued, longer than most other manufacturers, somthing that was very prevalent in the early days of computers, using a BIOS setup program that was not resident on the chip, but accessed by using a floppy or resident on the hard drive....the actual BIOS information/settings is on the chip but the means of changing those settings/info is what we are talking about)

That did it thanks---right in made a few changes --good to go

Paul

MJC---I was able to make changes by hitting F10--the changes did take effect---so this valadates that the BIOS is on a chip on the mobo--correct--and if I format the drive the bios will be there correct ??

Paul

Not sure exactly which models/when the switch was made, but the best thing would be to check the Compaq site and see if they offer a setup program for that model...if they do then setup program is on disk.

Its a flash BIOS-----downloaded it from the HP/Compaq site, a lot of upgrades---Im good to go-[for now]

Thanks Guys