SYSTEM TROUBLE

[CrAcK{:)hEaD]

I have a PS Valuepoint 486DX 66Mhz 24MB Computer. Recently It popped up and error 162 and I went in to configure the error but I couldn't find anything wrong so I exited the bios and saved. Now it pops up a screen that has the F1 key with arrows flashing toward it and an elementary drawing telling me to put a disk in. ??? what do i need to do in order to get Win95 to boot up again?

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CrAcK{:)hEaD

[Paleo Pete]

Error 162 should be pointing to the Motherboard. Any beep codes? Don't know what to tell you about the flashing arrow and disk icon, never seen that one...

Error Codes with Problem Source Listing (http://www.pctusa.com/pcerror.htm) might help you figure out any beep codes.

Just a hunch, you might try replacing the CMOS battery, the battery might be weak and the error code and request for a disk (boot disk I would think) are because the battery has died and the CMOS chip has lost its settings. Look for a watch type battery about the size of a dime, a barrel shaped thing with contacts soldered onto the board on each end, about 1/2" diameter, or a DALLAS chip.

Replace the watch battery or DALLAS chip versions with the same thing, watch battery type is usually CR2032 I think. For the barrel shaped one you'll normally have to use an external battery which plugs into connectors on the motherboard, they are usually near the onboard battery. You might also have to set a jumper to tell the board to use the external battery. With that type also check for corrosion around the battery. If you see green corrosion, don't expect the board to last long, and expect weird problems to pop up from time to time.

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Eagles may soar, but weasels don't get sucked into jet engines!
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[CrAcK{:)hEaD]

The first time there were 2 beeps. I entered the Bios and couldn't find anything wrong so I exited and saved. After that I got the icons. If I don't put in a disk then it just goes to a flashing _ prompt at the left hand corner of the top of the screen. It will not allow me to type or do anything.

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CrAcK{:)hEaD

[WarHog]

Is it a Packard Bell? I have had a simalar problem with one of my old comps. When you see the diagram with the flashing F1 Key it's asking you to put in a boot-up disk and hit F1. It should then take you to the "A prompt"
At that time you can put in your Windows Disk in the CD-Rom. Type <D:><Enter> that should take you to the D drive. Then type "Setup" it should reinstall windows.
There might be another way but this is what I ended up doing.
Good Luck
WarHog

[CrAcK{:)hEaD]

Its an old IBM Computer. ????? Does that help???

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CrAcK{:)hEaD

[Paleo Pete]

Is this a PS/1 or PS/2? IF so, it's asking for a setup disk, which is how the PS/1 and PS/2 computers handled what we know as BIOS. Or part of it anyway...IBM Canada (http://www.can.ibm.com/helpware/vintage.html) may have the setup disk available, look it up by model number and download it, try the disk and see if that helps sort things out. You probably need to unzip it first, check the webpage and see.

I think you may need to change the CMOS battery, about the only way I know of it can lose settings is if the battery fails.

Those computers had machine specific drivers for hard drive controllers, etc, that were only available on the setup disks. When you have a problem similar to the one you describe, the only way to get into the computer at all is to have the correct setup disk. I'll have to do some checking, memory is a bit fuzzy on those old things, but I'll see what I can find out. They were very proprietary, and used only IBM cards, MCA adapters, and had some pretty strange qualities at times. Once you get it running it should work pretty well.

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Eagles may soar, but weasels don't get sucked into jet engines!
Note: Please post your questions on the forums, not in my email.

Computer Information Links (http://www.geocities.com/paleopete/)

[CrAcK{:)hEaD]

Thanks for all of your help. It is a PS/2.

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CrAcK{:)hEaD

[CrAcK{:)hEaD]

I would like to thank everyone who helped. It was the battery and once I got a new one I was able to reconfigure everything and move on. Thanks for the haste and accuracy of the replies

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CrAcK{:)hEaD

[Paleo Pete]

Cool.. I was hoping battery would be it, with the error message indicating motherboard, it could have been lots worse...

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Eagles may soar, but weasels don't get sucked into jet engines!
Note: Please post your questions on the forums, not in my email.

Computer Information Links (http://www.geocities.com/paleopete/)