Compaq Persario BIOS question

[Relztrah]

I'm tinkering around with an old Persario 5222 that somebody gave me. I have replaced the HD and replaced the "superdisk" with a standard floppy drive. In order to clear the BIOS I took out the battery and put it back.

When I boot I get the message "162 - System Options Not Set" which doesn't surprise me with the above changes. How do I set the system options? I can get into the BIOS setup by tapping F10 on bootup and I have the following options:

SYSTEM
>PCI Bus Master
>System POST
>Power management
>Power on password
>Setup password
>Alternative memory reporting
>System inactivity timeout

COMMUNICATIONS
>Parallel port mode

STORAGE
>Diskette drive A:
>Diskette drive B:
>Select OS type
>Enhanced IDE transfers
>Ultra 33
>Primary IDE controller
>Secondary IDE controller

INPUT DEVICES
>USB legacy keyboard support

MULTIMEDIA
>PCI VGA snoop
>Compaq multimedia monitor
>Onboard monochrome video mode support

EXIT
>Save changes and reboot
>Ignore changes and exit
>Set defaults and reboot.

Where do I set system options? None of these selections allows it. A well-meaning fellow in the HP help forum suggested that I flash the BIOS which I would do, but the Presario doesn’t boot to A anyway. There is no “boot seek” option in the BIOS like you normally see. Any suggestions from other Presario owners?

[Paleo Pete]

SYSTEM
>PCI Bus Master
>System POST
>Power management
>Power on password
>Setup password
>Alternative memory reporting
>System inactivity timeout

Right there, System Post should be it. Highlight it using the arrow keys on your keyboard, then press [ENTER]. That should open that BIOS section. Again press [ENTER] to select snd change an option or section. When in the main screen the arrow keys shouls move between pages, if any.

You might also want to use the Stystem Defaults option to set BIOS default values. When finished use Save Changes and reboot. That and Defaults look like both require a reboot so you might have to try twice to set defaults then change the boot sequence.

[Relztrah]

Under POST I am given two options: fast or full. That's all. Nothing else.

[alex666]

Geez, I can't believe you posted this. I own an old 5220 (they are virtually identical I think) that still runs and that I recently tinkered with, updated the hdd, and posted a similar question re. changing the battery. I had updated the bios some years ago and was wondering what would happen if I ever needed to change the battery and whether the newer bios would be affected. So I'll be anxious to find out how you work this out. I've built a number of computer systems, but I've never had to change a battery!!

BTW, these mobos are classics. Despite being very small, they were incredibly upgradeable and very tolerant. I upgraded literally everything in this system except the mobo: memory, cpu, hdd, floppy, modem, optical drive, added a ata/100 card (Compaq support claimed it couldn't be done). It had on-board video, but readily accept a pci video card. With the newer bios, I was able to upgrade the cpu to a k6-III+ 450, changed fsb settings and mult on the mobo, and oc it to 550 - 600. We bought ours new in 1999 and it still lives, although right now it's sitting on a shelf. But a few weeks back, anticipating I might use it, I upgraded the hdd (for the umpteenth time) and installed all newest updates for the OS (it came with 98, I upgraded to 98se). It runs just great. In the past, I've run lindows, redhat, mandrake, win 3.11, 98, and 98se on this mobo.

Proprietary mobos can be a pain sometimes, but not this one. So it's worth tinkering with. Good luck. I'll be anxious to see it works out for you. I'm guess you need to pick either fast or full and that will get you into the bios. The bios in my system is very limited. I'd love to discover that there's a fuller bios available. There is virtually no info on this bios from compaq. I have looked and looked, contacted conpaq, scoured the internet, no luck.

marty

[Relztrah]

The good news: I somehow got this thing to boot to the A drive.
The bad news: It ONLY boots to the A drive. If I take the boot disk out I get the Invalid System Disk error message when I power up. Hmmmm.

On a positive note I am no longer getting the "162 - System Options Not Set" error message so I must have somehow, inadvertantly set the system options--maybe when I set defaults or took out the battery. Yes, I can now boot to A drive with a boot floppy, but when I select START COMPUTER WITH CD-ROM SUPPORT I still can't access the CD-ROM drive so I am able to fdisk and reformat the HD, but I can't load Windows. Hmmmm redux.

You're right that there is no info about this BIOS on the Compaq Website or elsewhere. Whether or not it is a proprietary mobo, I can't say. I don't usually mess with this kind of stuff. Is there a way to load a generic BIOS and if so, where do I find one?

Relztrah

[alex666]

So when you tap F10 now at start-up, do you get into the bios?

BTW, here's a link to support for this system. You'll just need to specify your OS. Good luck.

http://h10025.www1.hp.com/ewfrf/wc/softwareCategory?dlc=en&lc=en&product=93142&dest_page=product&cc=us&

[Relztrah]

Yes I can still access the BIOS by tapping F10, but there's nothing in there that makes any meaningful changes. See all selections above. The link contains a ROMpaq update but when I download it to a floppy and and boot with that floppy I get Invalid System Disk.

So...this one is going on my scrap pile and I'm chalking it up to experience.

[alex666]

As I recall, you have to open up that rompaq file on a working system and from there create a bootable floppy disk, not just simply copy the rompaq to a floppy. All the instructions should be on the compaq site.

But it may not be necessary at this point, because your system actually may be working correctly. You stated earlier that you were able to boot off the A: drive, but when trying to install windows, the system could not find the CD drive. So are you absolutely sure that the cd drive is properly connected, or properly working?

BTW, the default boot order on that system is A: CD: HDD. I'll look at my 5220 this weekend and see if there is some way to set the boot order manually. Also, when you change components around in that system, you usually get a message on your screen indicating that the change has occurred, and then it boots.

[Relztrah]

So are you absolutely sure that the cd drive is properly connected, or properly working?


Well, it's getting power because the tray opens. I have it jumpered to master with the cable connected to 2ndary IDE. No way to tell if the system is seeing it because there's no BIOS screen. I put in the boot disk and WIN98 CD and power up, selecting WITH CD-ROM SUPPORT. From A:> I type either D:setup or E:setup and get: CDR101: Not ready reading drive E.

[Fruss Tray Ted]

During POST you should be able to freeze your screen when the 'detecting devices' finishes and shows the number and location of the ide devices. That's where you'll know at least if the dricve is being detected. Just because the tray opens and shuts means nothing. It will do that without the data cable connected.

Not knowing how many partitions you have, try typing setup from the A:/> prompt. But now I prefer to put the files onto C: first and install from there. That way you never need to insert the cd into the drive when adding peripherals later on.

[alex666]

No way to tell if the system is seeing it because there's no BIOS screen.

I'm confused. In your very first posting you stated "I can get into the BIOS setup by tapping F10 on bootup and I have the following options" and then mentioned SYSTEM, COMMUNICATIONS, all that stuff. That pretty much is the bios in this system. It's pretty lean. Under some of those headings, you should be able to adjust some settings. For example, what happens when you enter Primary IDE Controller and Secondary IDE Controller Under System? Do you see the CD under either Primary IDE or Secondary IDE Controller? If not, then perhaps the CD is dead, despite opening and closing. Or the data cable is screwed up. That happens, and in fact just happened on one of my systems, one of the data cables just died.

This may seem like a lot of effort for an old computer, but if you can get it working, it still works pretty well. It would be perfect for a young child, or even as a backup computer. Actually, I'm thinking of donating ours to my 7 y.o son's school, as some of the educational games they have are older and this system is plenty powerful enough for those games. In any case, I'll pull mine out tonight and look at the bios (I've had a lot of work to do at home this week).

marty

[alex666]

No way to tell if the system is seeing it because there's no BIOS screen.

I'm confused. In your very first posting you stated "I can get into the BIOS setup by tapping F10 on bootup and I have the following options" and then mentioned SYSTEM, COMMUNICATIONS, all that stuff. That pretty much is the bios in this system. It's pretty lean. Under some of those headings, you should be able to adjust some settings. For example, what happens when you enter Primary IDE Controller and Secondary IDE Controller Under System? Do you see the CD under either Primary IDE or Secondary IDE Controller? If not, then perhaps the CD is dead, despite opening and closing. Or the data cable is screwed up. That happens, and in fact just happened on one of my systems, one of the data cables just died.

This may seem like a lot of effort for an old computer, but if you can get it working, it still works pretty well. It would be perfect for a young child, or even as a backup computer. Actually, I'm thinking of donating ours to my 7 y.o son's school, as some of the educational games they have are older and this system is plenty powerful enough for those games. But I also have Office XP on it, too, and it runs just fine. I used it for a work computer for a while and it was more than adequate, works almost as well as the current Dell I have at work. In any case, I'll pull mine out tonight and look at the bios (I've had a lot of work to do at home this week and simply have not had the time).

marty

[alex666]

I'm actually typing on my 5220 at this moment. I looked at the bios, and it pretty much is what you described. Plus, on boot, at least with the "short" boot, there is no list of the connected components as described my Fruss. I'll try the "long" boot and see if it's different. Also, within the bios, it does not list the components like most bioses. This is truly a bios for boneheads. Compaq kept it very minimal.

So, I'm still wondering about your cd. Anyway you can get a different cd and data cable?

[bassman]

Relztrah, not sure how else to get ahold of you. I have something you will want ;) so get in touch with me.
Remember....Costa Rica, salsa??? :D