How do you access a Compaq laptop BIOS?

[Mini-Me]

Howdy.

Method:

1) Power off computer(not [CTRL]+[ALT]+[DEL])
2) Power on computer
3) Press BIOS access key

I have tried [ESC], [F1], [F2], [F10], [F11], [F12], [DELETE].

Laptop is a Compaq Armada 1500c, if that helps.

According to the manual, which I have just downloaded, you press [F10], however, this is not working.

It does not matter if I hold the key down, then power up, or press the key several times quickly after first powering up.

I have been into countless BIOS's before today, and it is normally not this difficult.

Can someone offer any help?

[jlreich]

F10 should do it. Strange that it doesn't work.

Perhaps try another KB? The one you are using isn't USB is it?

That's about the only thing I can think of... :confused:

[Mini-Me]

Hi all.
:)

In desperation, I have been busily hunting the net, primarily the Compaq(HP) help centers, browsing and searching the forums.

I found an extremely interesting bit of information:

*---- Setup_DIAGS.txt
*---- Rainald Taesler
*---+ May 07, 2004

Access to BIOS-Setup on COMPAQ notebooks

For many long years COMPAQ-notebooks had their proprietary way of handling the BIOS:
All of the Setup- and Diagnostics-files are stored on a special DIAGS-partition, which has to be the *first* partition on the HD.
There's *NO* access to the BIOS otherwise (except booting from the "Setup"-diskette [which in most cases will not be at hand when really needed])

NOTE: This applies only to *older* COMPAQ notebooks. From the E- and M-series on the BIOS-setup was integrated in the BIOS.

If this partition is not there, there are two options:
(a) Create the partition and install the software there.
(b) Use the Setup-diskette.

Problem is that the DIAGS partition has to be the *first* one on the HDD. If the partition is not there (if F10 does not work), the HD has either to be put into a virgin state to start with or a partition tool like Partition Magic has to be used.

OTH, working without the DIAGS-partition means that there is no "built-in" BIOS-access and one has to have the Setup-diskette available when needed to change BIOS-settings.
This can be a serious drawback - especially with a notebook. Who wants to carry around a Setup-diskette (I for one would always forget it <g>).

It's hard to believe, that any computer manufacturer would NOT have a hot-key for access to the system BIOS...
:eek:

Anyhoo, downloading the diskette maker now.

Well, trying to - the link in the rest of the page I quoted from is dead...
:(

[Mini-Me]

Found it here (http://h20000.www2.hp.com/bizsupport/TechSupport/SoftwareDescription.jsp?lang=en&cc=us&prodTypeId=321957&prodSeriesId=96220&swItem=PSG_I8093-22639&prodNameId=96545&swEnvOID=20&swLang=8&taskId=135&mode=3)

About to see if it works...

[jlreich]

I vaguely remember hearing something about this before. Crazy.

I downloaded it in case I need it someday.

Let us know how it works.

[Mini-Me]

...and it does.

A crazy way to access the BIOS, though.
And you have to wait about 2 minutes, while the boot-disk sets up a RAMdrive, and de-compresses about 4MB of Win3.11 type GUI.

Looks cute, but on-board BIOS access would have been nicer!
:p