Pending: Will not boot

huxleys · 07-28-2009

I have an old Compaq Presario (450MHz, 64MB RAM, 10.0GB HD, Windows 98) that will not boot past a black screen with flashing cursor in top right and red Compaq logo.

The computer is being turned on for the first time in nearly two years. I have heard that the motherboard battery maybe the culprit?

Additionally, when last used, it was with 220-240V electric supply. When used this time it is with 110V supply though at first I forgot to change the the voltage switch (nothing happened which reminded me to change the switch). Could this have caused a problem? (Seems less worse than if I had tried it with 220V with setting at 110V!!)

On other posts I have seen Safe mode was recommended as a try but doesn't respond.

Yet to try Bootdisk but question on that. Can the Win 98 operating disk(s) be used as a bootdisk?

Thanks

PCGuru · 07-28-2009

Wow. Old. Is there data you need off the HDD? Anything else will require a serious Hardware upgrade. Being a laptop makes it harder to setup as a slave drive, but it can be done and would most likely be the quickest remedy for data recovery.
If your actually thinking of using this, good luck. New laptops are $400.00 now. Newegg.com or geeks.com

huxleys · 07-28-2009

PC Guru

Its a desktop not a laptop. The only reason I tried to start it up was to recover some old files that I can't find on my back-up disks. But I was also thinking my daughter (7) could use it for word processing.

How do I make the hard drive a slave?!

Thanks

PCGuru · 07-31-2009

if its IDE, move the jumper to slave on the HDD. Depending on where your dong your recovery work. new pcs are all SATA, the IDE primary is probably free, leave as master move cable and all over, just make sure BIOS boots off the SATA OS drive. This get tricky without some experience, I hope this helps.

07-28-2009	#1
huxleys New Poster Join Date: Jul 2009 Posts: 2 PC Experience: Beginner	Will not boot I have an old Compaq Presario (450MHz, 64MB RAM, 10.0GB HD, Windows 98) that will not boot past a black screen with flashing cursor in top right and red Compaq logo. The computer is being turned on for the first time in nearly two years. I have heard that the motherboard battery maybe the culprit? Additionally, when last used, it was with 220-240V electric supply. When used this time it is with 110V supply though at first I forgot to change the the voltage switch (nothing happened which reminded me to change the switch). Could this have caused a problem? (Seems less worse than if I had tried it with 220V with setting at 110V!!) On other posts I have seen Safe mode was recommended as a try but doesn't respond. Yet to try Bootdisk but question on that. Can the Win 98 operating disk(s) be used as a bootdisk? Thanks Last edited by vger; 1 Week Ago at 10:03 AM.

07-28-2009	#2
PCGuru Bronze Member Join Date: Jul 2009 Posts: 61 PC Experience: Elite PC Guru	Re: Will not boot Wow. Old. Is there data you need off the HDD? Anything else will require a serious Hardware upgrade. Being a laptop makes it harder to setup as a slave drive, but it can be done and would most likely be the quickest remedy for data recovery. If your actually thinking of using this, good luck. New laptops are $400.00 now. Newegg.com or geeks.com

07-28-2009	#3
huxleys New Poster Join Date: Jul 2009 Posts: 2 PC Experience: Beginner	Re: Will not boot PC Guru Its a desktop not a laptop. The only reason I tried to start it up was to recover some old files that I can't find on my back-up disks. But I was also thinking my daughter (7) could use it for word processing. How do I make the hard drive a slave?! Thanks

07-31-2009	#4
PCGuru Bronze Member Join Date: Jul 2009 Posts: 61 PC Experience: Elite PC Guru	Re: Will not boot if its IDE, move the jumper to slave on the HDD. Depending on where your dong your recovery work. new pcs are all SATA, the IDE primary is probably free, leave as master move cable and all over, just make sure BIOS boots off the SATA OS drive. This get tricky without some experience, I hope this helps.

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