Windows on a compaq

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diablo7981@yahoo.com - 15 Oct 2006 22:36 GMT

I own a Compaq Presario, and i formatted the Hard drive to get rid of
old files and viruses. I attempted to load up 98, but kept getting the
error message "Invalid OS, please restart your computer." I have no
idea what to do. I have tried using boot disks from other computers,
but nothing seems to work. What can I do?

Compaq_Moron

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Galen Somerville - 15 Oct 2006 22:43 GMT

> I own a Compaq Presario, and i formatted the Hard drive to get rid of
> old files and viruses. I attempted to load up 98, but kept getting the
[quoted text clipped - 3 lines]
>
> Compaq_Moron

This is probably an older Compaq Presario and subject to a very proprietary BIOS and setup.

Go to the HP website and find your computer then read all the FAQ's etc.

Galen

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PCR - 15 Oct 2006 22:57 GMT

Didn't your Compaq Presario come with QuickRestore CD(s) as did my model
7470? Then, really, you should be using that, as it may come with
special drivers & extra software. Otherwise...

First establish whether it can boot with a known good Startup Diskette.
Get one from...
http://www.bootdisk.com/ , if you don't already have one from "Control
Panel, Add/Remove Programs, Startup Disk tab". Take either one that
applies to your system. Test the Startup Diskette. Put the diskette in &
turn on the computer. Put in a CD and "DIR" the CD. That is, "DIR X:",
where "X:" is the CD-ROM letter. The Startup Diskette will say which
letter is the CD during boot. (Note: It may be necessary to enter BIOS
Setup & set it to boot the floppy drive above the hard drive.)

Be sure to WRITE-PROTECT the Startup Diskette using the slider in it's
corner, in case you have a boot-sector virus. If you can boot this
floppy, then...

FDISK /MBR

...at the A:\prompt. This will rewrite the code portion of the Master
Boot Record on the hard drive which is a MASTER on the Primary IDE
connector, leaving the Partition Table untouched. That will wipe out any
boot-sector virus. If you had any drive overlay software installed, it
too would be wiped & must be reinstated.

Signature

Thanks or Good Luck,
There may be humor in this post, and,
Naturally, you will not sue,
should things get worse after this,
PCR
pcrrcp@netzero.net

| I own a Compaq Presario, and i formatted the Hard drive to get rid of
| old files and viruses. I attempted to load up 98, but kept getting the
[quoted text clipped - 3 lines]
|
| Compaq_Moron

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Ben Myers - 15 Oct 2006 23:03 GMT

Start the computer and go into the BIOS setup. Try the F10 key or
Ctrl-Alt-Esc. Find "Boot sequence" and change it to "A:, C:". Exit
BIOS setup, save the new setting, then insert a boot floppy and
restart. If this doesn't help, try creating a new boot floppy.

http://www.bootdisk.com/bootdisk.htm

Ben

> I own a Compaq Presario, and i formatted the Hard drive to get rid of
> old files and viruses. I attempted to load up 98, but kept getting the
[quoted text clipped - 3 lines]
>
> Compaq_Moron

Reply to this Message

Jeff Richards - 15 Oct 2006 23:19 GMT

You will get that message if the boot floppy (or CD) you are using is
faulty, if the floppy disk drive (or CD drive) is faulty, or if the system
is not looking at the floppy drive (or CD drive) and is still trying to boot
from the hard disk.

Make sure the system is trying to boot from the device where you have
inserted the boot media (floppy or CD). You will need to access your
system documentation to work out how to do this, but it involves changing
the machine configuration in BIOS setup.

Signature

Jeff Richards
MS MVP (Windows - Shell/User)

>I own a Compaq Presario, and i formatted the Hard drive to get rid of
> old files and viruses. I attempted to load up 98, but kept getting the
[quoted text clipped - 3 lines]
>
> Compaq_Moron

Reply to this Message

Ron Badour - 16 Oct 2006 00:45 GMT

Compaqs normally do not use a boot disk to load the system--they have a
restore CD which is bootable. If you insert the restore CD and the disk is
not being read, then you will need to check the BIOS and make sure the CDRom
drive is listed as the first boot device.

Signature

Regards

Ron Badour, MS MVP for W98
Tips: http://home.satx.rr.com/badour
Knowledge Base Info:
http://support.microsoft.com/default.aspx?pr=kbinfo

>I own a Compaq Presario, and i formatted the Hard drive to get rid of
> old files and viruses. I attempted to load up 98, but kept getting the
[quoted text clipped - 3 lines]
>
> Compaq_Moron

Reply to this Message

Galen Somerville - 16 Oct 2006 01:48 GMT

If he doesn't have the restore CD and if this is a Compaq that requires a 2MB hidden partition then
off to HP.com we go.

Galen

> Compaqs normally do not use a boot disk to load the system--they have a
> restore CD which is bootable. If you insert the restore CD and the disk is
[quoted text clipped - 8 lines]
> >
> > Compaq_Moron

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Ron Badour - 16 Oct 2006 22:09 GMT

Hi ho, hi ho? <G>

Signature

Regards

Ron Badour, MS MVP for W98
Tips: http://home.satx.rr.com/badour
Knowledge Base Info:
http://support.microsoft.com/default.aspx?pr=kbinfo

> If he doesn't have the restore CD and if this is a Compaq that requires a
> 2MB hidden partition then
[quoted text clipped - 16 lines]
>> >
>> > Compaq_Moron

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diablo7981@yahoo.com - 25 Nov 2006 08:11 GMT

Ahh crud.. This is turning out to be more of a hassle then i ever hoped
it would become. I don't have any special disks, i got it second hand
from my GF's parents, who apparently got it at goodwill (That explains
a lot) Well, you have all been very helpful, and i hope that maybe this
will all work... And yes I know its like.. 8 months later, but i have
had a lot on my hands so.. Yeah..

Reply to this Message

legg - 29 Nov 2006 01:56 GMT

>Ahh crud.. This is turning out to be more of a hassle then i ever hoped
>it would become. I don't have any special disks, i got it second hand
>from my GF's parents, who apparently got it at goodwill (That explains
>a lot) Well, you have all been very helpful, and i hope that maybe this
>will all work... And yes I know its like.. 8 months later, but i have
>had a lot on my hands so.. Yeah..

Legacy support for Compaq products is provided competently by HP.
You can get all sorts of good advice on restoring the native tools to
the model you're working with at the HP site.

hardware references:
http://h10061.www1.hp.com/ccsearch/search

support groups:
http://forums1.itrc.hp.com/service/forums/home.do

will require registration.

RL

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