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Thread ID: 76105	2007-01-20 22:46:00	Compaq Pressario 2500 wont startup	curly (6655)	Press F1

Post ID	Timestamp	Content	User
517882	2007-01-20 22:46:00	I have the above computer running Xp home, 1 gig ram and an 80 gig hard drive. On switch on the computer does not seem to even start the BIOS boot, does anyone know if theis machine has a BIOS battery? Which may be the cause of the problem. I have looked in all of the various compartments but found nothing. The manual ( not really the word I would call it), is unhelpful in telling me of any key combinations I might press to try. Any thoughts? There is a reset button on the base of the machine, but presssing that just causes the comp to switch off. Or. any other suggestions I might try most welcome.	curly (6655)
517883	2007-01-21 02:30:00	A dead BIOS configurarion backup cell should give an error message. ;) Do any lights come on when you try to turn it on? Try removing the battery ... it should work from the mains without the battery in.	Graham L (2)
517884	2007-01-21 10:03:00	Hi Graham, thanks for the reply. Taking the battery out did not help. On starting it up it says it's entering setup, then after about 20 seconds it displays the "Main" page of its Phoenix BIOS Setup Utility, with the cursor on the Language line. There it stops and nothing will move it from there on. Starting to look like a screwed up BIOS chip or perhaps a low voltage CMOS battery. Not looking too good !	curly (6655)
517885	2007-01-23 00:20:00	That could indicate that the keyboard is disconnected. If it wants you to select a language, it has to wait until you do that ... using the keyboard. ;) Has the laptop got a PS/2 socket for an external keyboard? If so, try plugging one in. You won't need a mouse for this test.	Graham L (2)
517886	2007-01-24 08:08:00	Appreciate your help Graham. Changing to a desktop keyboard made no difference! When the BIOS program stops, it does so on the language setting and it is already highlighted as english, so I have no need to alter it. Maybe a trip to the HP site and read about creating a BIOS update floppy. As I understand it, if the BIOS chip is screwed up, then the motherboard is screwed as well. So as I see it, I don't have much to loose. Still, no real hurry, I will "potter" around with it a bit more and rely on this desktop to fill my internet needs meantime. Again, thanks.	curly (6655)
517887	2007-01-24 09:45:00	Hmm... its a laptop. Graham was referring to a motherboard battery. I have no idea how one get that one. I had bad motherboard CMOS battery before, it should not stop you entering the computer. You have 1gig of RAM so the computer should be recent enof that the CMOS battery not fail. I have a 2001 laptop here and not failed. I had a 1998 PC that needed one at 2005/06. Still if you let the battery alone it shouldn't barade you from windows. All you get is the system clock cannot be saved. I think give the BIOS disk a go, if it not work, maybe pull the HD out and use a bootable disk or CD/DVD. See if it goes via. Failing that its for repair or scrap and buy. I doubt its the keyb cos these ribbon wires are pretty secure.	Nomad (952)
517888	2007-01-25 00:45:00	It's not getting to the point where it can load a floppy . The BIOS setup, then a POST is required before any disks are read . It seems that somehow (dead backup cell or not) it has lost the BIOS configuration settings . That has caused automatic entry to the setup routine . This is asking for a language choice, and requires a response from the keyboard . Although the ribbon cables of laptop keyboards have locking connectors, it is possible for them to become disconnected . The fact that an external keyboard doesn't help does suggest that it's not the problem . But it's a mistake to ever assume that any thing can't happen when looking for faults . Mr Murphy's law applies to computers . It was unclear from the original posting whether anything at all was happening . . . so I suggested pulling the main battery, in case it had failed to be shorted, thus stopping everything . Do any lights change when the power switch is operated? To On? To Off?	Graham L (2)
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