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| Thread ID: 64017 | 2005-11-30 08:00:00 | compaq lte 5100 bios wont recognise new hd | Sam W (9332) | Press F1 |
| Post ID | Timestamp | Content | User | ||
| 408931 | 2005-12-03 02:39:00 | I don't know the ins and outs of how IBM & Compaq create their respective hidden partitions but I imagine if the Compaq is configured to look for info from the hdd to boot and can't find it then it will ignore anything plugged in. Some machines keep info on the hidden partitions that the BIOS needs to complete the boot process Zapping the drive is another option but if the BIOS can't detect it then there is nothing to zap! The only option, as I said earlier is to hook it up to a desktop with an adapter and test the drive. From there it can be zapped, partitioned, formatted and tried again in the compaq Lappys are a separate breed to desktops and older ones especially can cause real headaches, especially with the little documentaion that can be found for them. Ever tried a modern hp drive in an Asus or Acer? |
bartsdadhomer (80) | ||
| 408932 | 2005-12-03 02:54:00 | The only time I've had a problem with Compaq desktops was with an early DeskPro. It had its original 20MB disk, but it wasn't found by the BIOS. The BIOS didn't have a setup routine in ROM.:( Doubless the setup programme was still on the "wiped" hard disk . I could boot DOS from a floppy, so I used DEBUG to directly write the disk type "2" into the BIOS table. A Tandy laptop had the same problem. I managed to get the TSETUP.COM programme from the Tandy web site. Just running the programme got the disk identified, and booting. IBM and Comapq will both make hidden partitions by making them "non-MS" types in the partition table. If they have a "bootable" partition, the BIOS routines start by reading and executing the first sector of that. Programmes which directly access the hardware don't need the BIOS to have recognised the disk. In fact, I strongly suspect that Linux usually ignores the BIOS's opinion of what disks are present. |
Graham L (2) | ||
| 408933 | 2005-12-03 07:49:00 | I like the linux idea, but then again the bios wont complete with the hard drive in . The only way I can get the hard drive going is to insert it after the computers completed the bios . Then programs which rely on bios wont work, because the bios tells them theres nothing there . It would be great if the hard drive was in when going through the bios and for it to scan it and then I could get Win95 floppy version on it . I'm interested about writing into the bios, is there a way to get it to recognise the thing through doing that? If I got a laptop to desktop converter and modified the drive on another computer what would I do to it? and It's definatly jumpered correctly infact on this one it doesn't even need a jumper to be set to Master . |
Sam W (9332) | ||
| 408934 | 2005-12-03 08:00:00 | I'm interested about writing into the bios, is there a way to get it to recognise the thing through doing that? No (it's possible but impractical and expensive) If I got a laptop to desktop converter and modified the drive on another computer what would I do to it? Assuming it's in good knick and is detected as Graham has suggested run the IBM zap tool on it then partition, format and try it in the lappy again. If you read through all the previous posts all the info is there |
bartsdadhomer (80) | ||
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