Thread: compaq deskpro

Just go into your bios aka "setup" (it should say what key to press F4, delete, etc..), and it should be the first thing shown. But it sounds like your battery is dead or not fastened correctly as you should only get that message once. Set the time then do a cold boot and if you still get that message check your battery.

thanks, ill give it a shot

I just got two of those Compaq 2000's for $40/ea at Computer Renaissance. (2gb hdd, sound, 56k, onboard vid) And people say that store is horrendously overpriced!

I am basing my player around that computer as well (Compaq Deskpro 2000). If you don't have the original harddrive, or if it has been (re)formatted... you won't have a bios. They have a special partition and a software bios within that partition... but you can download it onto disks from the Compaq website if you need it.

I hope this helps... also a heads up, if you aren't using a monitor/VGA screen you will probably need a VGA terminator because (well at least mine) won't boot without a monitor unless you press certain keys to get around the error messages.

*shudders* Computer Renaissance... i hate my job. I am the only decent tech at the Orange CT store =(

Is this strange? I had the same compaq 2000 pro a P166MMX version in my closet and I sold it for $100 to an old man at a cigar store just a few days ago. I was getting same exact messages and after installing the setup program onto the HD ( you can download at www.compaq.com) I was able to set the time.
But this did nothing... only if the computer was pluged in it wouldn't give that message. As soon as I unpluged the PC and plugged it back in the same error message about the time not being set came up. I went to check the battery and it seems somoene had ripped the battery out of it's socket. I had to get a replacement battery and tape it. I don't know if that worked bc it still gave same error. I told the old man not to unplug the computer or it would give error message, fortunatelly I also taught him to set the time.
Well try installing that setup program and let me know if it gets rid of the message...maybe I can just solder the battery on the mobo bc I think taping it just won't do it.

Originally posted by TarnLB:
<STRONG>*shudders* Computer Renaissance... i hate my job. I am the only decent tech at the Orange CT store =(</STRONG>

Ya, I was a tech at a similar store for a couple years... It was the occasional desktop with a nude of some guys wife that made it worthwhile. I even found a zip disk full of scans from all 50 US drivers liscenses...

Most Compaqs have a "BIOS" that lives on the HD. You will need to install it. You can download it from the Compaq site.

As for getting in, all Compaqs since the beginning of time use F10 to enter the CMOS setup. Wait for a square cursor to appear in the upper right, then press F10.

Yeah and if that square never appears (like mine) then you don't have the partition set up correctly, I think it's easier just to use the floppies to run it myself, considering I hardly ever need to access it. So if you can't find the magic square get the ap from compaq that makes three floppies with the needed files to run the "bios."