Compaq Presario SR150 won't boot. Please Help!

[ahightower10]

My father-in-law's Compaq Presario SR150 3WM won't get past the initial red and white Compaq screen when it is turned on. He was using the internet and it just froze up and wouldn't do anything so he turned it off and then the problem began. The screen has these options: <Esc=Boot menu> <F1=Setup> <F10=System Recovery> but none of the keys will make it do anything. Any help with this would be greatly appreciated.

Thanks!

 

[wahnula]

Hmmm...usually even if the OS & HDD are toast you can still get to the "F1-setup" for the BIOS. Try the universal laptop fix...remove the battery & AC adapter & hold the power switch down for 30-45 seconds, then reassemble & try. Make sure the F-lock for the keyboard is OFF.

If none of this works then the BIOS might be scrambled, but that's highly unlikely. I'm going to sign off & think a bit...

Tony

Users helping Users...

 

[kjv1611]

Hmm, another thought to try just to see would be to use a standard keyboard - USB or PS2 depending upon what the laptop ports are. See if you can boot with that laptop connected, and then try getting into the F1 settings from there. And once in there, try setting to "optimal" values or "safe" values - something along those lines, save and exist - of course, that's all if the keyboard option works. I'd try this only after wahnula's suggestion above.

--

"If to err is human, then I must be some kind of human!" -Me

 

[BadBigBen]

He was using the internet and it just froze up and wouldn't do anything so he turned it off and then the problem began.

sounds like the HDD died... and the locking up of the BIOS could indicate this as well, as some BIOS out there wait until the drive is spun up to continue POST...

so if Wahnula's suggestion does not work, then take out the drive and test by powering the lappy up without it installed, if you can get into the BIOS then or it hickups something about a SYSTEM DISK missing, then that is a sure sign that the HDD was the problem...

keep us posted...

Ben

"If it works don't fix it! If it doesn't use a sledgehammer..."

 

[ahightower10]

Thanks for the advice y'all, but it's not a laptop. It's a pc at his desk. Sorry, I guess I should have stated that originally.

 

[BadBigBen]

ahightower10 - don't worry we assumed it to be, without really checking...

but take out the HDD (unplug the cable at the mainboard) then try to get into the BIOS... if that succeeds then you know its the HDD causing the problem... if not then it may well be a another component that is at fault here, e.g. PSU...

Ben

"If it works don't fix it! If it doesn't use a sledgehammer..."

 

[wahnula]

don't worry we assumed it to be, without really checking..

Not true...when a poster states a model number (without specifying formfactor) I plug it into Google images...32 images of laptops and 2 of desktops for "Presario SR150"...I went with the higher probability.

You can still try re-setting the system: Remove the power cord, remove the battery, clear CMOS jumper (if present), hold the power button for 15-30 seconds, replace battery and see what happens.

Try using a PS/2 keyboard like kjv suggested. You should AT LEAST be able to enter BIOS.

Tony

Users helping Users...

 

[BadBigBen]

Tony, sorry I should have said I instead of WE, in that statement... I went along with it being a laptop and did not check it...



Ben

"If it works don't fix it! If it doesn't use a sledgehammer..."

 

[kjv1611]

Well, you could say "we" by including me in that. I assumed wahnula would have had it right.

When I Googled the model # at first, all I got were motorcycles... then I added Compaq, and put a space between "SR150" to be "SR 150", and every hit was a desktop on the first page - didn't look past that.

--

"If to err is human, then I must be some kind of human!" -Me