It only boots when it wants to....

[CubKid]

Ok, I hate to use that terminology (sp?), but Im working on a Compaq for someone. For now Im swapping the mobos to get it going so he can start using it again. Im curious though. Would the mobo be causing it to boot at random, meaning you power it up once or a few times and get no POST, but other times it boots up like nothing is wrong (but freezes eventually). Im just wondering if its that or the CPU is dodgy. I dont have any socket A CPUs laying around to check, but thats the only thing I couldnt really check. This person is also a heavy smoker, and has the ashtray right in front of the PC. Im wondering if the tar and other goop caused it to die.

[John Prophet]

sounds sorta like a power supply issue as well.

Or a shorted part (modem etc) giving issues.

Id strip it all the way down to just mobo..vid card..one stick ram..hard drive...boot it like that and see what it does.

Also of course try it with a different power supply.

JP

[CubKid]

Ok, I'll give that a go. Im gonna tell him to leave the PC on the floor this time! hopefully that will eliminate some problems that are smoke related.

[CubKid]

oh, another question while this thread is still alive. How in the world do you get into the bios on these things? (compaqs)

[Xeroid]

It's been a while since we did Compaq warranty work, but you used to get in this way:

Power on the PC

When the curser moves to the upper right of your monitor and changes to a white box, press F10.

This will put you into Compaq's setup utility.