Compaq Armada 7400 BIOS, booting from CD

[compaqkid]

I'm having trouble with my Compaq Armada 7400. F10 is supposed to be the BIOS access key if I remember correctly, but it doesn't work.
I'm trying to make the laptop boot from a CD and the only way I know of to do that is through the BIOS.

Some help please?

 

[FlyingPenguin]

It's usually F10 on Compaqs, but the timing can be tricky. See if this helps: http://members.cox.net/joemurphy/setup.htm

Other keys could be F1, F2 or DEL. On some systems it's two keys.

You can also check HP's website for a service manual for your laptop.

 

[compaqkid]

Thanks, F10 works, I guess I was hitting it at the wrong time.
Thing is...now I can't remember how to set it to boot from a CD...any help on that one?

 

[slyedog]

in bios, go to boot. make cdrom your first boot, hit f10 and away you go

 

[compaqkid]

I have a sneaking suspision that I'm not where I should be....
F10 brings me to "Microsoft Windows 98 Startup Menu"
Should i be somewhere else, and how do I get there?

 

[FlyingPenguin]

Wrong place. You need to start tapping the key right after the keyboard initilaizes. Too soon and you get a keyboard error (BIOS thinks a key is stuck down) too late and you miss it. Sometimes it's hard to judge the right time.

 

[compaqkid]

Gaah! Can't find it!
How do I know that the keyboard has initialized?

 

[daniel49]

when the cursor goes over to the right side of the screen (quickly) hit f10.

 

[compaqkid]

I haven't seen the cursor on the right side of the screen at all...it comes up on the left side of the screen, that's when the "Microsoft Windows 98 Startup Menu" comes up after fitting F10

 

[daniel49]

You sure your not hitting f8 and getting to the wrong menu?


hmm on my old compaq would start out on the left then just before being to late to hit the key would go over to right hand upper corner.
that was a presario 5004 model

seems to me if you reset the bios it would take you in auto on boot??

 

[compaqkid]

How might I reset the bios?

 

[daniel49]

turn machine off. ground yourself and either
1) move jumper pin if you have one would be next to battery or
2) remove battery for a minute the trickle of juice from that battery is whats called volitile memory keep your bios from loosing its settings when machine is off.

 

[compaqkid]

I took out the battery for 5 minutes....no difference.
Jumper pin...don't think there is one...

 

[daniel49]

hmm well I got to get going but browse here for some help

http://www.hp.com/cgi-bin/cposupport/cc...n&sni=&search=0&submit.x=7&submit.y=10