Did I kill my computer?

[freshspace]

I have an old Compaq 4640 with P2-266mhz. I paid $1800 for it in Feb of 1998. It was working great, until I decided to play with the components. I decided to swap out some harddrives, blah, blah, blah. Anyway, I always didn't like the power supply (even though it was working) because it was only rated at 110watts (damn cheap Compaq). Actually, it would not run a 3rd party video card (probably because of the lack of juice). Then, I came across a new AT power supply and switched it. When the new power supply fired up, the case fan would not turn. Then, I started to play around with the jumpers and I think I flashed the bios (jumpers moved from 1-2 to 2-3, then returned to 1-2).

Now, I don't even get the red "Compaq" when the computer is started. I understand that if the computer shows "Compaq" it is going through the BIOS. I tried to start the computer with all the components detached. I hear that it is still supposed to show me the "Compaq" sign. It does not. Any ideas/suggestions? I am really mad at myself because this was a working computer that I "killed." I could have given this computer to my little nephews and niece for their game machine. If it is broken, is there a good way to revive it without spending a lot of money?

Thanks.

 

[MacaroneePenguin]

actually when you see the Compaq title, it's going through the POST sequence. But anways... are you saying that you can't startup the computer? I don't quite understand what's wrong with your computer except that you're not getting a Compaq title during bootup.

 

[Lithium381]

<< I could have given this computer to my little nephews and niece for their game machine. >>




heh, a 266mhz "game machine" hehe, i assume not Q3:TA......does it boot into your OS fine, and just not show the compaq splash screen, or does it just give you black when you boot up?

 

[Maggotry]

<< I think I flashed the bios (jumpers moved from 1-2 to 2-3, then returned to 1-2). >>


That doesn't flash the BIOS, it resets any custom configs. Flashing the BIOS is the process of writing new code to the EPROM. Like the others said....more info. What's the blah, blah? Be specific. What did you replace and what did you replace it with?

 

[Bleep]

You need to reset the BIOS the right way. shut the machine down and unplug the power supply from the MB move the bios clear jumper to the clear position, move it back to the normal position plug the supply back onto the MB and boot it up.
Bleep

 

[DaiShan]

Companies like compaq usually use proprietary parts, this may also include the psu... a good word of advice that applies to computers as well as life "if it ain't broke don't fix it" that comp may have had onboard video, hence why the thrid party vid card didn't work, which vid card were you trying to install? are you absolutely positive you put the hdd in correctly?

 

[olds]

It sounds like you only changed the CMOS jumper. Make sure you put it back in it's original position or the machine won't boot.

 

[freshspace]

Hi friends,

Thank you all so much for your interest. I didn't think I would get so many replies. I just joined the forum this past weekend. Thanks again. Now, allow me to explain fuller. I'm really not sure what I did, but whatever I did, I put everything back the way it was.

Since the original system came with a 110watt power supply and since it came with a 4 GB HD, I wanted to swap out the harddrive. I successfully did so with a 15GB HD. Then, I purchased an Nvidia GF2 card. I wanted better graphics since the system only came with a 4meg video - on board. The system would not boot up with the card in the PCI slot. (The system doesn't have AGP slot.) Actually, the symptom was the same as the symptom now... no "compaq" sign. When I pulled out the video card, the system would start again. This is when I realized that the power supply was only 110watts, and to provide more juice, I decided to change the power supply. As I was changing the power supply, I decided to change the HD as well. I wanted to put the 15GB into another system, and put in place a 10GB one. (why did I change drives over 5GB difference? I wish I knew! Bad move). Once the 10GB HD was in place and I start the computer, I can hear the "wheezing" sound of the HD, but the case fan doesn't move and no "compaq" sign. Then, all of this happened. I have since returned the video card back to the merchant, and changed everything back to the original specs with the 4GB HD. It is still not starting up. The power supply starts, but the computer doesn't.

Granted, I played around with the jumpers. I am just starting to build systems and I just had a dumb urge to pull jumpers around, but I plugged them back the way it was. I guess you don't learn anything by pulling the jumpers and putting them back. For those of you who thought I was being dumb, I agree. At the same time, I guess it was like "kicking the tires" when you buy a car (yeah like that will tell you a lot about the car) or looking under the hood of the car when you have absolutely no knowledge about the mechanics of the car's engine. In other words, by pulling the jumpers, I guess I was in the "learning phase."

Whatever the reason was, I regret doing it. I was going to give the computer to the kids so they can play "sports" games and Backyard soccer stuff (not Quake or other video intensive games). If anyone can make sense out of this and can get back to me, I would greatly appreciate it. Thanks.

Douglas

 

[DaiShan]

how in the world did you cram an agp card into a pci slot, never mind the how, why? lol, sounds like you may have trashed the mobo to me, you really shouldn't ever force computer parts into place, as you risk damaging them, you could get a new mobo now If you wish or just trash the whole thing, but you will probably need a new case too if you upgrade mobo, in any case, if you have any questions, posting here will usually turn up some answers.

 

[rednose]

Before you installed you new card you have to go into bios and disable onboard video and set the jumper for onboard video to disable. Your older computer most likely wont support hard drives over 8.4GB unless they have a bios flash available which you should do before installing the new drive. Did you know that you have to partition your new drive first and partition for 32bit for the size to be recognized by Windows? Take out everything but the cpu and the video card, if it doesnt POST or beep you have fried the cpu and mainboard, and perhaps even the new video card. Always unplug the power cord before making any internal changes. Good Luck

 

[cholley]

also, being its a compaq, you will need the system restore disk to set up your new drive,
compaq's dont use a bios chip, they make a 4-5meg partition on the hard drive where your setup info in stored

 

[INDEX]

I have had similar issues trying to breathe some life into my little sister's HP 400 celeron. Knowing that 110w wasn't cutting it was a good assumption... but it sounds like you began really having issues either after you swapped out the PS or after you messed with jumpers. check commections on the PS to the MB and go to compaq's website to get a schematic of the MB so that you can reset the jumpers to spec. otherwise.... your 1800 dollar system was only worth 150 dollars in 2002 so don't kill yourself if you did kill the system. Keep trying though, it good learning. the case fans not even turning up is screaming that the problem is the PS.... is the PS compatable........?



P.s. it was a fine purchase for its time, but HP and Compaq computers suck... I would avoid purchasing a new one since you can build SUCH a better machine yourself for the same money!

Good luck

 

[JustinLerner]

<< << quoting cholley
also, being its a compaq, you will need the system restore disk to set up your new drive,
compaq's dont use a bios chip, they make a 4-5meg partition on the hard drive where your setup info in stored >>

Changing one thing at a time is a good idea when upgrading systems. Compaq has had HD bios (not motherboard) for some time. Unless you copied an image from the old HD to the new (including the hidden, non DOS, the Compaq Diagnostics and Utilities partition), any new HD would cause a failed boot -- without Compaq image and without a system post.

As for the subsequent problems you caused by video and possibly PS, hey, remember to change only one thing at a time. I wouldn't know why the system is not working now, but maybe you really did screw up the system.

Usually each manufacturer allows different video cards to be installed (disable the video with onboard jumpers.) If you set the onboard video to be disabled, you won't see anything without another PCI video card in the slot. Did you really force an AGP video card into a PCI slot? This could really cause major problems including motherboard inoperability.
Are you certain everything is back to the original position, before you started to upgrade?

 

[CubicZirconia]

I used to have an old 300 mhz compaq too. After putting a voodoo 3 3000 in it and then trying to take it out, I realized that compaq computers are possesed by the devil himself. I know this isn't any help, but as a future reference try to never ever change components in old compaq pc's. That is all.