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trying to repair 2 computers...help please?

Discussion in 'Non-Emulation Help' started by Tomoka, Aug 26, 2010.

  1. Tomoka

    Tomoka Well-Known Member

    the 2 computers i am attempting to repair are as follows..

    Dell Dimension 5500

    Compaq Presaria 5000


    issues with each...

    the Dell turns on, and nothing happens, numlock on keyboard flashes, nothing on screen, no BIOS, no nothing.... i don't even know what type of BIOS it has..

    The Compaq, it boots, everything works..now heres the thing, when i boot into windows, it will recognize the disk, but i can't get it to boot from the disk to Format it like requested..it is an old (like windows ME old) computer...i tried all the F* keys...so i dunno how to make it boots from the disk....

    any advice?
     
  2. ace1o1

    ace1o1 Well-Known Member

    F10 or F12 usually boots into the bios.
     
  3. Tomoka

    Tomoka Well-Known Member

    hmmm...you mean on the Dell? cuz i tried that with the Compaq to boot from disk drive... *goes to screw with Dell a lil more*

    EDIT:no luck with the Dell T_T
     
  4. ace1o1

    ace1o1 Well-Known Member

    Have you tried using a Linux live cd/install?
     
  5. Tomoka

    Tomoka Well-Known Member

    ya, i tried it after an XP disk...it just won't read from the drive before the OS boots it seems..
     
  6. ace1o1

    ace1o1 Well-Known Member

    That's really weird...
    You'd have to be able to access the bios in order for it to boot from CD, but since you can't, I don't know what to tell you.
     
  7. Tomoka

    Tomoka Well-Known Member

    the one i'm trying to format is the compaq...i think there's somethin terribly wrong with the Dell.... i tried the Ubuntu disk, and a Windows XP disk on it, it won't boot from it..
     
  8. ace1o1

    ace1o1 Well-Known Member

    The BIOS may be shot...or the motherboard...who knows. :p
     
  9. Tomoka

    Tomoka Well-Known Member

    with the dell, i plugged in speakers in hope it has a BIOS error code, no luck T_T so it's got to be the motherboard...

    with the compaq...maybe it doesn't support booting from disk..
     
  10. ace1o1

    ace1o1 Well-Known Member

    Screw both of them!
    You could just try installing XP on the HDD from a different computer and then shoving it into the Compaq.
     
  11. Tomoka

    Tomoka Well-Known Member

    i'm afraid to open it...the Compaq is over 12 yrs old...it's got a week build..and "screw both of them"?!?!?! they're gonna pay me if i fix these! people have said it can't be done!
     
  12. ace1o1

    ace1o1 Well-Known Member

    Just open it. Everything can be taken apart and put back together if you have the right tools...except people... :(
     
  13. Tomoka

    Tomoka Well-Known Member

    thing is...i destroy it...they sue T_T
     
  14. ace1o1

    ace1o1 Well-Known Member

    Well, scrue them.
     
  15. Loonylion

    Loonylion Administrator Staff Member

    f2 or delete to get into bios usually. dell bioses are gimped though, they're one step above useless
     
  16. Tomoka

    Tomoka Well-Known Member

    okay...BIOS won't boot, called them, they said junk it, so i'm done with the Dell...and i think the Compaq needs a new disk driver...do they still make them for it?
     
  17. Loonylion

    Loonylion Administrator Staff Member

    what type of disk drive?
     
  18. Tomoka

    Tomoka Well-Known Member

    *googles the computer*

    EDIT: one of the ones on the following page...
    http://www.impactcomputers.com/presario-50xxx-series-parts-presario-5000-desktop-parts-storage.html
     
  19. doughboy

    doughboy Guest

    sometimes the simplest ways are the ones that work........
    -cleaning your dvd lens helps so that it could boot up the disk better (had this minor prob, wouldn't burn gc games)
    if you have money buy a chep hdd and test it......