Tag Archives: compaq presario

how to flash a laptop BIOS?

My compaq presario v2575us laptop is telling me that my BIOS is not ACPI compliant (on a BSOD), and restarts immediately after the message. Even if I try to boot into safe mode, or with an XP CD or a linux live CD, it doesn’t start up…it shows the same error with safe mode and the XP disk and just freezes with the linux live CD. So I thought that flashing the BIOS should reset the settings and probably get me back on track.This laptop is known for heating up pretty bad, and mine has been doing just that for the past 14 months and now that it has stopped working. I need from anybody. Let me know if there’s any addiitonal info you might need.

Problems with Compaq Presario c300 laptop?

My girlfriend’s laptop has been experiencing some issues. It BSoD’d her, crashed, and kept auto-restarting to the boot choices menu. No matter what option was picked, it would just auto-restart to the menu after the Windows splash screen. She doesn’t have an XP cd, since they don’t usually come with HP laptops. We tried the built in recovery, but it crashed in the middle of repartitioning the hard drive, and now each time it is booted up, it can get to BIOS and boot settings, but after that, the error message that Windows root/system32@/hal.dll is corrupted or missing and needs replaced. Well, we can’t do much to it without the XP cd. Almost every solution online requires the disc. No other machine to hook it up to. No extra hd. Any help or ideas? I thought about recovery LiveCD’s and smaller Linux distros/utilities, but since I don’t live close by, I need something she can learn to do on her own(she isn’t very computer savvy).

Linux For a Compaq Presario 7476 (OLD)?

I’ve got this old Compaq Presario with: AMD K6 3D, 40 GB Hard Disk, 192 RAM (8 for video). I’ve been spending several hours today with a 7.04 xubuntu Live Cd without success. It couldn’t complete the installation after partitioning: it freeze. The cd runs very slow. I used it because my pc meets the requirements I found at the xubunto web site. My Pc is OK, I’m sure of that. PLEASE: Can anyone tell me what linux distribution can I use for this old pc? I need full internet access (web, mail, etc), word processor, spreadsheet and, if it’s possible, some media. Thank you very much
Ahh, the installation stops in 15%.
I didn’t mention the live CD loads desktop but not the tool bars.
Thank you for your answers guys. A few minutes ago, I found something (here at yahoo answers) about a bug in this xubuntu 7.0.4. I’m looking for the solution now. My installation stops in 15% : “Detecting file systems”. I’ll give xubuntu an opportunity before surrending. HEY LINUX MASTERS: What Can I do?
I’ve been searching. I’ll test the Alternate CD for xubuntu. But I want to try with Small Damn linux, Puppy linux too.
In the past I did’nt like linux but now I’m Interested (I used Unix in a Sun Sparc Station several years ago). Linux people want a Linux World, but all the “easy” guides tha I’ve found about Linux installations… AREN’T FOR HUMANS. That’s a cruel BARRIER. And all that acronyms and modism tech language. When my grandmother cans understand a linux guide, Linux will be ready for dominate the world. Think about it guys.

How do I boot off a live CD?

I have a old as dirt compaq presario notebook and a linux live cd that I would like my computer to booot off of. I can get to the BIOS menu but I’m not sure what to do from there.
I can get to the boot menu and I set the boot priority or w/e to cd-rom 1st and i do save and exit and it still comes up windows and i restart and it still comes up windows.

Which Linux live CD distro, read details….?

I want to be able to boot it from a DVD, I have a Compaq Presario v5000 series laptop, AMD Turion 64 ML-38 (1.8 ghz), 512 ram, 40 gigs free on the HD, 128 megs shared video ram, cant think of much more. But I just want to know what is the best distrobution of a Live CD Linux that is compatible with my system.