Compaq Presario headaches

[ElShotte]

Okay. At work I have 2 Compaq Presario PC's. One is model SR1010NX and the other is S5010NX. They're fairly old. I have a Ubuntu 10.04 server set up that acts as my DHCP/TFTP/Samba server for booting with PXE, then installing the selected system and my custom application suite using only literally 2 minutes of my time to type in such details as the CD Key, Computer Name, etc.

So anyway, back to my Presario problems. Both computer conveniently do not have a Network Boot ROM (for example nVidia Boot Agent). So if I try to boot from network, Ill get a "Disc Failure". The S5010NX will not boot with a USB drive plugged-in period. It will get stuck on the red "Compaq" screen. If I unplug the device, it boots into BIOS/OS perfectly fine. If Im in the BIOS, and I plug the device in, the BIOS turns non-responsive, when I remove it, it starts responding again. Weird.

Here the 2nd chat session I've had with HP Professional Support (or whatever it's called). All I have to say is, I knew more about computers when I was 12 then these guys do.

Print active chat
[Tuesday, September 07, 2010 5:44 PM] -- Automatically generated message:
A support specialist will be with you shortly.
[Tuesday, September 07, 2010 5:44 PM] -- Automatically generated message:
You are now chatting with support specialist Priya K.
[Tuesday, September 07, 2010 5:44 PM] -- Priya K says:
Welcome to HP Total Care for Desktops. My name is Priya. Please give me a few moments while I review your problem description details.

NOTE: For security reasons, PLEASE DO NOT send credit card information via chat.
[Tuesday, September 07, 2010 5:44 PM] -- Priya K says:
Hi Jan, how are you doing today ?
[Tuesday, September 07, 2010 5:44 PM] -- Jan Krojcer says:
Fine
[Tuesday, September 07, 2010 5:45 PM] -- Priya K says:
Could you please elaborate more on the issue ?
[Tuesday, September 07, 2010 5:46 PM] -- Jan Krojcer says:
Could you tell me why my computer won't boot up or even enter the BIOS with the USB drive plugged in? The second I unplug the drive it boots into BIOS/OS perfectly fine. When Im in the BIOS, and I plug it back in, the BIOS becomes unresponsive, when I remove it, the BIOS starts functioning again.
[Tuesday, September 07, 2010 5:47 PM] -- Priya K says:
When the system boot, it boots from the hard drive. If any other USB devices are connected to the system, it may not start. It is a common issue
[Tuesday, September 07, 2010 5:48 PM] -- Jan Krojcer says:
So are you telling me I cannot boot the system from a USB Drive?
[Tuesday, September 07, 2010 5:49 PM] -- Priya K says:
If you want to make USB as a bootable device, you need to change the boot device priority in BIOS. Then connect the USB device and boot the system. Are you trying to install anything ?
[Tuesday, September 07, 2010 5:50 PM] -- Jan Krojcer says:
....
[Tuesday, September 07, 2010 5:50 PM] -- Jan Krojcer says:
Would you mind telling me how to change the boot device priority to the USB Drive WITHOUT it being plugged in?
[Tuesday, September 07, 2010 5:50 PM] -- Priya K says:
Yes, sure
[Tuesday, September 07, 2010 5:53 PM] -- Priya K says:
Jan, in BIOS click on boot tab. Click on "Boot Device Priority". Select "USB". But this option is not available for desktop PC. This will available only in Laptops. In Desktops you can only boot from hard drive, floppy drive or CD
[Tuesday, September 07, 2010 5:53 PM] -- Jan Krojcer says:
You have no idea what you're talking about.
[Tuesday, September 07, 2010 5:55 PM] -- Priya K says:
Jan, in desktop PC it is not possible to boot the system from USB device.
[Tuesday, September 07, 2010 5:55 PM] -- Priya K says:
If you could tell me what exactly you are trying to do, I can give find some alternate solution to it
[Tuesday, September 07, 2010 5:56 PM] -- Jan Krojcer says:
Who told you it's not possible to boot a desktop off of a USB drive?
[Tuesday, September 07, 2010 5:57 PM] -- Jan Krojcer says:
Because I just did. The computer I just booted off of a USB drive is the Presario SR1010NX
[Tuesday, September 07, 2010 5:57 PM] -- Priya K says:
May I know the model number of your PC ?
[Tuesday, September 07, 2010 5:57 PM] -- Jan Krojcer says:
Prod # DW254A-ABA
[Tuesday, September 07, 2010 5:57 PM] -- Jan Krojcer says:
Serial: MXK4180MN0
[Tuesday, September 07, 2010 5:58 PM] -- Jan Krojcer says:
That is not the computer I am having the issue with though.
[Tuesday, September 07, 2010 5:58 PM] -- Priya K says:
May I know the model number of the PC in which you want to boot the system from USB ?
[Tuesday, September 07, 2010 5:59 PM] -- Jan Krojcer says:
S5010NX
[Tuesday, September 07, 2010 5:59 PM] -- Jan Krojcer says:
But like I said, it freezes upon boot with the USB drive plugged in.
[Tuesday, September 07, 2010 6:00 PM] -- Priya K says:
Most of the HP pc's will not have an option to boot the system from BIOS. You can confirm it by going to the BIOS, boot tab, boot device priority.

If you connect any USB device during bootup, the system may freeze. It is a known issue
[Tuesday, September 07, 2010 6:01 PM] -- Jan Krojcer says:
Lesson: You can boot most desktops/laptops that are post 2000 using USB. With the USB drive plugged in, you can choose it in either the boot menu OR inside the BIOS, under "Boot", go to "Hard Drive Priority" and up the priority on the USB drive to be before the Hard Drive. In your boot sequence, make sure the Hard Drive is prioritized.
[Tuesday, September 07, 2010 6:02 PM] -- Jan Krojcer says:
So again, the USB drive wouldn't show in the Boot List, it would however appear in the Hard Drive list.
[Tuesday, September 07, 2010 6:02 PM] -- Jan Krojcer says:
And you're supposed to be helping me...
[Tuesday, September 07, 2010 6:03 PM] -- Priya K says:
That's what I said earlier. It depends on the option available in BIOS. In the above statement it clearly states that most desktop / laptops may boot from USB. But not all the desktop / Laptops
[Tuesday, September 07, 2010 6:04 PM] -- Jan Krojcer says:
Im done.

Close Print active chat

I have given up with trying to boot either for now. I'll burn a proper boot CD when I get home later today, but IMHO I will definitely guide everyone away from buying a Compaq computer because their Tech Support is clearly a joke.

 

[EDO219]

Whoa! You're using this dinosaur? o_o

 

[ElShotte]

Not me personally, no. At the office where I do IT the oldest machines they have are those. They're fine for what they need them for, and usually the seniority get beefier machines. The software suite I install is simple, it includes Adobe Reader, Microsoft Security Essentials, Office 2003 and Point 7.2 (Mortgage Software).