Posted on 08/14/2016 5:17:25 PM PDT by PJ-Comix
Hope u r back up and running soon. The Internet would be a less funny place without you.
Maybe he drives the Volkswagen.
“Compaq?.....”
That’s exactly what I was thinking. I’m sure that Netscape runs very smoothly on it. And the advice here is excellent.
Plug it in.
I’m finding different answers at different places. But maybe I can help a little...
Most of the Compaq computers I’ve worked on were set up so the F10 key would enter BIOS. You can try that, it will tell you if the monitor is working at all.
Some sites I’ve looked at say F10 will start recovery, I doubt that, since that is the standard BIOS key for a long time. Others say F11, one says Fn then F11, (try both at once) one says F2 will start the recovery process.
If it were me, I would first try plugging in an external monitor. If you check the F keys at the top, one should have a Monitor icon. Mine (Toshiba) is F5. Use the Fn key AND that key to switch to external monitor. It should switch back and forth, and many laptops will automatically use both when plugged in. You can plug in a monitor any time, including while it is up and running without any problems. This is also true with a desktop, the monitor is almost always safe to unplug and plug in while running.
If you can get one, you can also try a bootable Linux CD, and see if that will run. That will tell you if you have a major OS (Operating System) problem. Windows is the OS.
Whatever F key works will start the recovery process, which will format the hard drive and reinstall windows, from a hidden recovery partition on the hard drive. I’m seeing conflicting reports, try F2, then F11, then Fn + F11. The F10 key should let you enter BIOS, and as I said already, often BIOS will run and display if something is causing Windows to fail and result in a black screen.
Unfortunately these days most computers no longer show a POST screen, which was standard procedure in days gone by. POST stands for Power On Self Test, which is when the computer tests the memory and basic hardware to verify functionality. On slower computers you could see it count up the available memory. As they got faster, this was just a blink. During that screen, you also had the option to press a specific key to enter BIOS. (Basic Input Output System) which is a database of hardware settings. That is where the time and date is set too.
So, if the F10 key lets you see BIOS, the monitor is working. DO NOT CHANGE ANYTHING. Just save and Exit, or do not save and exit, if it gives you that option. Changes in BIOS can be disastrous, if you don’t know what you’re doing. Then you would need to find out how to enter system recovery.
System recovery shouldn’t be hard, it’s usually set up so a 10 year old can handle it, Just follow the on screen prompts. It will wipe out everything on the hard drive, unless they have a non destructive option. Read the options first before you tell it what to do. It will tell you if it is about to wipe out everything.
Okay, I’ll try the F10 key later. In the meantime, I pulled out my old Compaq laptop (which I got FREE with coupons in 2010). I will use this until the newer one is fixed. My wife knows the tech guy and can take it to him this weekend. BTW, my wife is great at networking and seems to know a wide variety of people to perform services cheap. We even had a food guy who would provide us with 2 weeks worth of food and beer (including great cuts of meat) for just 50 bucks. Unfortunately that deal is no longer available.
Take it to the cemetery at midnight. Tie it to a rope and swing it around your head three times. If that does not work take it to Micro Center and they will fix it for about $200.
My computer turned out to be D E A D dead so I got a new one today. Plus the dead computer is about 5 years old so it probably reached the end of its lifespan. However, I do need to transfer data from its hard drive onto the new computer. Any suggestions?
Micro Center also does that for $200. Mr. GG2 had it done a few years ago. They also took the Russian virus off my desktop for $100.
I have a six year laptop on its last legs now. They just don’t seem to last very long.
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