Compaq Hard Drive Installation Problem

moundtown · 04-04-2006, 04:54 PM

I was given a Compaq Presario 5441 desktop that runs perfectly except for the fact that it has only a 4 GB hard drive (probably the original). I am trying to replace the hard drive with a new 80 GB Seagate. After installing the new drive, placing the Seagate disc in the CDROM drive, and booting up the computer, I can not get past the Compaq startup screen. It just freezes there and does not access the Seagate disc.

I have the BIOS set to boot from the CDROM first. I do not have any of the original discs that would have come with the computer. I made a boot floppy (on another computer) from the Seagate disc but it was also ignored by the Compaq. Might there be some boot disc that I can download to solve this problem? I welcome any suggestions.

Thanks

Bootup05 · 04-04-2006, 04:56 PM

How old is the board in the system, open it up and have a look for the make and model number, then google for it and look at the specs, could be that if its an old board the 80gig is to much for it and it wont allow it to operate. Old boards with old BIOS's have hdd limits on them that aint very big. Try updating your Bios and see if that helps

**The_Other_One** · 04-04-2006, 06:02 PM

I bet you I know the problem! Older compaqs had a portion of the bios on the hard drive. There is really no way to replace the harddrive without an original drive. Though, I never tried copying the partition over using like Linux or something... But either way, I've run into this problem before. About all you can do is run it as a slave.

IS_Contractor · 04-05-2006, 08:22 PM

Ummm... why would you be putting the Seagate disc into your cd rom for bootup?
1.) You have not partitioned your HD.
2.) You have not formatted your HD.
3.) You have not installed your OS on your HD.

I have never known a cd from the HD manufacturer to have the OS on their cd with the HD drivers on it. It probably doesn't even have a boot sector on it... just autorun for their software to install the drivers.

Try putting your OS on the HD and then try using the cd for the Seagate... which you probably won't even need.

Also, are the jumpers on your HD correct?

**The_Other_One** · 04-05-2006, 08:52 PM

Trust me people, it's not possible without the partition. I'd bet most anything that's why it's not working because I ran into the EXACT same problem with my grandparent's machine.

04-04-2006, 04:54 PM	#1 (permalink)
moundtown New Member Join Date: Mar 2006 Posts: 10	Compaq Hard Drive Installation Problem I was given a Compaq Presario 5441 desktop that runs perfectly except for the fact that it has only a 4 GB hard drive (probably the original). I am trying to replace the hard drive with a new 80 GB Seagate. After installing the new drive, placing the Seagate disc in the CDROM drive, and booting up the computer, I can not get past the Compaq startup screen. It just freezes there and does not access the Seagate disc. I have the BIOS set to boot from the CDROM first. I do not have any of the original discs that would have come with the computer. I made a boot floppy (on another computer) from the Seagate disc but it was also ignored by the Compaq. Might there be some boot disc that I can download to solve this problem? I welcome any suggestions. Thanks

04-04-2006, 04:56 PM	#2 (permalink)
Bootup05 Diamond Member Join Date: Jan 2006 Location: Essex, UK Age: 17 Posts: 1,266	How old is the board in the system, open it up and have a look for the make and model number, then google for it and look at the specs, could be that if its an old board the 80gig is to much for it and it wont allow it to operate. Old boards with old BIOS's have hdd limits on them that aint very big. Try updating your Bios and see if that helps __________________ Main System Proccy - Intel E6400 @ 3440 \| Mobo - P5B DLX \| RAM - 2GB TwinX 6400 C5 \| GPU - 96GT HDD - WD 400GB Caviar SE - WD 320GB Caviar SE - 160GB Seagate Ext Monitor - Asus 19" Wide LCD \| PSU - Tagan 600W Dual Engine \| Soundcard - SB Live Ext 24 Heatsink - S Infinity \| Optical - Pioneer DVDRW \| OS - Vista Ult64 SP1

04-04-2006, 06:02 PM	#3 (permalink)
The_Other_One Super Moderator Join Date: Mar 2005 Location: Lexington, NC Age: 23 Posts: 12,364	I bet you I know the problem! Older compaqs had a portion of the bios on the hard drive. There is really no way to replace the harddrive without an original drive. Though, I never tried copying the partition over using like Linux or something... But either way, I've run into this problem before. About all you can do is run it as a slave. __________________ Desktop * Athlon X2 4200 \| 2G RAM \| 160G HD \| 7600GT Laptop1 * C2D T5550 \| 3G RAM \| 120G HD \| Intel x3100 Laptop2 * C2D T5250 \| 2G RAM \| 160G HD \| Intel x3100

04-05-2006, 08:52 PM	#5 (permalink)
The_Other_One Super Moderator Join Date: Mar 2005 Location: Lexington, NC Age: 23 Posts: 12,364	Trust me people, it's not possible without the partition. I'd bet most anything that's why it's not working because I ran into the EXACT same problem with my grandparent's machine. __________________ Desktop * Athlon X2 4200 \| 2G RAM \| 160G HD \| 7600GT Laptop1 * C2D T5550 \| 3G RAM \| 120G HD \| Intel x3100 Laptop2 * C2D T5250 \| 2G RAM \| 160G HD \| Intel x3100

Thread Tools
Show Printable Version Email this Page
Display Modes
Linear Mode Switch to Hybrid Mode Switch to Threaded Mode

04-05-2006, 08:22 PM	#4 (permalink)
IS_Contractor Bronze Member Join Date: Mar 2006 Posts: 37	Ummm... why would you be putting the Seagate disc into your cd rom for bootup? 1.) You have not partitioned your HD. 2.) You have not formatted your HD. 3.) You have not installed your OS on your HD. I have never known a cd from the HD manufacturer to have the OS on their cd with the HD drivers on it. It probably doesn't even have a boot sector on it... just autorun for their software to install the drivers. Try putting your OS on the HD and then try using the cd for the Seagate... which you probably won't even need. Also, are the jumpers on your HD correct?