Compaq 4640 233 upgrade

  • Thread starter Thread starter Mike Coldewey
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Mike Coldewey

Hope this is the right group for this question: I have a Compaq Presario 233
model 4640. The original hard disk has gotten messed up so I thought I'd try
to just install a new one and install a new OS on it. The one I got (used
from a friend, but perfectly ok) is a Western Digital 40GB. However, when I
try to configure it in the setup program (by hitting F10 from the COMPAQ
prompt) I can't enter the specifications such that I can get the BIOS to
recognize the drive. A friend suggested that I need to update the BIOS. I
went to the HP site but don't see any BIOS upgrades available. Has anyone
seen this problem and worked around it? Is there something else I'm missing
(I've tried all the jumper combos to no avail)?

Thanks in advance,
Mike
 
Mike Coldewey said:
Hope this is the right group for this question: I have a Compaq Presario 233
model 4640. The original hard disk has gotten messed up so I thought I'd try
to just install a new one and install a new OS on it. The one I got (used
from a friend, but perfectly ok) is a Western Digital 40GB. However, when I
try to configure it in the setup program (by hitting F10 from the COMPAQ
prompt) I can't enter the specifications such that I can get the BIOS to
recognize the drive. A friend suggested that I need to update the BIOS. I
went to the HP site but don't see any BIOS upgrades available. Has anyone
seen this problem and worked around it? Is there something else I'm missing
(I've tried all the jumper combos to no avail)?

Thanks in advance,
Mike
Click to expand...

Try data lifeguard (the DOS version I believe would work best) -Dave

http://support.wdc.com/download/index.asp
 
Thanks, Dave.
I had a copy of this (it came with the hard disk) and it still won't
recognize the drive. I think it might be a BIOS problem; I've read elsewhere
about some sort of an 8gb limit with some Compaq machines (of that vintage).

Mike
 
use the setup program from within the WD disk (Boot from it).. it
will detect whether or not your bios will support it.
if not you have 2 options one bios flash or EZ bios overlay
software(on that disk)

taken from compaq BTW no bios updates found either

If the hard drive is detected, press F10 and then press Enter to exit
the BIOS setup. If the hard drive is not detected, follow the steps
listed below under “System stops responding or does not start.”

System stops responding or does not start


If the computer stops responding at the red Compaq logo, or a blank
screen appears and Windows does not start, perform the following
steps:
If the computer is on, turn off the computer.

Open the computer case by removing the side panels and/or cover.

Disconnect the hard drive IDE cable.

Turn on the computer. Ignore any error messages that appear.

Turn off the computer, and reconnect the IDE cable.

Turn on the computer. check for detection
 
Thanks, Dave.
I had a copy of this (it came with the hard disk) and it still won't
recognize the drive. I think it might be a BIOS problem; I've read elsewhere
about some sort of an 8gb limit with some Compaq machines (of that vintage).

Mike
Click to expand...

If it is a 233 Mhz system, it probably will have the 8GB limitation.
 
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