using compaq restore disk on new built computer

[koryo]

i just assembled my first computer:
abit be6 v2 with p2 450 and 128meg (133)
udma66 maxter 7200rpm 20 g
memorex 48x cdrom
ati expert 2000 agp

I was wondering if it is possible to use my compaq restore disk (presario 5441 - amd k62 450) onto my new system. i have been unsuccessful so far and was wondering if someone knows how to do it?

so far i have fdisked my drive into one big partition and so it is my only active hard drive.

also i have formatted and enabled it to be my boot disk

created boot floppy already and cdrom drivers are up

problem is i cant install the restore disk into my hard drive. i tried restore.exe but says bad filename. i got into the compaq cdrom restore disk directory and found one "exe" file.it was "pqer" and so then it got me into the compaq quick restore page and so entered install.

just when i thought it might work. it shows me an error 1810 - image file could not be opened. can someone help me with this please

[Underclocked]

I think the only ones that can help you with that are Compaq people and I seriously doubt they will do so.

[howste]

In my opinion you should forget about the Compaq disk and just install from the Windows CD. The Compaq disk is probably going to try to install hardware you don't have and could possibly cause conflicts. Also, some proprietary systems do strange stuff with the hard drive's MBR.

Steve

[jbyron]

Not sure about the Compaq disk.
But with a PB setup disk I was able to copy
the win98 dir to hard drive and install
win 98 without all the PB stuf with it.

[Nathan]

It probably won't work. Between the bus mastering drivers, etc., it'll probably create more problems than it's worth. As they previously mentioned, just do a fresh install from a retail or OEM CD.

[koryo]

can you explain to me step by step how you copied the win98 dir onto the harddisk and installed win 98? i realize it may not work with the compaq restore disk but its worth a try. thanks

[koryo]

if i am better off getting a retail version then am i better off getting win2000?

[smokin1]

Win2000 is Windows NT...call it NT 5.0 if you like...if you want a whole new experience, then maybe..but read up on it first..it definitely is not for everyone..
http://sysopt.earthweb.com/forum/wink.gif

[Toro 45]

Hi Koryo,Congrats on your first build.
If your Compaq computer will recognize your 20 gig hard drive.Take your new hard drive hook it up to your Compaq computer.Use the Compaq restore cd to install Windows. Remove the new drive & install it in your new system. Then remove any of the Compaq junk you don't want & your in business.

Good Luck, Toro http://sysopt.earthweb.com/forum/smile.gif

[Gutter Ball]

Like Toro says...that restore disk is proprietory and will only work in a Compaq system. :/ Wonder how the CD knows if it's a Compaq or not?

[koryo]

thanks smokin1:
i use my computer primarily for browsing and stock trading as well as for business use so gaming is not what i use it for. for my application would w2k be better for me?
is w2k supposed to be more stable? i use three 19" monitors on my compaq currently for stock trading purposes. is the new os supposed to be better for multimonitor setups?

[koryo]

thanks toro 45:
i will try your advice but gutter ball got me thinking. if the compaq restore disk did not recognize my abit p2 computer as a compaq then if i follow your adice and do what you say, my guess is that newly created 20 gig disk will not be bootable because it will probably look for the same presario computer but will see instead a different computer. is my thinking correct. is your advice based on a successful experience?

[Brydon]

I am very sure it is to do with a boot partition on the HDD. If you use fdisk to look at the compaq drive you will see a non-dos partition or something which is about 1% in size and this is what it looks for when booting as I deleted it once on an old presario and when I called compaq they said I must download the correct one from their site and make a floppy which put it back on again.

[Toro 45]

Yes I have done this before with an emachine restore CD. Tried it like you did, no luck. Pulled the hard drive from the emachine put it in the new comp & it booted up.
Seeing that it worked & I did'nt have a Win 98 disk , I put the new drive in the emachine, formatted with the restore CD, installed OS, Pulled the drive installed in new comp. It booted & started loading all the drivers. When I was done I just removed any of the emachine programs I did'nt want.

While this is not the ideal way to install Windows & it may not work with all restore CD's. It did work pefectly in my case.Your other option is to go & buy a new copy of Windows.

Good Luck, Toro http://sysopt.earthweb.com/forum/smile.gif

[barry glisson]

just a thought try the service pack from compaq. i rep. my hdd and had to do that.it should make your new one think its a compaq. barry

[koryo]

toro 45:
thanks it worked!
you are a genius!
but i am having a mysterious problem
my computer gives out a continuous beep sound
its like a beep - boop - beep -boop - beep -boop etc. continuously in even rhythem (one high pitch then one low pitch) i rechecked all the connections and card connections. this sound does not come out soon after i turn on the computer. it happens maybe a few minutes after turning it on. memory tests out okay during bios startup and cpu is running at correct speed and diagnostics show the cpu temp to be under dnager levels. i have a peltier cooler clipped to my chip which i would like to oc in the future so i dont think heat is a problem. but this constant beep sound is irritating the hell out of me. actually it happened even when i had trouble installing compaq restore disk onto my new computer. it beeped when i was in bios too but like a said it does not happen immediately but happens a few minutes later and without warning or reason. i unplugged speaker connection and continued on since performance did not seem to be affected. took your savy advice and was successfull with compaq restore disk install onto my new hard disk. although i have to say that after the installation process the computer asks me to reboot so it can install drivers. thinking that it will install the original compaq drivers i just turned off the computer and reinstalled the new hd onto my new computer and then let the os recognize my new peripherals during the driver recognition process. did i do this right? should i have let my new hard disk reboot in the compaq and let the original compaq peripherals be recoginzed into my new drive and then move my new drive back into my new computer? the reason i am asking is because after install success i remembered to reconnect the speakers. i have installed most of my drivers and while i am in windows the same beep boop sound comes on again. once again not immediately. it happens few minutes after computer startup. cant figure it out. i though it did not affect performance but now there is also a sudden freezing while i am on the internet the cursor does not respond and i does not even respond to alt control delete. i am forced to reboot and then after i log on again and visit a few pages, bam! same thing! any suggestions. sorry for the long winded message.

[howste]

Sounds like someone is playing Pong http://sysopt.earthweb.com/forum/wink.gif

Your board should have an Award BIOS. Their usual beep codes are as follows:

1 Long Beep tone - Memory Problem
1 Long Beep and 2 Short Beeps - DRAM Parity failure
1 Long Beep and 3 Short Beeps - Video error
Continuos Beep tone - Memory or Video memory failures

But, usually they come on at POST, not while the computer is running. Still, it might not hurt to check your memory just in case. Download DocMemory at www.simmtester.com (http://www.simmtester.com) .

I think you did the right thing putting it into the new computer before having it load the hardware drivers. I doubt that Compaq would have modified the Windows install that much - Microsoft has some pretty strict rules about what kind of customization they will allow.

Anyone else have ideas?

Steve

[koryo]

thanks how ste:
regarding the beeps-
they are 2 distinct tones of equal length
one is not shorter than the other
although one is a higher pitch
its like a 1 2 1 2 1 2 1 2 1 2 1 2
what does award say for that sort of tone?
does any one know. once again i have a be6v2 and i am using a cheap speaker that is connected to the inside/front of my tower case

[howste]

I found one more possibility (if it really is an error code) at http://www.rgipc.com/support/troubleshooting_awardbeepcodes.htm . It says:

Continuous Beeping: Mainboard problem

Explanation: The system is producing constant beeping in no specific pattern, or a fast ringing sound.

Diagnosis: This is usually caused by a problem with the motherboard itself or disk access problems. Check cable connections and jumpers.

Not much help, but at least one more thing to try.

Steve

[jbyron]

On the PB disk there is a dir named windows
In it is the fdisk frmat and other ut pro
and another dir that has the setup.exe
and cab and other files to install windows without the PB junk.
You would have to boot with cd suport
use the doscommands to find the dir with the win install pro in it and copy to the hd after fdisk and formating it

[Toro 45]

Koryo,Glad to hear it worked for you.Sounds like you did the right thing removing it when you did.Strange beep-boop noise,I know you checked in the bios but if your M/B has cpu temp monitering it would be good to know what temp your at when you get your freeze.

Try removing your sound card ,modem,nic,and test it like that.

Switch the ram in your 2 computers, see if it makes a difference. Can you test the cpu in another comp? I'm not real familar with peltiers but if you have a regular fan heatsink I would give it a try.Does it only freeze when your on the internet?

Keep posting ,someone here will get you squared away http://sysopt.earthweb.com/forum/smile.gif

Toro http://sysopt.earthweb.com/forum/smile.gif

[neo_otyugh]

the compaq hard disk has a folder c:\windows\options\cabs, where the windows 98 files are stored. a quick and easy way to bypass some of the hassles would have been to install the new drive in teh compaq, copy that folder and then install from the hard drive in the new computer. the restore disk is a custom compaq software and windows installer only...just wanted to bring that to your attention in case you need to do this again. basically the cabs folder is the win98 cd copied to the hard drive...

[jbyron]

Also if the beeps are frm yur speackers nt the computer speaacker. It could be the wrong
drivers for the sound card

[Dputiger]

I don't know about the constant beeping back/forth, but my advice is this. Remove every peripheral in the machine, except for the hard drive and motherboard. Disconnect all other power cables, then boot the machine. If the beeping kicks up again, you'll know its not caused by any other peripheral or card.

If it doesn't start, put parts back in the computer until it kicks up again.

As to the Compaq restore disk, I did an identical switch a while back. http://sysopt.earthweb.com/forum/smile.gif It'll work fine. Let the Compaq restore disk format your hard drive and copy over its software. When it reboots your computer to start Windows take the hard drive out and put it in your new computer. Then, when Windows detects your BIOS and m-board settings, the new computer will be all its ever seen. No hardware conflicts.

[koryo]

bryon

i didnt connect my sound card yet. just using case speaker connected to m/b speaker input. could this be causing problem with beeps?

[koryo]

Dputiger
you say "when it reboots your computer to start windows take the hard drive out and put it in the new computer"
does this mean before you reboot to start windows after initial install,take the drive out and reconnect to new computer or does it mean after the boot process on my compaq then move the hard disk?
it sounds to me like you and the other helpful people are saying that i should move the hd to new comp before letting it boot up for the first time after restore disk install. am i correct? sorry if i sound rediculous.

[jbyron]

Just put the new drive it the compaq. completely install windows
the go to device manager and remove every thing including drive controllers .
Put the drive in the new computer and let it find all again hope you have all the drivers

[Ed_S]

No matter what, the Compaq restore disk will create a small non-dos partition. Compaq uses this for a portion of their BIOS setup program. Don't know if it will cause a problem when the drive is later used elsewhere.
Also, they may not even have the drivers for non-Compaq equipment in their version of Windows.

Since you're using it primarily for business, reliablity must be a key factor. I would strongly recommend acquiring an actual W98 CD. Small price compared to having a lockup at an inopportune time!!

Not to be "stuffy", but there's also the legality to consider. You really should have a copy for each machine. Particularly for business usage.

[koryo]

Ed_s

thanks for your wise input