162 System Oprions not set

[kelly]

My neighbor brought over his Compaq 385 machine. On boot it displays the following error message: 162 System Options not set (Run Setup)

If you insert a 3-1/2 DOS startup disk, you can't get to the C drive.

So I thought the hard drive was bad. It's an 80 MB drive (Yes MB, not GB). The drive is working. I moved his files to my machine.

So why isn't this machine not seeing the hard drive? I figure the error message means the hard drive isn't configured as the BIOS expects. I noted the number of heads and cylinders marked on the hard drive, but don't see an option for that configuration in the BIOS.

Also I don't see a BIOS battery in this thing.

Anyone have insites as to why this machine isn't seeing the hard drive?

thanks

- tony d

[mylanta]

http://www.uktsupport.co.uk/compaq/faq/comppost.htm

This message is displayed when the system configuration stored on the
motherboard (often called the "CMOS" since it's typically stored in
battery backed-up CMOS RAM) has become corrupted in some way. Except
for the time and date, the system will usually auto-detect its
environment, reset the parameters on its own, and is able to continue.
Before it tries to do so, you are usually presented with the choice of
pressing a key (F1 or F2, I think) to "continue", "boot", etc. with the
alternative of pressing a different key to "enter setup". If you select
"boot", it will run that time but may still give you the 162 error the
next time due to the internal clock still being invalid. (It may prompt
you for the time and date regardless, and you won't have to enter Setup
to do so.) In any event, the 162 error is not a killer error in and of
itself. Proceed past it by selecting "boot", and see if everything else
works.

If you still get the error the next bootup even though you DID set the
time & date previously, and it appears to have not retained it, then
the CMOS battery has run down and needs to be replaced so the setup
paramters will be retained, and so the clock can keep time in between
boot-ups.

Also first try reset bios to optimum default settings....

[kelly]

Rich,

I hear everything your saying and that's what I expected. Only
a) It's not losing date/time
b) I don't see a battery in this thing
c) I don't see a configuration in BIOS that will match the hard drive

I can proceed past the error message, but no system is found. I suspect because the hard drive isn't being seen.

I loaded the Default config - no change.

Observation: It says no Fixed Disk is installed and Boot record not found. And I can't find a BIOS disk config to match the installed drive.

This is pretty old and very strange. I was hoping someone with experience on these older machines would know something more.

- tony d

[Seth]

Since the cmos is holding, I would check for a firmware upgrade for the hard drive. I would also try the system with all the hd jumper configurations, as well removing the jumper completely.

[Seth]

This too...

If the above doesn't work, I'd flash the bios.

[mylanta]

Yeah the key is this error means a Compaq with a bios problem...that would be the next logical move.

[Seth]

Yeah the key is this error means a Compaq with a bios problem...that would be the next logical move.

Or just live with it...because ya might end up ripping your hair out trying to find any upgrades for something that old.

Poor old mobo would probably keel over if you tried to flash it.

[kelly]

I sold him an old Pentium I had handing around. That was easier.
-td

[mylanta]

I sold him an old Pentium I had handing around. That was easier.
-td

My favorite solution!!!