Joyce E. writes:-

<<<< My older computer (not the one I'm using now) is a Compaq Presario 5000 with two CD drives.  It fell victim to adware/spyware in September of last year. Now I need to use it, to copy some personal stuff from one CD to another, but when I boot it up all I get is a lot of chatter on the monitor that looks like a bazillion old-time memory chips, row on row and flashing on and off.  I tried the Norton website but I can't even get into DOS, much less Windows.  And I've tried my old "Norton rescue" disks to no avail.  So how can I rescue my poor ol' Compaq?  Is there something I can download onto a CD on this computer to transfer to the Compaq?    Or is the Compaq just so much unusable hardware?  (Happily, I made regular backups so I didn't lose much if any data.)  TIA for any help!  Please? >>>

Hi,

if the ONLY purpose of your trying to revive the compaq is to enable cd to cd copying I would suggest the following.

(1) assuming you have an unused IDE connection in your new working computer,and also assuming that the "personal stuff" you want to copy is on the working computer, then remove one cdrom drive from the compaq and connect it to the unused IDE in the working computer. the only precaution you need to take is set the jumpers correctly. if you are not sure how to do this post back.

(2) in case you do not have an extra IDE connection in your working computer then temporarily disconnect one of the drives and connect the cdrom drive from the compaq. hereagain you will have to set the jumpers correctly. after accomplishing your task you can disconnect the compaq cdrom drive and reconnect whatever you had in the working computer.

hope I have been able to explain adequately but if not pl. post back.

(3) OTOH if you want to attempt to revive the compaq then pl. post back whether you are able to access the bios (pressing DEL/F1/F2--depends). if yes you will have to boot from a floppy/cdrom and trouble shoot.

BTW it will be simpler to explain if you post back the details of the drives(IDE) you have in your working computer. generally one can have only four such IDE drives without the need for extra adapters. hard drive(s), cdrom(s),dvdrom(s)etc.


HTH good luck---Venkat

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