How do I enter BIOS on a Compaq?

[buckhunter]

I am upgrading my sisters Compaq Presario 5600i with a new Hard drive and Windows XP. Does anyone know the key combinations to get into the Bios on a Compaq?

[moorcito]

I know on Compaq laptops it's the F10 key. I'd imagine that desktops use the same key.

[Borisw37]

I am in the process of repairing/ messing around with a 1996 Compaq, DeskPro 4000 with 66mhz Pentium MMX :) And i can not figure out how to get into bios. It seems like it does not have a user accesible bios. If i plug in different HDDs, it says, error # wrong HDD size etc..., then settings will be set, press F1 to reboot. So it seems like the bios configures itself :(

[Sterculus]

Try all of the different F keys at various stages of the boot, I'm sure there is some way to get into it (Cause the techs would probably have to sometimes)

[niter]

F10 worked on one that i worked on... but don't forget to try the "del" key... also, you won't be impressed once in there... just a heads up... good luck.

[badvector]

Originally posted by Borisw37
I am in the process of repairing/ messing around with a 1996 Compaq, DeskPro 4000 with 66mhz Pentium MMX :) And i can not figure out how to get into bios. It seems like it does not have a user accesible bios. If i plug in different HDDs, it says, error # wrong HDD size etc..., then settings will be set, press F1 to reboot. So it seems like the bios configures itself :(

On a model that old, your bios was accessed via a program on the original hard drive. If you ever swapped hard drives, you had to download the program from the compaq website and run it from a floppy in order to change bios settings.

Buckhunter, if you haven't goteen it already, it should be the F10 key as others have indicated.

[Darksun]

try F6 it works on my old compaq