Compaq won't reboot, needs tattooing?

Workaholic · May 8th, 2005, 02:03 AM

Okay, I am not computer savy, but here's my best shot at this problem. I recently purchased a Compaq Presario s6020wm desktop pc from a friend. All she had was the computer, no manuals or disks or anything. Unfortunely, she had alot of downloaded things on the desktop and it was causing the computer to run very slow. (Over a minute to load a page using DSL.) Another friend suggested that the computer needed to have a system recovery done to basically reset the system back to new. So this is what I have: Compaq Presario s6020wm desktop pc, running windows xp home edition. I went through the computer to do the system recovery. I didn't use a disk or anything just followed the computer's pop ups. After it finished, it attempted to reboot, and when it got to the Windows XP screen, a pop up comes up saying "system configuration error" "code purple". I contacted Compaq Customer service and was told that the motherboard needs to be retattooed. Thinking that will be expensive, I searched the net for information about this. Now, I am more confused than ever. Does anyone understand the problem I am having? Does it need to be retattooed? Can anything else be done to fix it? If tattooing is needed is that expensive and where is a good place to do it at? Can it be fixed at home? Will the restore disk fix it or does it even have a restore disk? Please help. Thanks. Danielle

sweeper2 · May 8th, 2005, 02:12 AM

hmm, can you do a system restore... try booting up in safe mode... i think by pressing F8 when the pc starts up...

Bill in SD, CA · May 8th, 2005, 03:11 AM

Welcome to TechIMO!!

A system restore disk might do it but any random one may also contain the tatoo for another system.

Meaning that each restore/sytem disk from Coampaq may not work as it may be specific to the system it came with.

Did Compaq offer any further help?

Bill in SD, CA

lone1dog · May 8th, 2005, 03:18 AM

I would be willing to bet it has a restore on the HD and I think F-8 on reboot brings it up am I right Bill?

Workaholic · May 8th, 2005, 10:27 AM

I called Compaq and talked with a tech online, both state that I need to have the motherboard "retattooed". When I inquire about a restore disc, I am told newer computer don't use them any more. When starting the computer, I have the option to press F10 to go into restore. Whether I do a regular restore or an advanced destructive restore, I am left at the same problem, it states it can not reboot, beacause it wa improperly set up. So I reboot the computer, and press F8. This is the safe mode. It will not restart in safe mode, pops up "System not fully set up. Run set again." So I reboot again, press F8 and then select "last know working configuration". It reboots and comes up with, "Windows could not start becasue the following file is missing or corrupted". The file listed is \WINDOWS\system32\config\SYSTEM. It state that "you can attempt to repair this file by starting Windows Setup using the original Set Up CD-Rom". Pressing any keys sends it rebooting. It locks up on the Windows XP screen. Am I needing the Restore Disc or the Windows XP Disc? I have Windows XP disc, would rebooting the computer with that disc in the drive help at all?

Siliconjunkie · May 8th, 2005, 10:33 AM

Best thing to do is probably to just buy a cheap copy of XP and start over.

Bill in SD, CA · May 8th, 2005, 10:47 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by lone1dog

I would be willing to bet it has a restore on the HD and I think F-8 on reboot brings it up am I right Bill?

On my HP there is a category in Programs called 'PC Help and Tools'.

It has the option to create a recovery CD(s) to restore to out of the box condition.

One slight little caveat to that is ( at least with my HP ) 'once used - last used'.

There is a hope that your friend, having not kept any relevant out of the box stuff, may never have bothered to create one.

May be under a different name in Programs so look at any category that's there.

As a side note, my HP did not come with any system CDs.

Found this out when a customer wanted to buy the last HP model we had and wanted a discount because the box was open and there appeared to be missing a recovery CD.

She ended up getting a substantial discount and it wasn't until I bought mine did I find out there wasn't one in the box to start with.

Bill

Workaholic · May 8th, 2005, 01:14 PM

I can't get the computer to get past the start up page for the Windows XP. It states to "Please wait" then the pop up comes up and states that there is a problem. From there it completely locks up and states to shut it down. There is nothing on the desktop I can get to. That's why I am wondering is it a system restore disc I need or just the Windows XP? I have the WIndows XP disc, should that fix it, or do I need the restore disc? If I can use the Windows XP disc, what do I do, just put it in the cd-rom drive and reboot the computer?

elroy · May 8th, 2005, 01:42 PM

Just one more confirmation that you should never buy a Compaq/HP computer under any circumstances. Put the WinXP cd in the cd drive and reboot the pc. Hopefully it will boot to the cd drive. If not you need to go into the bios and set the cd drive as the 1st boot device. Do NOT select to repair, you want to do a completely new installation without saving any old information.

Can someone explain "tattoo" as it applies to a pc. I've never seen this term used in relation to computers.

sweeper2 · May 8th, 2005, 02:19 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by elroy

Can someone explain "tattoo" as it applies to a pc. I've never seen this term used in relation to computers.

me to ??

my suggestion is to start over with your win xp disc... put it in... if you can get to the bios, set it to boot from "cd-rom" first... then just do a complete format and reinstall windows....