Problem with start up BIOS/HardDrive set-up on Compaq Presario XP Media Center Desktop

[gineokat]

I've a 4 yr old computer I just opened and set up 2 days ago.  Warranty is gone.  This may be an easy fix but I'm no computer expert.

When I turn on the computer the Compaq screen comes up with ESC/ Boot - F1/ Set up - F10/ System Recovery along the bottom of the screen.  If I don't hit one of the selections I get a screen that says--

*Reboot and Select proper Boot Device or Insert Boot Media in Selected Boot Device and press a key.*

If I press ESC (to boot) when the Compaq screen comes up, I then get a box that has two choices.  One choice being my hard drive and the other being my CDRom drive.  If I highlight the hard drive and hit enter the computer comes up like it should normally.

If I instead hit F1 (set up) I get the BIOS.  On the Main screen in the BIOS, the hard drive is listed as the 1st Channel Device and the CDRom drive is listed as the 2nd Channel Device.

On the Advanced screen in the BIOS it says the Onboard LAN Boot Rom is [Disabled]

On the Boot screen of the BIOS the info is as follows:

1st Boot Device:    [Floppy Group]

2nd Boot Device:   [CDRom Group]

3rd Boot Device:   [(Hard Drive)]

4th Boot Device:   [Network Boot Group]

Floppy Group Boot Priority:         [Not Installed]

CDRom Group Boot Priority:      [SM-HL-DT-ST RW DVD]

Hard Drive Group Boot Priority:  [Not Installed]

Network Group Boot Prority:       [Not Installed]

I can boot manually and the computer works fine from there but it's annoying.  I have no recovery discs and no discs came with the computer.

Shouldn't the Hard Drive be listed as the 1st Boot Device and why is it 'Disabled' in the BIOS Boot screen?

Shouldn't also the 'Hard Drive' be listed in the corresponding 1st Group Boot Priority position but why is it listed as [Not Installed]?

How can I fix this?  Sorry the explanation is so long but like I said- I'm no computer expert.

Thanks for your time.

Tim 

[Mumbodog]

Yes set it as first boot device, see if it behaves now.

Can you change the "Hard Drive Group Boot Priority: by highlighting it?

[SandyD]

Pleased refer to this thread:  http://h30434.www3.hp.com/t5/Other-Desktop-PC-questions/Expert-Help-Start-up-BIOS-SET-UP-Problem-Com...


Locking duplicate post.  As a general practice, please select the one best forum for your issue, and post your issue only there.  This helps to reduce forum clutter and in turn results in quicker response time from experts.


Thank you.