HP ProBook 6550b HELP!

[Snake Byte]

What happen if you disconnect the hard drive? It should go straight to the CD. Otherwise, the cd/dvd drive is shot.

I am not sure, I will do a google search and try taking it apart, never done it before but I will try it.

 

[Snake Byte]

Ok, I took out the HardDrive and booted it up, it just says..

Non-System disk or Disk Error
replace and strike any key when ready

 

[MindoverMaster]

Yeah, it's not recognizing the CD drive. That's why F9 wasn't showing it, too. How did he install Ubuntu before? Seems odd that just now, it won't work.

 

[Snake Byte]

It was working before, after he tryed installing the Ubuntu he asked me to look at it, I did for only a few seconds and I had to leave and while I was there checking it out it was working and goin into all the boot settings and system info and all that stuff, but I have no idea what he did after I had left. He must have been messing with it more and did something else. All I know is someone told my Grandmother they would get windows on it for $100. So I told her I would try to fix it so it don't cost her anything, but I don't think the person has even seen the computer or knows what is wrong.

But what are my options now?.. Do I have to buy a new CD Drive and Hard Drive? Is that my only options with this thing?

 

[MindoverMaster]

Well, it could just be disabled. Go into BIOS (system settings) and look around. I do not know your BIOS, so I can not tell you a specific place to look. There should be a disable/enable option on the disk drive. Could be under the disk configuration, or someplace hidden. Just have to look.

Edit: Or better yet, try to reset the BIOS to factory settings. There's an option in there, in the furthest right tab where it ells you how to restart and all that.

 

[Snake Byte]

Ok, earlier today I could not get into the BIOS, it was asking for a password, I have no passwords, and I could not get in, is there a Default password for this?

I will look into it tomorrow, thanks for the help so far, much appreciated.

 

[MindoverMaster]

Actually, no. There should be a guide that shows you how to short the BIOS, therefore resetting it to defaults. That may break the password.

 

[carnageX]

Resetting BIOS doesn't always clear the BIOS password, and sometimes clearing BIOS is impossible with laptops.

 

[Snake Byte]

So if I can not clear the BIOS PW then I am pretty much forced to get a new CD Drive and Hard Drive or the computer is just a paper weight?

 

[MindoverMaster]

Try reading this: How Do I Reset A Bios Password? | HP ProBook 6540b Support