Compaq Armada 1750

geowi Posted messages 23 Status Member -  
 letube -
I have an old Compaq Armada 1750 laptop.
But when I turn it on, the Compaq logo appears followed by a black screen with a blue window and a message saying power-on password (followed by a key). When I press enter, the message reappears with the key crossed out.
I was told to remove the battery and put it back after 10 minutes. I tried, but the message is still there.
On the internet, I found either
by opening the laptop and removing the BIOS battery. You will need to reconfigure it afterward. It is possible that you will also have to perform a low-level format of the hard drive (from the BIOS or a Compaq boot disk), you can ask Compaq customer service to provide you information on this topic.

To remove a password from a card, you need to do a clear CMOS
clear CMOS> reset the motherboard configuration to default
look for a small jumper on the motherboard (black or red) marked CLRTC, move it one pin over and then put it back in its original position

I am not capable of doing that, I don't even know how to open a laptop!?

33 answers

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bmknino
 
Hi, I just saw your msg, I had the same problem with my dear Armada: so: 1- turn off your mobile 2- remove the battery and the power supply 3- lift the keyboard (by unhooking two clips that are symmetrically located concerning the mouse of the laptop, towards the bottom of the keyboard) 4- unplug the small flat battery (3 volts) 5- turn on the laptop without anything plugged in, the green "power" LED will light up and then go off for a second. 6- plug the power supply back in by itself 7- the laptop will turn back on by itself 8- after a few seconds, the screen will display "f1" for "save" and "f2" for "ignore" 9- press "f1" 10- and that's it, plug everything back in, the battery and close the keyboard
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Jean-Charles LAUTH
 
Thank you for the "COMPAQ Armada 1750 repair" procedure; on this forum, you seem to be one of those who have delved into the issues with this hardware. I am desperately trying to format my hard drive to reinstall a less resource-intensive OS than XP, and no matter what software I use (DOS, Partition Magic, or the Windows 2000 install), do you have a solution as brilliant as the one for the password? I'm on the verge of throwing it in the trash completely.

Thanks in advance
jclauth
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bmknino Posted messages 1 Status Member > Jean-Charles LAUTH
 
You know, I've had my Armada since the year 2000, and it still works, and to format it I use the Windows XP CD, I do as if I'm going to install Windows, then it asks me if I want to format, I say yes, and at the end of the formatting I stop the installation. I know it's not the best method, but it's my "D" drive.

Otherwise, look online for bootable CDs, because with those CDs you can boot your PC without going through the OS, you just need to find a bootable CD that allows you to format.

P.S.: If I find a link, I'll post it here.
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jojonas Posted messages 3 Status Member > Jean-Charles LAUTH
 
Don't throw it away, I'm looking for parts...
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moi
 
To remove the password from a Compaq laptop, you need a service disk, which normally only Compaq technicians have.
Removing the battery will not erase the password key, which is stored in the EEPROM. No jumper either.
The best thing is for you to search for yourself on the internet by specifying in the search engine (Google) "password EEPROM". You may have a chance of finding it.
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alex
 
1°) It is important to know that the Armada's BIOS requires a 15 MB partition at the root of the disk. This partition contains the program managing the BIOS. Without it, you can't do anything, and as often by default, the OS installation overwrites the entire disk, goodbye BIOS management! I have a ghost of this partition if you want.

2°) Some Armadas only tolerate a reduced amount of RAM. You can consult the technical documentation to see the possibilities for your model:
http://h20000.www2.hp.com/bizsupport/TechSupport/DocumentIndex.jsp?contentType=SupportManual&locale=en_US&docIndexId=179111&taskId=101&prodTypeId=321957&prodSeriesId=96222

3°) The BIOS update is done via the ROM pack at this link:

http://h18000.www1.hp.com/support/files/notebooks/us/locate/20_1099.html

For the
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reda
 
Hello, thanks for this explanation, you are right.
I also have this problem, if possible can you send me the ghost please?
Here is my email info-sys@hotmail.com
please
thank you.
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routch
 
Hello Alex, this is Routch.
I have a small problem with my Compaq Armada 1750 laptop,
no more partition for the BIOS
I saw that you were talking about a partition ghost, what is a ghost?
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yalta128 Posted messages 1 Status Member
 
Help

if Alex can send me the ghost that would be really great

yalta128@yahoo.fr
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jac4is
 
Hello,
I inherited a COMPAQ ARMADA 1750 and I can't get it to work. In fact, someone has formatted the HD and it only starts from DSK7.
Can you help me?
How do I enter the BIOS, etc...
Thank you in advance.
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vn800fred
 
Hello

I would like to get the ghost image if you still have it. I still have some hair left, although I’ve torn out quite a bit with my armada 1750!

Thank you

Best regards
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leglaude59 Posted messages 94 Status Member 3
 
Hello,
honestly, there's nothing very difficult about disassembling a laptop, but if you're worried about this operation, trust it to someone you trust.
As for clearing the CMOS, not all laptops are equipped with it and the battery is sometimes soldered. But the only solution I know is indeed to cut the power to the BIOS.
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erikleviking
 
Hello,

I had exactly the same problem with exactly the same laptop. I managed to reset the BIOS by removing the battery. If you haven't succeeded, check the following points:

- Did you properly disconnect the power supply AND the laptop battery (the big one, not the small one!)?
- Did you wait long enough after removing the battery? It takes a certain time for the BIOS to reset...

Otherwise... I’m not sure... In any case, the battery is not soldered, or if it is, you can disconnect the cable that connects it to the motherboard (to be honest, I don't remember exactly how I did it... But I'm sure I disconnected the battery and it reset the BIOS for me! So, no more password and I was able to reinstall the laptop with 98.

Good luck! And perseverance...
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erikleviking
 
Just to say that my previous message is not an April Fools' joke! It's the truth, even though it's April 1st!
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ismail
 
Hello, I have a similar problem regarding the startup of my laptop.
During startup, when the screen displays "compaq" in red, it says "error 1750" on the top right, and then it behaves as if there were a floppy disk inside, meaning it asks me to remove my disk and press any button. However, there is no floppy disk, so what can I do? Please help me because I am starting to despair (the exam period is approaching!)
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erikleviking
 
Apparently, you need to enter the BIOS (press F10) and disable the boot from the floppy disk. Can you still launch Windows, and is the floppy disk drive working normally?
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ismail
 
The reader works normally, but I can't even start Windows! It gets stuck on the message: "no disk system or disk error, please strike any key to continue."
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dominique
 
Hello, I have the same problem with my Compac 1750, the same message and I don't know how to get out of it.
Can someone tell me how to restart the machine?
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alex
 
I think it's your hard drive that has taken a hit. It can't boot from it. You might want to try booting from a live CD like Knoppix to recover your data, but I think formatting your drive will be necessary. See if you can run a check disk to see if you have any bad sectors on your disk.
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rahmany
 
I have the same problem with my Aramada 1750, but if you managed to solve the password issue by removing the battery, I will do the same. What I want to know is how long it takes to put the battery back in place.
Thank you.
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BURLOT
 
Hello,
I'm following up on the comments about Armada 1750 as I also have problems:
1°) Unable to enter the BIOS, neither with F10 nor with the usual keys.
2°) I would like to add a 256 MB module to replace the 64 MB one that gives me 128 MB in total.
3°) I believe that a BIOS update could facilitate the acceptance of this new SDRAM 256 in 100, which has been rejected so far, although it is recognized.
Thank you if you see a lead.
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BURLOT
 
Thank you for the response, but I think I will leave everything as it is. It's a shame, I would have liked to speed up the operation of my Armada a bit.
Since I installed Win XP instead of the original Win NT, the disk was formatted and the BIOS must have gone with it.
Moreover, the links you provided are interesting, surely, but in English and given my new OS, probably less useful.
Finally, if someone can help me:
It recognizes the new memory, but it hangs on starting Windows due to a "corrupted" file (System32\Drivers\isapnp.sys).
It suggests I do a recovery with the Win XP CD, but cannot load Setupdd.sys with an error code 4.
If you think your ghost of the BIOS partition can help me reconfigure everything correctly, I am willing to try.
Thanks again.
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ultralex Posted messages 5 Status Member
 
I received the same message recently when I also wanted to add RAM to my Armada. Remove the RAM you tried to install because it’s not compatible with the computer. Since it doesn’t recognize it, it creates a conflict on its PCI port. My ghost won’t change anything. Go to the Kingston site:
http://www.ec.kingston.com/ecom/configurator/models.asp?root=us

Keep in mind that I often reinstall OS on my Armada (Windows or Linux) and the most pleasant, stable, and least resource-intensive OS is Windows LSD 3, an OS based on Windows XP Pro SP2 with the removal of Uncle Bill’s flaws: http://www.astucesdunet.over-blog.com/article-84449.html

If you want my ghost partition, give me your email address and I will send it to you along with a small operating procedure.
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mich42300 Posted messages 2 Status Member
 
Hello, I am interested in the ghost of the sequence for the boot for my Compaq Armada 1750 and if you could also indicate how to use it. Thank you.
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mich42300 Posted messages 2 Status Member
 
Hello, I am interested in the ghost of the sequence for the boot for my Compaq Armada 1750 and if you could also indicate how to use it. Thank you.
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ultralex Posted messages 5 Status Member > mich42300 Posted messages 2 Status Member
 
I'm sorry,
I sold my ARMADA on E-bay and I'm afraid I no longer have the ghost image. I'm looking without much hope.
Best regards
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ultralex Posted messages 5 Status Member > mich42300 Posted messages 2 Status Member
 
Hello,
I'm sorry but I've sold my armada and I don't think I have the ghost image anymore. I'm searching without much hope.
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BURLOT
 
Hello and thank you.
I'm willing to reinstall the ghost partition to get back to a normal configuration if you send it to me along with the instructions.
(mburlot@cg86.fr)
I currently have Win XP Pro SP2 installed and
it's true that it has a lot of unnecessary things for a laptop. The
LSD3 will ease the RAM and I think I will subscribe to it as well.
I will try to find another RAM stick after returning the one I had a lot of trouble finding
or rather I had to wait almost 2 months for delivery.
But I will keep following the Kingston site as you suggested.
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Amiseb
 
For lost BIOS passwords on Armada 1750, take a look at this site "http://www.ukstudentlaptops.com/guides/guide1_passclear.htm"

It works like a charm, I just tried it...
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Badiuth
 
Hello,
I have exactly the same symptoms as you, Burlot, so I wanted to know if you installed the LSD III or if you found a compatible memory stick (personally, I'm stuck with a Dane-Elec 256 Mo pc-133 and Windows SP2 on a Compaq Armada 1750). So if you have any updates, I'm interested ;)
Thanks.
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BURLOT
 
I found some RAM. After 2 failures, I conclude that it's Kingston that works, and the most available is 256 MB at 100 and not 133.
That gives me now 256+64 = 320 MB. That's much better, but with Win XP Pro, it's still not enough.
I can't take the risk of changing everything right now, as I need my machine, even if it's a bit sluggish. But I think soon, I'm going to reinstall the Windows NT that was originally there, and I have the CD that should restore everything to working order with the BIOS that I've lost.
There you go. Good luck.
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christophe1429 Posted messages 1 Status Member > BURLOT
 
Hi, I also have an Armada 1750, here's its configuration

Processor Pentium 2 333Mhz
Hard drive 6.4 Go
64+32Mo of RAM
Windows XP PRO + SP2

As you can guess, it's lagging a lot and I plan to upgrade it, so here’s the configuration I want to give it

Processor Pentium 3 650Mhz
Hard drive 20 Go
64+128Mo or 64+256Mo of RAM
Windows XP PRO + SP2


I sent an email to Compaq asking how far I could push the Armada 1750 and they told me that for the hard drive it's a maximum of 10Go and that for the processor it's a maximum of a Pentium 2 400Mhz and for the memory it was a maximum of 196Mo

So I'm waiting for opinions on this, I want to keep Windows XP PRO.
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ultralex Posted messages 5 Status Member > christophe1429 Posted messages 1 Status Member
 
Hello,
Know that WIN LSD III is based on XP Pro SP1.
For the RAM, 196 MB is incompatible with additional calculations considering the 64 MB already present, so the maximum is 192 MB (=128+64). For the CPU and the HDD, I cannot provide you with information.
Good luck.
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ultralex Posted messages 5 Status Member
 
Hello
I couldn't find any used RAM on E-bay as I planned to do. However, on a colleague's Armada 1750D with 192 MB (64 MB base + 128 MB Kingston), I was able to install and test the wonders of WIN LSD III in terms of speed, continuity, and stability. To be frank, I installed it on my desktop and it works like a charm.
Good luck
See you later
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Burlot
 
Hello,
I found another, more recent laptop.
I'm keeping the Armada 1750 as a backup, stripped down to the max with its 10 GB, 400 MHz, 320 MB of RAM, and Win XP SP2.
It runs with a pretty slow startup.
I don't think I can do any better.
Thanks to everyone who showed interest in my situation.
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nittygritty
 
I have one for sale, in perfect condition with Win XP installed, running smoothly with 192 MB of RAM + some nice accessories (external CD burner, PCMCIA cards for USB 2.0, etc.).
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