Compaq C700 laptop: No bootable device

CryptoQuick

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Location
Denver, CO
I have a Compaq Presario C700 which is giving me the following error:
No bootable device -- insert boot disk and press any key.

I'm a technical user and have been able to fix just about anything, until now. I've done some research, and I've found that this Compaq C700 is a terrible computer that just can't be fixed. They're probably right.

I've tried to boot off an external optical drive, but this failed to load the system. I've checked the boot order is correct and that the optical drive was enabled in the BIOS, but this still did not allow me to boot from the optical drive. I knew that it recognized a system there because it had an underscore, which meant it was trying to boot from the disk, but sadly, no luck.

As for the hard drive, I've replaced it with a spare, couldn't install Win7 on it directly from the laptop, so I installed it on my desktop system, then put it back in. Still, the message. No bootable device -- insert boot disk and press any key.

I've verified every available BIOS setting to the last detail. The only thing I could think of and haven't yet tried is to try to see if there's a CMOS battery anywhere and disconnect that, but I'm not sure where that could be on a laptop, and taking this thing apart is practically impossible.

I know the CPU and system board and everything else seems to be in working order, it's just that it can't seem to work off of a Windows 7 disc or installation. A red flag for me was when I went into the BIOS (InsydeH20) it mentioned that Vista was the factory installed OS. I wonder if it's doing this because it's expecting, and is proprietary to, Vista.

Sigh. Anyone out there with any ideas?
 

My Computer

Computer Manufacturer/Model Number
Custom
OS
Windows 7
CPU
i5 Clarkdale
Motherboard
Gigabyte
Memory
4GB
Graphics Card(s)
Radeon 5850
Sound Card
-
Monitor(s) Displays
24" IPS
Hard Drives
5x 1.5TB formatted 5.5TB RAID 5
PSU
Corsair 850W
Case
Silverstone TJ07
Cooling
Silverstone HSF
Keyboard
FILCO Majestouch mechanical keyboard
Mouse
Logitech G500
Internet Speed
Comcast 20mbps w/ 250GB/mo. cap
Other Info
Name: Hexanchus
Try Load defaults os load factory settings in bios...
 

My Computer

Computer Manufacturer/Model Number
wipro
OS
windows 7
CPU
wipro
Motherboard
intel
Memory
8 gb
Hard Drives
580 gb
Yeah, I tried that too. I don't think the BIOS 'supports' Windows 7, if that's possible.

Maybe I'll have to load up a BIOS program on a USB flash drive and see if I can load a new BIOS in?

Or maybe I can get my hands on a copy of Vista...
 

My Computer

Computer Manufacturer/Model Number
Custom
OS
Windows 7
CPU
i5 Clarkdale
Motherboard
Gigabyte
Memory
4GB
Graphics Card(s)
Radeon 5850
Sound Card
-
Monitor(s) Displays
24" IPS
Hard Drives
5x 1.5TB formatted 5.5TB RAID 5
PSU
Corsair 850W
Case
Silverstone TJ07
Cooling
Silverstone HSF
Keyboard
FILCO Majestouch mechanical keyboard
Mouse
Logitech G500
Internet Speed
Comcast 20mbps w/ 250GB/mo. cap
Other Info
Name: Hexanchus
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