Help HEL81 assembly

Hi,

I have just purchased a Compal HEL81 and I have problems to have it to work.

I have installed the following components
CPU: T5500
Memory: 1Gb Corsair DDR2 SO-DIMM PC5300 200 Pin, Non-ECC Unbuffered
HDD: Seagate 5400.3 80GB SATA
ODD: Compal DVD Combo (from my previous laptop)

And when I turn it on what I have on the screen is the logo Phoenix Technologies, and nothing else happens.
It seems that the keyboard has no effect.
Is it normal?
Shouldn't I get the BIOS Setup instead?

Thank you in advance for your help,

Leif

 

Should be able to pop a few screws and make sure the keyboard ribbon is attached. Might be able to find some good pic's of the inside if you dig around this site a little. Are you getting any beep codes?

 

Hi,
I think that I have properly inserted the cable of the keyboard, and I am getting no beeps.
I tried to use a bootable CD and it make just like if it was going to boot but nothing happens.
The screen always displays the Phoenix logo, whatever the keys I tried (CTRL Alt Del, F1, etc.).
Leif

 

For reference, a video illustrating the assembly of a HEL80:
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Hi,
I have carefully installed the components as shown on this video.
Is there a combination of keys that I can try to make sure that the keyboard works properly?
I mean something that would make the laptop beep of change something obvious even with the Phoenix Technologies display?
I heard about BIOS problems and updates needed when a Duo Core 2 CPU is used, can it be the origin of my problem?
How do you update the BIOS without floppy?
Leif

 

It might be the BIOS. See if your reseller can tell you what version your notebook shipped with...if it's not noted on the splash screen.

There's a great sticky at the top of this forum with instructions on how to do it with a CD. Otherwise, search for "USB + BIOS" in Compal forum and that should get you the thread on creating a bootable USB drive.

 

Caps Lock should make an LED turn on if your keyboard is connected.. (Numlock, scroll-lock)

 

The T5500 is a Core 2 Duo, right? Doesn't the HEL80/81 need a BIOS update past 105 or something to work with a Core 2 Duo chip?

 

Hi,
I have just tried to update the BIOS as explained in the "Ultimate dummy guide to flash Compal HEL80 to the latest bios: 114B".
When I reboot with this CD in, I can hear it turning, but the screen remains with the Phoenix logo and nothing happens.
Is it supposed to automaticaly boot on the CD or do I have to press any key for this?
I still don't know if the keyboard works, when I press CAPS LOCK I cannot see the corresponding LED on: should this work before the BIOS update?
Leif

 

I have not managed do update anything yet
I have tried to boot with the CD in and pressing the Fn and B keys while turning the computer on and the Phoenix logo is still here but the CPU fan is now on, which was not the case before
So the laptop behaves differently which make me think that the keyboard works
Now what else can I do???

 

Can you get into the BIOS configuration by pressing F10 on boot (I think that's what it is...)? If your capslock light comes on, the keyboard is connected and responding correctly, because that requires two-way communication between the keyboard chipset and the BIOS.

 

He replied and said that his capslock wasn't working 2-3 posts ago.. Not sounding good.

 

I have already tried all the F1 to F12 keys, without success
The only keys that seem to have an effect are the Fn+B and Windows+B
Does this confirm that the keyboard works properly?
What else can I try?

 

Have you tried contacting the reseller you bought the barebones from? They may be able to troubleshoot faster than the forum can.

 

I purchased this laptop on the Internet, bad idea
I have already tried to contact the reseller but they have not been of much help

 

Purchasing on the Internet is not the problem, there are several great Internet dealers.

It appears your problem may be that you were trying to save a few dollars when you purchased a barebones and attempted to build it yourself without the appropriate knowledge, or without understanding the risks associated with building your own.

The risks associated with building your own versus buying a completely built, burned in, tested and warranted laptop have been discussed many times on this forum. Most agree that building your own doesn't save you enough money to make it worth not getting the warranty on a completed unit.

Keep in mind that when you bought your barebones you didn't pay for your dealer's knowledge about building it, and you most probably didn't pay for any 24/7 tech support. These are things that you chose to pass on as you were saving money on the barebones.

So, the message is that blame directed at the Internet or your dealer is clearly misplaced.

 

This is not the first computer that I build myself (the first desktop was a Pentium 90 more than 12 years ago) and not the first laptop either
But I have never had this kind of problem before
I do not make it not to save money but because I like to build things myself and chose components exactly adapted to my needs
Purchasing on the internet was the only way for me to get a barebone laptop and I found the other components in local shops
Leif

 

Building computers that long and you didn't think to use the 'lock' keys to test for a keyboard connection?

 

I have tried all the keys, but what I did not know if the capslock light is supposed to come on when there is a problem with the BIOS
And it seems that it does not