Compaq Desk pro EP/SB series is having issues with boot up. When initially powered on, it displays a "SERIAL PORT A ADDRESS CONFLICT" even though I have no devices in the serial ports. Then, when pressing F10 to load CMOS setup, the system locks up. Thanks in advance for any possible help, as Compaq & HP are of no assistance.

If you don't need any serial ports then enter the BIOS screens at starup and Disable all Serial ports. Did this issue just start spontaniously or did you make some changes to the computer or BIOS settings? Possible your CMOS battery has gone flat and your BIOS values have reverted to the defaults. Look at the date and time when you boot to the BIOS screens. Wrong date is a sure way to know the battery is flat.

The physical Com ports are not the only things that can use the standard serial port I/O addresses. Do you have a dial-up modem card installed? If you do, unplug the power to the case, or switch off a power bar that connects the cord to the case, and remove the dial-up moderm card. When you restore power and try booting here's a good chance you won't have the problem anymore. See page 55: http://bizsupport.austin.hp.com/bc/...

Compaq Deskpro EP/SB What's after that? E.g. Compaq Deskpro EP/SB PC 5207, PC 5239; PC 6233, 6266, 6300, 6337, 6338, 6340, 6400 (some last three numbers in the 6000 series are the cpu speed) A little info here. Click on: configuring system board.html That loads the other three files. If you download, download all 4 files and save them in the same folder http://www.elhvb.com/mobokive/Archi... Many possible mboard part numbers (on a stuck on label on the mboard itself); 9 characters like so: xxxxxx.xxx ftp://ftp.compaq.com/pub/supportinformation/techpubs/qrg/deskproep_rev4_us.pdf ftp://ftp.compaq.com/pub/supportinformation/techpubs/qrg/deskproep_rev5_us.pdf ftp://ftp.compaq.com/pub/supportinformation/techpubs/qrg/deskproep_rev6_us.pdf ..... Product number on a label on the outside of the case? If you can find one look for a number that matches here: ftp://ftp.compaq.com/pub/supportinformation