How to forum: How do I change boot priority from CD?

It was someone who replied on the MS site.
I have an HP epc40 w/Intel Celeron, which I bought used in '05.
Except for yesterday morning, I was not able to boot, again, all day yesterday.
This morning, when it began, I pushed F2 (I think I remembered that from some other time & event). After that, I don't remember. But, I must have done something right: it began to boot; the CD drive light came on and immediately shut off and the boot completed without a hitch (and without the CD engaging).
Now, all I have to do is get up the nerve to try a reboot, to see what happens ; )

That's back when millions of PCs were made with bad caps. I see more to worry about than this BIOS setting but I find that folk want what they want. Change it and move on.
Bob

Are you talking about the jumper caps for the motherboard? Since the caps are very inexpensive, is there a forum on cnet where I can get explicit instructions for replacing them myself? In the alternative, is there any Web site, that is safe, where I can get those instructions? (The manufacturer's site is a joke!)
Please do not assume everyone has the $$ to get something else.
Thank you.

If I google BAD CAPS I find the story, pictures and more.
If I google JUMPER CAPS I find what device/thing you are introducing to the discussion.

I know that the BAD CAPS site does discuss replacement. However it would be a very bad idea for a person that has not soldered before to do this on a machine they must fix. It's like a brain surgeon. They didn't operate on a live subject until they had sufficient practice.
Bob

Mr. Proffitt: My search terms were "cap" and "computer". I had no idea for what I was searching. My search results lead me to find the term "jumper caps". When I replied to your post, my question was: "Are you talking about the jumper caps for the motherboard?" I was not trying to introduce a new topic in this discussion - I do know better than that.

If I knew about the Web site, badcaps.net, I would have read up on it. It is very interesting - I have only one symptom, so this may be a warning. So, thank you for that.

The $$ comment was really directed toward Willy.

I really do appreciate your suggestions of "freecycle" and the "free area of craigslist" (CL). As a matter of fact, I had already checked CL. I'm happy to report that I am not one to "whine" about "watch the lists", or "go pick it up", or "old Pentium 3 or 4". I will assume the Pentium 3 or 4 does not have much RAM, like my current CPU. (I found out, accidentally, it's why my videos do not play back well.)

What I learned on badcaps.net is, if I should get (purchase used or free) another CPU, there will be a charge to transfer the license of my MS XP Pro to another motherboard. I have no idea what that transaction would run in $$s. Because I bought this system used from a computer store, I had no reason to believe I would be scammed - and it was my very first computer. It came with a volume license on MS Office, which means the guy had no license to distribute it; so, I lost that whole program. Thankfully, the XP Pro is a retail copy, so I'm OK there. All that is to say that I am really gun-shy about getting anything computer-related, free or low-cost used.

I have been given the name of someone who supposedly knows lots about computers. Whether that means he knows about only the hardware and software is one thing; but he may not know about the inner workings and/or how to repair. I'll find out.

Again, thank you for your suggestions.

Here I've NEVER paid that fee. Why? Because my XP license is the retail version. It's license is good for one machine at a time so if a machine dies, I just install it on the next machine. I do have an OEM XP and even that one is a no charge transfer as Microsoft has yet to enforce the one machine only rule since a motherboard can die.

The only time it costs is when the license is one from a manufacturer. In that case the XP is a special license and price (about 15 bucks years ago in bulk) so you never could get that for that price. It's a long discussion so I'll stop here on license.
Bob

If I thought that way I would not have given you the words to do more research. But it appears you are not aware of where a free PC can be had. It's not easy and you never know when one is there but for folk that need something I suggest these two.

1. Freecycle.
2. The free area of Craigslist.

Yes there are some that will whine that they have to watch the lists or go pick it up or they'll only get the old Pentium 3 or 4 but the gear is free.
Bob

This is a small form PC that basically gets "heat stressed" and then due to wear&tear awaits to become faulty. IMHO, you got your moneys worth as that is an old PC. Open case and simply disconnected the power from CD drive and retry. If it fails again, then disconnect entirely. The CD drive may already failed(if so, replace). This does not exclude any other issue due to age. As already stated to you, "bad caps" were a fault back then. BUT!!! bad caps can also arise due to age, they fail over prolonged usage, they just do.

tada -----Willy