Compaq presario 5000 won't boot.

The computer TRIED and FAILED to boot from the hard-disk, and now is expecting you to insert a "bootable" CD-ROM into the optical drive. Replace the "dead" hard-disk.

Inpect the computers preexisting operating systems to ascertain compartibility to windows XP. Only XP computers would recognise XP operatign systems. Attemptign to install windows XP onto alternate system either windows 98, 2000, mellanuim or Vista XP or 7 is least achieveable unless the old system were erased or new empty storage disk drive were acquired and replaced.

you will need a Windows boot disk / Windows install disk / WinXP disk to reboot the PC and install / or repair your OS

rescue disk will not boot your PC
to enable that you need to enter the BIOS, press F1, F2 or Del to enter BIOS , then you need to look for the BOOT seq in BIOS, change that to CD DVD drive as the 1st boot device, Save and Exit and insert the boot CD and restart
this should give you the solution

It looks like your hard drive has failed, you could try booting with you rescue disk or any bootable disks which can be dowloaded for free

a) Ultimate boot disk for windows (Diagnotic software)

b) Ubuntu (Alternative operating system) Just "try ubuntu" don't install, well not at first.

Both will boot your computer with an operating system, you'll be able to check you HDD, you may also be able to retrieve data.

if you can view your desktop and use the menus, go to start/all programs/accessories/system tools/system restore, if you had enabled this option earlier then you can restore the system to an earlier known date when you system worked.
else you can try installing winXP again, try the option to "Update" when the install option comes on.
else start PC, before the WinXp screen comes on press F8 key, use the Safe Mode to start PC, if you can see everything then shut down and restart in normal mode.

http://www.neowin.net/forum/lofiversion/index.php/t176007.html

its domnickr,
its so we can not install xp in model 1255 it will spoils your hard disk all you can install win98 ED 2 only..... so its wise not to try it and reinstall using win 98 install disk. if format is not possible do format using Fdisk command.
step 1 :enter dos floppy
restart ur lap enter from insulation option.
chance boot perority to floppy disk ie Shift +.
restart lap
enter fdisk in commant
format using instruction for any help mail at [email protected]

It seems that you don't have any Operating System installed. You need some bootable OS setup disk, and change BIOS settings to boot you PC from CD. Insert disk and restart PC, then follow onscreen instructions to setup OS.

Since there is no CD in the drive the computer is attempting to boot of the hard drive and not finding the files it requires (unless you have it set to boot off a USB device before the hard drive).
You cannot simply use the recovery disk from one system on another because these disks install drivers specific to the hardware of the computer for which it is intended.
You need to find the CDs that came with this system or contact HP and order them. Please note that running a recovery CD will wipe all your personal data from the system (this may very well have happened already), since this drive will not boot, connect it to another system as a slave or use a USB enclosure to see if there is anything you can salvage.

a) remove any external devices and reboot.
or
b) boot from Windows XP setup-cd into rescue-terminal, execute: fdisk /mbr
or
c) do a hdd self-test in bios (restart, press F10, tools --> hdd self-test option --> notebookharddrive) to check the integrity of your harddrive