Router 1841 going to rommon

[Craig4]

I have just bought a Cisco 1841 from Ebay. I am trying to configure it.  the following is my boot output while connected via com port

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System Bootstrap, Version 12.4(13r)T, RELEASE SOFTWARE (fc1)
Technical Support: http://www.cisco.com/techsupport
Copyright (c) 2006 by cisco Systems, Inc.
PLD version 0x10
GIO ASIC version 0x127
c1841 platform with 262144 Kbytes of main memory
Main memory is configured to 64 bit mode with parity disabled

Readonly ROMMON initialized
flash: CompactFlash not present.

System Bootstrap, Version 12.4(13r)T, RELEASE SOFTWARE (fc1)
Technical Support: http://www.cisco.com/techsupport
Copyright (c) 2006 by cisco Systems, Inc.
PLD version 0x10
GIO ASIC version 0x127
c1841 platform with 262144 Kbytes of main memory
Main memory is configured to 64 bit mode with parity disabled

Readonly ROMMON initialized
flash: CompactFlash not present.

System Bootstrap, Version 12.4(13r)T, RELEASE SOFTWARE (fc1)
Technical Support: http://www.cisco.com/techsupport
Copyright (c) 2006 by cisco Systems, Inc.
PLD version 0x10
GIO ASIC version 0x127
c1841 platform with 262144 Kbytes of main memory
Main memory is configured to 64 bit mode with parity disabled

Readonly ROMMON initialized
rommon 1 >

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As you can see it states there is no CompactFlash present.

how do I fix this?

[Leo Laohoo · Accepted solution]

flash: CompactFlash not present.

That is why. 

You'll need to find a compatible CF (up to 16 Gb) and format it with FAT16.

[Craig4]

thank you. your post made me search google. found out that its the card on the left at the back that was inserted but the eject button was out so not connected, after reinserting it, funny thing..... it fixed the issue. thank you once again

[Leo Laohoo]

I would strongly recommend you upgrade the ROMMON to 12.4(13r)T5.  One of the biggest benefit of the upgrade is the ability to boot using USB flash.  

NOTE:  Cisco no longer publishes the ROMMON file, however, one can still find it (filename:  C1841_RM2.srec.124-13r.T5) if you are "friends with Google".