Well, this is how Compaq sold it. I am not impressed with their systems at all. When I opened up the case ( because the 2 front usb ports were not working - and I discovered that they were not hooked up!) the green, black and yellow wires were not connected.
If you have purchsed a new Compaq, and the front USB ports were not working so you opened the case to have a look? you may have voided your warranty.
Or was it a second hand system? in which case it is a bit rich to blame Compaq.