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Major Problem! Can't get into BIOS!

  • Thread starter Deleted member 79192
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D

Deleted member 79192

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Told you it was a big problem. :(

My brother received a Pentium 3 550 Mhrz (Katmai slotted CPU) from his parents, who bought it from a used computer store. Its a Compaq, which has this Big white loading screen with the Compaq logo on it, masking the boot-up post. This prevents us from getting into the BIOS, which we need to do to disable his integrated sound chip, so we can install and set-up a new sound card. Any ideas on how to get into the BIOS? And preferably, some way to disable this nuisance (the logo screen loading thing). I'm sure getting into the BIOS is something we might want to be able to do easily and quickly in the future.

I should probably give you the motherboard name, so I'll post back here with the results of a diagnostic on it. From a simple diagnostic I did before, I can remember it being an "Apollo" motherboard. Hope that helps. Bye everyone, and thanks in advance for any advice!!
 
Try "F10".
If that doesn't work, refer to the manual of that model.
 
Thanks for the F10 tip, never tried that. Just for more info, we run Windows 98/SE. Also, we don't have any manuals for it! Those stupid people who made didn't even give us drivers!! Thank god for Driver Wizard, and my computer skills. I got a diagnostic on the motherboard form Sisoft SANDRA in .htm format. I'm trying to upload it correctly now for your viewing purposes. But first, lemme try that F10 thing...
 
Well, the F10 thing didn't work. Heres the report from Sisoft SANDRA on the Mainboard Information:

http://matt-da-fat.0catch.com/report.html

Strange, it only mentions the chipset, but not the actual motherboard name. I'll run another analysis program and get back to you guys...
 
Reset the CMOS.

When it posts, it will say date time not set

Then access the BIOS to do your trickery!
 
Heres another analysis from CPU-Z:

http://matt-da-fat.0catch.com/CPU-Z Report.htm

We can't reset the CMOS because we have NO idea how. We have no manual. Perhaps we can request one though... I'll have to get my parents to nag to the used comp company about one. Or I can get a flashlight and look around inside the case for the CMOS clearing pins, and guess what the right thing to do is. :) I figured clearing the CMOS would help, but I don't want to do that very much...
 
There is a key on all those manufactured PCs that will get you into the bios. Try esc, f1, f2, del, or f10 those are the most common.
 
So far, all my computers in the house (mobos made by ASUS or DFI) use the delete key for BIOS. Just to make it clear, when you turn the comp on, all you see is a white loading screen. There is NO post. It doesn't show you anything about the computer.
 
What series of Compaq is it?

ie. Deskpro, Pavillion....

Hit the spacebar during boot, should see a minimal post screen.
 
Matt Welke said:
We can't reset the CMOS because we have NO idea how. We have no manual. Perhaps we can request one though... I'll have to get my parents to nag to the used comp company about one. Or I can get a flashlight and look around inside the case for the CMOS clearing pins, and guess what the right thing to do is. :) I figured clearing the CMOS would help, but I don't want to do that very much...
Click to expand...

Pull the CMOS battery off the motherboard for a while. Make sure the power's disconnected too. Give it about 2-10 minutes and that should zero out the BIOS.
 
Okay, your right. Pressing spacebar gives me a minimal post screen, but after that no buttons allow me to enter the BIOS. I don't know what series it is, but on the front it says "Professional Workstation". Its a full tower case, with a gray stand thing on the bottom, which has "AP500" on it. Removing the battery is too dangerous, so I'm going to have to find a manual and reset the BIOS.
 
when you get that whtie screen for COMPAQ. hit tab then it should be a normal booting process then hit del as normal.
 
Matt Welke said:
Removing the battery is too dangerous, so I'm going to have to find a manual and reset the BIOS.
Click to expand...


Yeah, those little watch batteries are hell when they explode in your face. :rolleyes:
WTF is the danger in removing it? It's not like the machine won't boot after things zero out and you replace it before booting. Hell, if you never power the machine down the CMOS battery is not even necessary. You could (although I would not recommend it) just set the clock and all the BIOS settings manually every time you turn the PC on, although this would be a tedious bitch to do every time you power down and restart.
 
Still no luck. Looks like I'm pulling the battery.
 
Sorry for the late reply, kept forgetting to post my progress. Still no luck. Spent a few hours scanning those manuals on that site, but they just say to hit F10 during the boot post. I do, but notihng happens. After about 10 presses all that happens is it beeps whenever I press it again. I'm really clueless. I'm going to pull the battery, and see if that works. I just hope it auto-detects the harddrive info when its time to re-configure the BIOS because I have noo idea what it is.
 
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