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2236
September 18th, 2018 11:00
Inspiron 530s, BIOS setup F2 fails to load
F2 (Setup Problem)
I have a Dell Inspiron 530S with BIOS version 1.0.13. It is running Windows 10. After not using the computer for several hours, when I returned, the screen was black with a blinking cursor in the upper left corner. I powered off, waited 30 seconds and powered back on. After the Dell logo screen, it went to the black screen with the blinking cursor.
I powered of and on and pressed F2 (Setup) when the Dell logo appeared, but it does not go to setup.
I have replaced the CMOS battery and created a Recovery Drive on a USB Flash drive on another computer. The second computer is identical to this one except the it has a different hard drive. I want to go into Setup (F2) and add the USB Memory Stick as the Boot First device in the Boot Menu.
When I press F2 to go into Setup, the system displays the following message: "AHCI not installed". The computer is then locked up and I cannot do anything except reboot.
When I press F12 on the Dell logo screen, the system displays the Boot Menu. The Boot Menu does not have the USB Memory Stick as one of the options. That is why I need to go into Setup so I can add that.
Bottom Line F2 (Setup) does not go to BIOS Setup. Can you help?
RoHe
10 Elder
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45.2K Posts
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September 18th, 2018 12:00
Do you have a RAID setup, with 2 hard drives? If you replaced the motherboard battery, BIOS likely got reset to the defaults. So SATA Mode would be set to IDE. So if you have RAID, you have to change SATA Mode to RAID. Either way, you can try setting it to RAID because it won't cause any harm.
What color is the power button and is it steady or blinking?
Have you run the diagnostics, including RAM and extended hard drive tests from the F12 menu? I'd do that before attempting to repair Win 10.
Are you connecting that bootable USB stick before the PC is turned on? If you wait until after the PC is on, the system won't see the USB so it won't be offered as an option on the F12 menu.
EDIT: I can't type today... :Embarrassed:
mgtf55dy
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September 26th, 2018 17:00
After the F2 Setup failed to load, I created a Recovery Drive on a CD, disconnected the hard drive and rebooted. The black screen with the blinking cursor displays and after a minute or less I can hear the CD spinning. It spins for several minutes and then stops. I have left it like that for several hours but nothing happens.
I tried reconnecting the hard drive and selecting the CDROM as first in the BIOS Menu and the same thing happens.
RoHe
10 Elder
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45.2K Posts
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September 27th, 2018 10:00
Sure the new motherboard battery is good?
You might want unplug and press/hold power button for ~15 sec. Then remove the motherboard battery and press/hold power button for ~30 sec. Now disconnect the hard drive and remove all RAM modules except the one in slot 1 (check service manual for its location). Then reinstall a good battery, and see if you can get it to boot from USB or CD now.
If that doesn't work, remove the one remaining RAM module and try to boot. If you don't get 4 beeps from the tower (= no RAM detected), your motherboard has failed...
speedstep
9 Legend
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47K Posts
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September 27th, 2018 10:00
You have windows 10 self destruct black screen of death syndrome.
You must install a new hard drive and reinstall from scratch.
Windows 7 recovery can neither repair or install nor remove a windows 10 installation.