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10606
January 7th, 2011 23:00
Cannot Access Setup Utility
I have a dell dimension 8300 that is working well except that each time I boot up I get the message “Alert! System battery voltage is low. Strike F1 to continue, F2 to run the setup utility.” I have had to reset the date and time a few times so I know I need to replace the battery. Before doing so I want to make note of all the BIOS settings as they will likely be lost when I replace the battery. Here’s the problem: When I get the above Alert and press F2 nothing happens. I cannot get into the setup utility. Pressing F1 does continue the boot process and Windows XP begins to load. Can anyone tell me how to get into the setup utility?
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tgsmith
2.9K Posts
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January 8th, 2011 03:00
Bookbelle,
If you've had to reset the date and time a few times, then the battery voltage may be so low that you will not be able to enter setup until you replace the battery.
Tony
Davet50
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14.4K Posts
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January 8th, 2011 06:00
Sometimes you need to tap the F2 key and be quick about it
bookbelle
4 Posts
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January 14th, 2011 20:00
Thanks for the suggestions but I figured it out. In case anyone else runs across the same problem here is what I did. I changed keyboards. For years I have used a Microsoft ergonmic keyboard. I had no indications that there was anything wrong with the keyboard outside of this inability to access the setup using F2. The F2 key seemed to work fine when used within software apps like Word. But out of desparation and curiosity I dug out the original Dell keyboard that came with the system back in 2004. There I was into setup the first time I fired it up and hit F2! I still don't know if there is actually anything wrong with my ergonomic keyboard or whether Dell systems just do not play well with Microsoft keyboards. But I am able to access setup! Anyway, maybe this could be of help to someone else.