Lock up in setup

Melr,

Thank you for using the DellTalk forum.

Disconnect all devices from the back of the system,
except the mouse, keyboard, and monitor.
Then try to go into setup, does it lock up?

If it still locks up, and you are using a USB keyboard
and mouse, try using a PS2 keyboard and mouse.
Does it lock up?

If the system still lock's up in setup, then you will
need to disconnect some internal components.

Disconnect your hard drive, CDROM/DVD/CDRW drives,
floppy drive. Pull out all expansion cards, except you
video card. (You still want the monitor,keyboard,mouse)
connected. Boot the system up, and see if the system
setup locks up. If the system setup does not lock up,
turn the system off, and add one component back at a time,
until you find the component that is making the system
setup screen lock up...

Hope this helps.

Thanks for the help. What do I do when I identify the component that is causing the problem? If it's the CD drive , for example, do I ask Dell to replace it or is there something more I can do?

Mel

Melr,

The first thing you should do, is leave the component
disconnected, and reset your bios settings, and clear
NVRAM. Then re-connect the component and see if you
have the same problem. If you still have the problem, you
then need to call tech support, and have that component
replaced. Explain to the tech what the problem is, and give
him a detailed description of the troubleshooting steps you
have tried.

You can contact Desktop Phone support at the following number:
800-624-9896 Ext:6-6955
You can also E-mail Desktop support, using the following web address:
http://support.dell.com/us/en/emaildell/cc_opt01a.asp

You can contact *Laptop* support using the following information.
E-mail: http://support.dell.com/us/en/emaildell/cc_opt01b.asp
Phone: 800-247-9252 Ext:6-9219

How to reset the bios settings, and clear NVRAM:
Dimension 8100 Reset Configuration Data

Restart your computer.
At the first text on the screen, or the Dell logo, press the key every three seconds until the message Entering Setup appears.
The System Setup screen appears.
Press the key, the key, and the key to light up all three lights on the keyboard.
Press the + keys at the same time.
The system will emit a beep tone to indicate that NVRAM has been cleared.
Press the key and then press the key to save the changes and reboot the system.
Proceed with the installation or troubleshooting that you were attempting.

**If you are using a USB Keyboard, you need to peform the following steps,
before exiting the 8100 system setup program.

Use the to highlight
Press the
Use the to highlight
Use the arrow keys, to change it to
Press the until the system reboots.


Message Edited on 12/13/01 12:25PM by DELL_Karell

I tried a PS2 keyboard and it worked in set up but not after I booted to the OS. I then shutdown, removed the PS2 keyboard and plugged my DELL USB keyboard into the second USB port. It then woked fine in both set up and after booting but I get a keyboard failure message on bootup. I moved it back to the first USB port and I don't get the keyboard failure message but the keyboard does not work after I enter setup. It works fine after I boot to the OS. So it works when it's failed and doesn't when it's not. Can you explain this?

Mel

Melr,

Thats weird, for lack of better words.
Try the following steps to fix the problem.
-----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
1.Update your bios file.

1.Go to the following web page:
http://support.dell.com/us/en/DHS-BSD_reg.asp?segId=5DS
2.Type in your service tag, and click the "GO" button.
3.Click on the "Downloads" button.
4.Step 1...choose your operating system.
5.Step 3...choose "Flash Bios updates." and click "GO"
6.Click on "Dell Dimension System Bios."
7.Click on "Dell Dimension System Bios XXXXX" again.
8.Click on the file name:
*If using WinXP, use (BD81XPP2.exe)
*If using WinME, use (B8100_09.exe)
9.Download the file to your desktop.

Once you have downloaded the file, put a blank formatted disk in the system.
Double click the file, and follow the prompts to create the bios upgrade disk.
Once the disk is created, leave it in the system and reboot the system.
The Bios upgrade will occur as the system boots up, and reads the disk.
------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
2.Reset your bios defaults after upgrading the bios file.

Dimension 8100 Reset Configuration Data

Restart your computer.
At the first text on the screen, or the Dell logo, press the key every three seconds until the message Entering Setup appears.
The System Setup screen appears.
Press the key, the key, and the key to light up all three lights on the keyboard.
Press the + keys at the same time.
The system will emit a beep tone to indicate that NVRAM has been cleared.
Press the key and then press the key to save the changes and reboot the system.
Proceed with the installation or troubleshooting that you were attempting.

**If you are using a USB Keyboard, you need to peform the following steps,
before exiting the 8100 system setup program.

Use the to highlight
Press the
Use the to highlight
Use the arrow keys, to change it to
Press the until the system reboots.
-----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
3.Make sure USB Emulation is turned on.

Reboot the system.
During the system POST press F2 key to enter system setup
Press down arrow to highlight 'Integrated Devices' and press enter, an other window appears
Press down arrow to highlight 'USB Emulation' and use numeric keypad - (minus) or + (plus) to change value to 'ON'
Press Esc to leave to this window
Press Esc to exit system setup
Press Enter to 'Save Changes And Exit'
System will reboot
-----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
4.If everything else fails, call tech support to get a replacement keyboard.

You can contact Desktop Phone support at the following number:
800-624-9896 Ext:6-6955
You can also E-mail Desktop support, using the following web address:
http://support.dell.com/us/en/emaildell/cc_opt01a.asp




Message Edited on 12/14/01 07:53AM by DELL_Karell

That was the most refreshing resonse I've had from DELL yet. I was beginning to wonder if all rech support responses ere computer generated.

I appreciate your help. Could you please repeat the instructions under heading 2. There seem to be some words missing such as identifications of which keys to press.

Thanks,

Mel

Melr,

Sorry about that.

Reset the bios settings, after upgrading the bios file.

Dimension 8100 Reset Configuration Data

Restart your computer.
At the first text on the screen, or the Dell logo, press the F2 key every three seconds until the message Entering Setup appears.
The System Setup screen appears.
Press the Caps Lockkey, the Scroll Lockkey, and the Num Lock key to light up all three lights on the keyboard.
Press the Alt+E keys at the same time.
The system will emit a beep tone to indicate that NVRAM has been cleared.
Press the Esckey and then press the Enter key to save the changes and reboot the system.
Proceed with the installation or troubleshooting that you were attempting.

**If you are using a USB Keyboard, you need to peform the following steps,
before exiting the 8100 system setup program.

Use the Down Arrow Key to highlight Integrated Devices.
Press the Enter Key.
Use the Down Arrow Key to highlight USB Emulation.
Use the Left or Right arrow keys, to change it to ON
Press the Escape Key. until the system reboots.

Karell,

I tried to follow your instructions and immediately ran into a problem. I cannot upgrade the bios. I downloaded the 8100XP2 bios and moved it to a floppy as per the instructions on the download page. I then restarted the computer with the floppy in drive a: and got the message "remove disk or other media and press any key to restart." I tried it several times. I did another download of the BIOS and tried again. I checked in setup and it is set to boot from the floppy drive. Every try the same message. If i press a key without removing the floppy i just get the same message. If I remove the floppy it boots to the OS but takes much longer than before. What next?

Karell,

Please disregard the last message. There were two different sets of instructions on the bios upgrade page. I followed the right onse and successfully upgraded the bios and followed the rest of your instructions. It didn't solve the problem so i will call for a new keyboard.

thanks,

Mel