Need help accessing BIOS

Question

I'm pretty new to this site as I was recently pointed to it by a support system. I have not had any luck in finding a solution through the Internet so far to an odd problem with the bios, so I was curious if anyone may be able to help me. Here's the problem:  I have a 5150 inspiron laptop and cannot access the BIOS. Pressing F2 on start up repeatedly, once, or even holding down does not work. It is almost as if nothing is being pressed. However, pressing it too much too early makes the computer think there is a stuck key. I've tried attaching a USB keyboard, trying the Del, F1, F10, F12, and Ctrl Alt Enter, many of times incase the F2 was a mistake. I've been trying to format my C drive and cannot get the boot sequence to change over to booting off a CD. I do not have a floppy drive and was curious if I can somehow change the boot sequence through startup and recovery in the Systems Advanced tab in the control panel? Is there a way to boot into the BIOS or somehow fix this problem? Thanks for any suggestions!

NemesisDB · Answer

if you have below A23 (possible A22, not sure for a 5150), then this is a common problem.

you'll need to flash to A22 or A23 respectively. to do this, follow the instructions for making a bootable CD with the flash program on it (should be on the bios download section). insert the CD and remove the HD and hopefully it will boot to that

leduke30 · Answer

If you have 2 RAM modules, remove one and boot. You should get a message System Memory has Changed, press F1 to continue, F2 to enter Setup, That may get you into BIOS to change your boot order

MathNazi07 · Answer

Thanks for the quick replies...I tried removing a RAM module and was still unable to access the BIOS through hitting F2 to enter the setup. I was going to attempt the HD removal and create a bootable CD with the flash program..but will the computer boot off the CD if I'm unable to change the boot sequence? Thanks again.

leduke30 · Answer

The CDROMs on some models will not boot without the harddrive installed and operational. The Floppy drive will and if it is the only bootable device left after you remove the other drives, it should boot the computer into DOS if you have any DOS bootable Diskette in the drive.

NemesisDB · Answer

5150s don't have floppies built in or I would have suggested that ... but yes, a USB floppy would be the default 1st bootable device if it is present

NemesisDB · Answer

if you remove everything in front of the CD in the boot menu, then it should

leduke30 · Answer

You are right and more is the pity. I realize many people consider Floppy Drives antiques and unnecessary, but for some things they are hard to beat. As a side note, MS released 10 sets of Utility Setup Diskettes for both versions of W-XP and all SPs; yes, that's right 6 floppy Disks each. Is the Floppy dead? I don't think so!! W2k does not have the ability to make DOS bootable System Diskettes. but MS put that back with W-XP. Message Edited by leduke30 on 04-27-2005 07:54 PM

MathNazi07 · Answer

Thanks for the suggestions/help...I'm going to try removing the HD and seeing if it will boot off the CD. If not, I will probably just buy a USB floppy drive then since they aren't expensive. I'll have to mess with it this weekend after exams tomorrow, thanks again!

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