Optiplex 7040 (refurbished) will not allow BIOS entry

Question

First, I do not get the DELL LOGO screen at boot. It goes from blank screen to picture before hitting a key to make me enter my PIN.

I have repeatedly tried the following - ESC; F1; F2; F8; F10; F12; - also (CNTL+ALT+DEL).

Multiple click of each options gives me no joy.

I created a restore DVD and a Restore Thumb drive, and both are ignored. I even took out the battery and I got the same results - reboot with no notification of low or no battery. I would like to restore because my system is running very slow.

I believe a restore/reload would fix. Do not want to go down that road until I can get into BIOS.

Any suggestions would be appreciated.

Mary G · Answer

That model came out in 2015. Pick out your exact 7040 model manual here-- Support for OptiPlex 7040 | Documentation | Dell US

JOcean · Answer

In addition to the advice from @Mary G , are you tapping the F2 key immediately after booting the system? That is do not wait to see anything on the screen just tap the moment you press the power button. And worst case scenario, you can download the Windows 10 media creation tool here and create a bootable installation flash drive.

VaVBBlueyes · Answer

Thanks, First question answer is yes, immediately, and as soon as I do, system hangs with disk light on solid, lasted more than 5 minutes before I hit the power button and shut it down.

I have a bootable flash drive and a bootable DVD, created from your reference, and the system checks them, but goes to the hard drive to boot up. As the title states, the BIOS is set for hard disk only or first. USB and DVD disk drive are after hard drive, not before it in the sequence of "boot from" drives. That is why I am trying to get into the BIOS to change that. If I remember correctly, back in the day reference, you can turn off the splash screen, which I believe has also been done.

VaVBBlueyes · Answer

Please read first entry to this string.

VaVBBlueyes · Answer

Mary G, thanks, I have been there and it doesn't describe the SFF model. One solution said, with dual monitor cards, make sure the primary is in slot one, which is furthest from the Power supply. I have a dual monitor card, and it looks like the first PCI slot is not for video cards. Not enough sockets to put the card in.

VaVBBlueyes · Answer

I believe I am way past the worst scenario as stated above.

Chino de Oro · Answer

It was a false presumption, an F12 key should give you one time boot menu to select a bootable device regardless of first boot device in BIOS. Check your keyboard, it's a prerequisite preferable use of a wired USB keyboard to access BIOS firmware.

If you wish to enter BIOS settings, remove all externals devices except mouse/keyboard, connect only one monitor, preferably to an integrated video port (remove the video card). Then use alternate F2, F12 keys right after pressing power button. Tapping the keys at pace, not holding it down.

If it's still doesn't work for you, remove the os drive to receive system error "no boot device found" and given option to enter BIOS. Even that can't get you into BIOS settings, perform a CMOS reset with the jumper.

While working on the motherboard, considering to replace the coin cell battery as you would sooner than later.

VaVBBlueyes · Answer

I have tried all suggestions and my position has not changed. There is no response from either F2 or F12. Video shows signs of waking up, but does not display anything until OS login screen. Thank you everyone that has provided input. I will have to resolve myself to leaving at status quo until I get everything backed up and I get a different system.

Bad One · Answer

I'm late to the party, but seeing this post I just had to jump in and hopefully solve your problem, or for the sake of anyone else who comes this way.

I just got a refurbihed 7040 myself with the same problem, or so I thought. When the system hangs, as you said, it is actually displaying the BIOS, you just can't see it. I had the exact same experience. If I hit F2 or F12 repeatedly it seemed to hang. If I used more patience in hitting the function keys, it would only boot into Windows. No Dell logo, and no splash screen. Two things that may be at issue. This computer has HDMI out. If you are using an HDMI to VGA adapter, or HDMI to VGA cable then it is restricting the 640x480 output. These devices do not support 640x480, unfortunately, and the results are exactly as you describe. This is a legacy resolution by today's standards. Use an HDMI monitor and see if that works. And since it is a legacy resolution, , if you are using an HDMI cable and no conversion, then your monitor just does not support that low resolution. This is more common in HDMI TV's than HDMI computer monitors.

Everything you describe here is the monitors inability to display 640 x480. That would be the Dell logo, the splash screen, the one time boot menu and the BIOS. This is what happens when an HDMI source feeds a VGA monitor.

One test is to hit F10 when it 'hangs'. Then <enter> <enter>. If the computer responds, then the BIOS is in fact there, you just can't see it.

If your up to the challenge, another way to solve it is to get a VGA card for your PC, that is assuming your using a VGA monitor.

Optiplex Desktops

Optiplex 7040 (refurbished) will not allow BIOS entry

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