No device show in Boot Sequence(Precision 490)

Question

I have a strange problem with my precision 490:

During the boot up, it shows error message: "No bootable devices--strike F1 to retry boot, F2 for setup utility". Then I go to the BIOS setup and find that there is no device show in Boot Sequence in BIOS setting. Even there are devices show by F12.

I have check following points.

1. Cable is good: I have boot up by linux liveCD with F12. I can copy the data in the harddisk. Therefore the cable must be ok.

2.harddisk is ok: I have move the harddisk to another manchine. It can boot up with the system in this hardware disk.

3.Clear CMOS: I have try everything to clear CMOS. By jumper on the motherboard, remove battery for a long time. But it doesn't help.

4.Update BIOS: I have try to flash the BIOS to V01 and V08.

5.Run Dell 32Bit Diagnostic program. It shows that everything is fine. including motherboard, cpu, memory, harddisk,etc.

6. Clear the dust

7. Change the CPU from slot 0 to slot 1

No I'm out of idea.

Any hint how can I fix it?

fastfly · Accepted Answer

Dear Osprey

Thanks for your help during these days!

I'd like tell you that my problem is solved finnally:

Today when I boot up the manchine and want to try one more time, I press F12 before the boot up screen shows.

Then I find that my PATA disk appear for the boot up options.

And then when I get into BIOS, I find that my boot sequence menu come back!

And I also find that my service tag is lost and need to be re-enter by myself.

I don't know how it happen. But I believe it is some kind of bug of the BIOS program.

So for these people who may have this problem, here is the thing I think that help me to solve the problem:

1. Disconnect AC power of the computer completely

2. Remove the battery for BIOS

3. keep it in that status for a week. To make it discharge completely

4. Boot up the computer with F12 holding

And if above not help, another hint from my side will be try to use Dell Client Configuration Utility to setup BIOS again. That's the thing I plan to do today. But it seems that I'm luck that I don't need to try that.

osprey4 · Answer

Hi Fastfly,

You should be able to configure the boot devices you would like to use in the BIOS. If you set them up and they disappear on the next boot, then perhaps your motherboard battery needs to be replaced.

fastfly · Answer

Hi, Osprey

Thanks very much for your suggestion!

I have try it. But it doesn't work.

The problem is not losing of the boot sequence configuation, but there is no any device show in the boot sequence configuation.

And even I can boot up with CD, there is no DVD shown in the boot sequence!

osprey4 · Answer

From your manual...

Changing Boot Sequence for Future Boots

1. Enter the system setup program (see System Setup).

2. Use the arrow keys to highlight the Boot Sequence menu option and press to access the menu.

Keyboard
Errors
When set to Report (enabled) and an error is detected during
POST, the BIOS will display the error message and prompt you to
press to continue or press to enter the system setup
program.
When set to Do Not Report (disabled) and an error is detected
during POST, the BIOS will display the error message and
continue booting the system.
NOTE: In AHCI mode, all bootable hard drives are listed, not just the boot drive.
NOTE: To boot to a USB device, the device must be bootable. To make sure that your device is bootable, check the device documentation.
NOTE: If you are booting to a USB floppy drive, you must first set the Diskette Drive to USB in system setup (see System Setup Options).
NOTE: To boot to a USB device, the device must be bootable. To make sure your device is bootable, check the device documentation.
NOTE: Write down your current boot sequence in case you want to restore it.3. Press the up- and down-arrow keys to move through the list of devices.

4. Press the spacebar to enable or disable a device.

5. Press and to move a selected device up or down the list

fastfly · Answer

Dear Osprey Thanks very much for your manual! Below is the screenshot of my boot sequence. Although I have floppy, DVD and bootable u-disk,etc, installed, there is no device show in there.

osprey4 · Answer

You have used the arrow keys to highlight the Boot Sequence menu option. Now you need to press to access the menu.

fastfly · Answer

Dear Osprey4 Believe me: the first thing I do is to press . But it is a nice hint to check if works. I have check it. It works.

fastfly · Answer

Thanks for your suggestion!

I have try that before. It also doesn't work.

I think that maybe I need to change the motherboard.

But for such an old machine, I'm still wondering if it is worth to do so.

Or should I upgrade the complete motherboard+CPU+memory?

But some electronic interface on the DELL chassis (for USB, fan)seem not a standard one...

osprey4 · Answer

Putting after-market motherboards in Dell cases is not in my opinion worth the trouble. If you're going to upgrade, just get an aftermarket case and keep everything standard. It will work out much better in the long run.

osprey4 · Answer

The only thing I can suggest is to reset BIOS defaults.

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No device show in Boot Sequence(Precision 490)

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