Hi southofthesouth,

Tapping F12 key will take you to Advanced boot options where we have to select CD drive, Tapping F2 during startup will take you to BIOS, we can try changing the boot sequence to CD drive in the BIOS screen and once its changed please save and restart the system. This should fix the issue

Let us know progress

Thanks & Regards

Dell_Harish_R

Dell Social Media Responder

https://twitter.com/DellCares

http://www.facebook.com/Dell

Hi southofthesouth,

Welcome to the community

We need to keep tapping the F12 keys instead of holding on to it, so that you can see the advanced boot options and proceed further from there

Also please find the link below which can be referred to do the OS installation

http://dell.to/HgiXU2

Let us know progress

Thanks & Regards

Dell_Harish_R

Dell Social Media Responder

https://twitter.com/DellCares

http://www.facebook.com/Dell

I have tried tapping F12 immediately upon pressing the start button. It still will not go to BIOS

Thanks for the suggestion. Tried that twice. Still no luck.

Cant get to Advanced boot options by tapping F12 nor can I get to BIOS by tapping F2. Neither works. Have reset the memory modules as well.

Hi southofthesouth,

If it is a desktop which we are speaking about then disconnect the power source from the main wall socket, press and hold the power button down for 15 seconds to drain the residual power on the system and then connect the power source and try tapping f12 key during the startup

If it is a laptop disconnect the ac adapter and the battery, press and hold the power button down for 15 seconds to drain the residual power on the system and then connect the battery and ac adapter try tapping f12 key during the startup

Let us know progress

Thanks & Regards

Dell_Harish_R

Dell Social Media Responder

https://twitter.com/DellCares

http://www.facebook.com/Dell

Hi southofthesouth,

Instead of F12 lets try tapping F8 or F2 keys during the startup. Also Try using any other bootable disks like a Dell drivers and utilities disk which is sent along with the system, try booting to F12 menu using the Dell drivers and utilities disk

Let us know progress

Thanks & Regards

Dell_Harish_R

Dell Social Media Responder

https://twitter.com/DellCares

http://www.facebook.com/Dell

Thanks for the suggestion. Still not booting to F12 menu or getting to BIOS. I have also checked that the keyboard cable is connected to the MB. I hope its not the MB.

Hi southofthesouth,

Request you start the system normally without tapping any keys and please let me know if you can see anything on the screen. Also we can try holding the Fn key down and then starting the system.

Let us know progress

Thanks & Regards

Dell_Harish_R

Dell Social Media Responder

https://twitter.com/DellCares

http://www.facebook.com/Dell

southofthesouth,

Sorry, I forgot to mention...

How To Restore or Reinstall Microsoft® Windows® on a Dell™ Computer

Rick

southofthesouth,

Disconnect all usb devices except mouse and keyboard.

Restart the computer and press F2 at the Dell Screen. look for boot sequence. Make it...

cd/dvd rom

HDD Hard drive

USB Removalble devices

network

Save changes and exit.

If you put the Dell OEM Operating system disk int eh computer and restart it, you should be prompted from there.

If you live in the United States, Request Backup Disks USA If in another Country, contact Dell tech Support in your Country.

Rick

Have tried both suggestions. All I get is "Operation System Not Found"

Hi, if you are still having this issue can you give a little more detail please? What "does" it do when you turn it on? Does it ask for a password? If it's stating that "No Operation System found" then you need an installation disk (sorry...don't mean to state the obvious). What happens when you tap the f-2 key at start up? It should default (with no OS), to having the dvd as the 1st boot device. Try using a linux live cd (Hiren's Boot CD...google it), and see if it will boot with that. I've seen re-install cd's from the manufacturers that didn't boot at all so trying another medium will at least help to narrow down the problem. Burn Hiren's boot cd in a dvd or cd -R. You can use Imgburn to burn it with (it's free too...just google it). If it boots from Hiren's then the issue is with the re-install disk Dell sent. You may also be able to re-install the OS with a USB Flash drive or external hard drive. F-12 is for boot order only, F-2 for BIOS, F-8 is for the opersting system only and won't function with no OS installed. You really shouldn't need to access the BIOS to re-install. I know we all like to have that access but it isn't strictly necessary. Hope this helps

Hi,

I am havin the same problem as original poster. system boots flashes dell inspiron screen with f2 or f12 options neither respond and then goes to black screen with "operation system not found" and the cd drive spins for a moment with my OS reinstall disc but it doesn't do anything past that as the drive stops spinning. i have tried 2 different OS reinstalls one was plain win 7 64 bit the other was win 7 64 bit sp1. any other ideas because the obvious stated ones above do not work.

Sounds like you need a new DVD drive (or use an external, USB drive).