Hit the F2 key immediately after you start the computer. See the following documentation on the BIOS setup program (Dell call's it the System Setup Program):
Are you using a USB mouse? If so, make sure that the USB mouse is plugged in to the upper USB port farthest away from the left side of the tower. Alternatively, try a PS/2 keyboard.
Thanks for the link. F2 does not work. The new hd is unformatted and I have been unable to boot anything. I'm staring at a black screen. Could the motherboard be gone?
Both mouse and keyboard are connected via round mini-din connectors. There are two lights under each marked A & B (under the keyboard connection) and C & D (under the mouse connection). A & B are orange and C & D are green. The orange is the same color that is lit next to the monitor on/off button. Does this mean that the keyboard may be bad? What is a PS/2 keyboard? Still, seems like I should be getting something on the monitor (at least a cursor). Without any system does the NVRAM take over?
You have a PS/2 keyboard so that is not the problem Do the lights on the keyboard light up when you turn the system on? Does the fan start? Are the 4 diagnostic lights on the back of the towere lit up? If so, what colors to you see (from left to right)?
The lights on the keyboard are green for a moment upon start-up then off. The fan does work. Lights on the back of the tower are A (orange), B (orange), C (green), D (green).
Bingo! It was a continuity module. Thanks! Now I need to format the hd but I have a 160 and I now see that my bios is A02. Should I upgrade the bios to at least A06 or reurn the 160 for a 120 to avoid potential problems?
You should upgrade the BIOS to A09, but with Windows ME, it will still not recognize a drive greater than 137 Mb. You need Windows XP Sp1 to recognize large drives.
I was under the impression that A06 or better took care of the 48 bit-lba issue associated with drives over 137 gb even with ME (would partition). If I do go to XP I'm guessing the upgrade from ME would be cheaper. Can I upgrade without ME actually being on the hd? It appears that the NVRAM knows that it is ME. If not I would have to reinstall ME on the hd which brings me back to square one.
The upgrade version of XP can be installed without ME being on the hard drive. During the installation of XP, you will be asked to insert the CD of a qualifying product, in your case the Windows ME CD, to verify that you are eligible for the upgrade.
NVRAM knows nothing about which version of Windows is installed.
If you partition the hard drive into partitions smaller than 137 Gb, then Windows ME can be used. It will not recognize a partition larger than 137 Gb.
volcano11
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July 26th, 2004 04:00
Go into the BIOS and set the hard drive as the first boot device in the boot sequence.
Steve
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July 26th, 2004 13:00
volcano11
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July 26th, 2004 14:00
Hit the F2 key immediately after you start the computer. See the following documentation on the BIOS setup program (Dell call's it the System Setup Program):
http://support.dell.com/support/edocs/systems/dsleest/syssetup.htm
Steve
volcano11
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July 26th, 2004 14:00
Are you using a USB mouse? If so, make sure that the USB mouse is plugged in to the upper USB port farthest away from the left side of the tower. Alternatively, try a PS/2 keyboard.
Steve
pizrat
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July 26th, 2004 14:00
pizrat
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July 26th, 2004 15:00
volcano11
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July 26th, 2004 15:00
You have a PS/2 keyboard so that is not the problem Do the lights on the keyboard light up when you turn the system on? Does the fan start? Are the 4 diagnostic lights on the back of the towere lit up? If so, what colors to you see (from left to right)?
Steve
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July 26th, 2004 17:00
volcano11
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July 26th, 2004 18:00
This indicates a problem with memory:
http://support.dell.com/support/edocs/systems/dsleest/codemess.htm
Open the case and make sure that all 4 memory slots are filled with memory or continuity modules and that all chips are fully seated in their slots.
Steve
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July 26th, 2004 19:00
Jim
volcano11
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July 26th, 2004 19:00
You should upgrade the BIOS to A09, but with Windows ME, it will still not recognize a drive greater than 137 Mb. You need Windows XP Sp1 to recognize large drives.
Steve
pizrat
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July 26th, 2004 19:00
Jim
volcano11
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July 26th, 2004 20:00
The upgrade version of XP can be installed without ME being on the hard drive. During the installation of XP, you will be asked to insert the CD of a qualifying product, in your case the Windows ME CD, to verify that you are eligible for the upgrade.
NVRAM knows nothing about which version of Windows is installed.
If you partition the hard drive into partitions smaller than 137 Gb, then Windows ME can be used. It will not recognize a partition larger than 137 Gb.
Steve