Cant access Bios settings! HELP!

Hi there, i am trying to format my pc and i cant seem to access the bios settings. I have done every sequence and individual key pushing upon start up and it only takes me to the safe mode option. If anyone can help me out i would really apreciate it. If you need anymore info/pc spec just ask.

P.S I have had access before but just cant remember how.

 

Watch very very carefully as the pc starts (use a warmed up monitor) it will display a message such as

f2 for setup

Depending upon the make you have to press a particular key as the pc first starts. Certainly long before it gets to any key leading to safe or any other mode.

For Dell F2
For HP F12
Most other makes DEL

Some older pcs had key combinations such as ctrl+shift+s


Having said all that the BIOS is not the place to format anything. Post again explaining exactly what you are trying to do and we can help further.

Studio T

 

Thanks for reply m8.

I am trying to get to BIOS to select cdrom as priority on boot up so i can use my bootable XP disk to format my pc.

I do see a message telling me to press "DEL" for BIOS but everytime i try it doesnt do anything. I have tried using another 2 keyboards and still nothing. ! was a USB connection and the other was old style.

 

You are probably not quick enough!

Start repeatedly tapping the del key sharply as you turn on the power and keep going until it beeps.

Studio T`

 

It sometimes means holding the key down as you press the on button, as it can flit straight on , ignoring you - some boards are worse than others at that.

 

Thanks for replies.

I managed to get on to the BIOS and set the cdrom to priority but now the XP student edition disk i am using to format isnt quite working. Everytime i start pc up with disk in, it boots up and goes through a few searches and then stops on this page with options about MLX memory or something. I just dont understand why it isnt going to the usual format options.

 

When i use my xp to boot it comes up with all this jibberish but i did notice "Caldera DR-DOS" if anyone knows what that is and what its about.

 

I found this;

Caldera DR-DOS is a BIOS monitor program that runs from ROM. It will be invoked if your system can't find a disk to boot from.

So i take it my version of xp pro student edition isnt working then. After all my trouble trying to get the BIOS menu.

 

DR Dos
DR stands for Digital Research a now defunct company that used to manufacture top end mini and mainframe computers. When IBM (yes that's right remember them?) introduced the PC, DR slugged it out with them and lost.
DR Dos was their alternative to IBM Dos (i.e. MSDos). It was and still is better than MSDos and is now owned by a company called Caldera, who license it as a small compact operating system to Companies, such as Mijenix, who need a small OS to run utilities (FIXIT Utilities suite). there are many such small outfits in the woodwork.

Obviously your student XP is incapable of starting pc, but all is not lost. If you can read it from DRdos or download a start disk (not an XP start disk, one to control the pc) from

www.bootdisk.com

You can type setup at the prompt and install that way.

I presume you are either a student or teacher with XP student rights.
Major Geeks does not condone misuse of software licenses.
Can your campus IT department not help?

Studio T

 

"I presume you are either a student or teacher with XP student rights.
Major Geeks does not condone misuse of software licenses.
Can your campus IT department not help?"

I am a student doing a flexible evening course on pc repairs and maintenance. I am using my own pc as homework and got permission from tutor to use the disk. I will quiz my tutor next class but i enjoy finding out from the pro's on here, plus sometimes i learn more from here or other sites. I am a mere novice but i do have some knowledge but just not enough obviously lol.

When the DR DOS page comes up, what command would i put in so it finds the student disk in the cdrom drive?

 

d:\setup

 

I set the bios to boot up cdrom 1st. Then i run pc till windows is loaded, i then put my xp disk in and reboot. When it boots up it starts caldera DR DOS, so when it stops and waits for a command I type d:\setup and hit return and nothing.

I am at my wits end. Why is everything so awkward.

Studio T thanks for all the help it is much appreciated.

I dont have any floppy's so using them for boot is out of the question. Is there anything else i could try to get my pc formatted?

 

I assumed ( sounds so much better than guessed doesn't it) that D is you cd drive.
Try letters along the line
D:
E:

until you hit the CD drive and get a
X> prompt where X is your drive letter

Then type dir to prove tha tsetup is on the cd
Then type setup or setup.exe

Then get a book on DOS or command line commands - you will need to refer to it in your future as a pc repairman.

Studio T

 

Thanks StudioT. I will give it a try and get back to you. And i will also purchase a DOS Command book. Seems like an essential piece item for beginners.

Thanks again.

 

Remember the command line interface (CLI) you get by typing CMD into the run box in windows 2000 and later IS NOT DOS, although it looks and feels very similar. Many of the commands are the same, some have changed and some are no longer available.

Happy studying and don't be afraid to ask stuff here or from your tutor.

Studio T

 

Thanks for all your help Studio T.

I eventually got it formatted and the problem was the copy of XP. My tutor gave me another copy to try and it worked first time. Problem solved. Thanks again for the helpful words Studio T.

 

It's not what you know it's who you know.

Studio T logging off