First Boot Screen Question

Talking about the bios screen that gives a quick look at your system specs, before you get to the Windows boot up. I'm running a Phoenix Tech LTD 6.00 PG bios dated 08/31/2004. This screen shows for about 1/2 to one second, so actually reading it's contents are, for me, not possible. I was wondering if there is normally a setting in bios that one can use to change the time this screen displays? Nothing in bios jumps out at me, but then I don't speak bios.

 

Hit the Pause key when you see the Start Screen. Look at the options to access the BIOS.

 

Once you get into bios, is it normal to find a setting to change the length of time that screen is displayed? I have been into bios, and nothing I see seems to apply, but computer terms used in bios don't always make sense to those not savvy in computerese.

 

You can't change the lenght of time the BIOS displays.
Is there any reason why you would want to do this? Maybe then we can help.

 

One option that is historically there is to enable or disable fast boot. Disabling it causes the BIOS to be more extensive and verbose, making it stay on the screen longer. Is that there?

 

Until yesterday I had been unable to read the last line of script on this screen, but Eldon's suggestion of using the pause key allowed me to finish. The line is " IDE channel 1 no 80 conductor cable installed".

 

Firstly, this 'BIOS screen' we're discussing is actually POST - Power-on self-test.
Here you can read more about POST - https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Power-on_self-test

Secondly, why do you want POST to display longer? Are you trying to diagnose a problem?

 

"IDE channel 1 no 80 conductor cable installed"
Dang! How old is that PC?
Very old IDE cables had 40 wires and all three connectors were the same color. Multiple drives had to be properly jumpered as Master and Slave. 80 conductor cables have blue, gray, and black connectors and use the CS (Cable Select) jumper settings. Most of the 80 conductor wires difference is a lot more ground wires whose purpose is to reduce noise and allow for higher speed data. Not detecting the 80 conductor cable will prevent all of the newer (faster) modes from operating on that device.

 

Eldon
I saw what appeared to be a new line of script which I posted in post 6. Is it something to follow up?

Davis
Mt first post dated the bios as 2004. And there was no fast boot in bios. And all drives are IDE, hard and optical.

This is, admittedly, an old machine pulled out of retirement when the primary blew up. Ordered a new primary today, but I wondered if something here needed attention.

 

ojdidit, you have actually mentioned what the problem is or why you want POST to display for longer.

BTW I use an 11-year old IDE HDD. Likewise, the 8-year old DVD-RW is also an IDE.

 

The difference in the cables is obvious. Both are 2 inches wide and 40 vs 80 really stands out. If there is a 40 pin cable on the hard disk drive, replacing it with an 80 may add 30-50% to its speed and they ought to be dirt cheap (like $2 US or less).
That cable; though, won't stop it from working. If it boots and operates, replace the cable. If it doesn't, what does it do?

 

And the mobo can accept an 80?

 

Yes, or it wouldn't have given you the message. But first, does the PC boot and work?

 

The computer in question is presently working fine. I don't remember seeing that cable message and wondered if a problem was developing. And now that I know the screen is not called "first boot up" but "power on self test", I saw the appropriate setting in bios. Disabling the "quick post" enables me to see a memory test, but doesn't change the length of time the rest of the page displays, unfortunately.