refurbished machine

just received refurbished e-machine
powers on to logo screen, says "boot menu F10"
but the keyboard is not working
tried a different keyboard same result

any ideas?

thanks
Luke

 

Are you using a PS2 or USB keyboard?

 

it came with PS2

then I tried a usb

neither worked

 

Try using a different USB port

 

I've done that as well

 

Try to clear the CMOS and see if that helps.

 

don't know what that means

 

Clearing the CMOS means you clear your BIOS Settings. The BIOS is what makes all the devices to work together. Sometimes things happen to your CMOS. The easiest way to reset your CMOS is to remove that battery that's on your motherboard for about a minute and then replace it and try again.

 

Is this something that a hardware illiterate should be doing? I don't know if I would know what the battery is.

 

It's not that hard to do. Open the side panel off your computer. A CMOS battery will look like this

http://www.packetminds.com/wp-content/uploads/2009/05/battery9ul.jpg


Remove it for one minute and replace it. Before you do touch a metal part on the case to ground yourself.

 

I got the battery out ok

I found some wires not connected to anything (remember I am hardware illiterate)
8 wires going into a black plug labeled P7, and 4 wires coming out of that going into a white plug labeled P4, neither plug was plugged into anything

 

I put the battery back in and it didn't seem to help

 

Some plugs will be unplugged. Those are for extra stuff such at more hard drives and stuff. If you would like you could take a pic of the inside of your computer I could probably check out to make sure it's ok tho it would be hard.

I suppose your keyboard isn't working still?

 

http://F:\DCIM\100_PANA

no it's still not working

 

I can't get a picture on here

it won't copy paste

and I don't how to get a URL for a picture on my own computer

 

http://imageshack.us

 

http://img6.imageshack.us/img6/4480/p100006325.jpg

this is the plugs I also found another one after I took the picture
but I really think you're right, these are for additional hardware
but there is some reason the keyboard port and the USB ports are not working

 

i fixed the pic

 

when you say "replace" do you mean I need to get a new one?

could the battery be dead?

how often does this battery need to be replaced?

 

What I meant by was when you removed the battery put it back it after a minute. They don't need to be replaced often. Maybe every 5 years or so.

Also how did you fix you computer so if other people run into this issue they can search it.

 

I meant I fixed the picture, sorry about that

I still haven't fixed the PC, none of the inputs seem to work
the computer is asking me to press F10 to start the boot
but I can't, so it is just stuck on the E Machine screen

 

Where did you buy it?

 

tiger direct

I was on hold waiting for support for almost an hour earlier
but no one ever answered

 

You may want to RMA it for a replacement.

 

I got a major geek friend I'm gonna call in the morning to look at it first

thanks for your help

 

I have one more idea. Try the front USB ports.

 

they don't work either

 

Does it say anything other then to push F10 for boot menu?

 

yes

it gives the option to press F2 for the BIOS settings
but that is all

keyboard won't do anything, it is not getting any power (or just not being recognized)

the keyboard with the PS2 jack, the lights will flicker when you plug it in but they won't stay on

the usb keyboard won't even flicker