PC (bios) problems - can anyone help?

[Bob Garage]

Can anyone help me I can't access my bios and its a pain in the arse.

I have a USB keyboard/mouse. The problem is when the boot screen comes up saying "press f2 for bios" I can't pres f2 because the USB ports haven't powered up yet and so the keyboard isn't working. just after the boot screen goes the keyboard finally gets power from the USb port and starts to work. but by that time its too late to enter the bios.

Before anyone says... use a ps/2 keyboard... I can't because the pc doesn't have any ps/2 ports.

does anyone know of a way to force the pc to boot into the bios dispite the keyboard not working on start up?

[M4ST3R M1K3]

Well it's weird to have a bios that doesn't detect usb keyboards if the motherboard doesn't have any ps/2 ports. Is it the keyboard shipped with the computer or another one? And you have never been able to enter the bios or only since you changed something in your config?

[Bob Garage]

Well it's weird to have a bios that doesn't detect usb keyboards if the motherboard doesn't have any ps/2 ports. Is it the keyboard shipped with the computer or another one? And you have never been able to enter the bios or only since you changed something in your config?

I've done some searching on the web, and from what I can tell my bios can detect a USB keyboard. However, I have to go into the bios first and change a setting to tell it to detect the usb keyboard.
Since there are no ps/2 ports I can't get into the bios to tell it to detect the usb keyboard.

As far as I know I've never been able to get into the bios. I never tried before this morning as I never needed to before. But now I need to get in there I can't

I do have a spare keyboard somewhere. I will give that a go, but I don't think it will help as its still usb.

I was hoping there was some way I can force the PC to go into the bios without a keyboard input on start up.?

[deadone]

mmm very odd, my pc also starts this way, i have it booting from drive, hdd, then floppy, also i have no use of my keyboard untill it has completly started but i can use it without issues to get to the bios screen.. i have to select Delete as soon as my machine is starting up for it to work, i just keep randomly pressing it untill the selection i want displays, maybe you could try that
also what machine are you using as differnet model susing different keys..

these are a few you might try out..

ACER
You can make use of the DEL or F2 keys after switching on your system.
When using Acer Altos 600 server, the BIOS set up can be accessed by pressing the CTRL+ALT+ESC keys.

COMPAQ
Ensure that the cursor in the upper right corner of your screen is blinking before pressing the F10 key.
Previous versions of Compaq will make use of the F1, F2, F10 or DEL keys to grant access to your BIOS set up menu.

DELL
After switching on your computer, let the DELL logo appear before pressing the F2 key until “Entering Setup” is displayed on the screen.
Previous versions of DELL might require to press CTRL+ALT+ENTER to access the BIOS set up menu.
The DELL laptops will use the Fn+ESC or Fn+F1 keys to access the BIOS set up.

GATEWAY
When switching on your computer, press the F1 key until the BIOS screen shows up.
Previous versions of Gateway will make use of the F2 key to display the BIOS set up screen.

HEWLETT-PACKARD
When switching on your computer system, press the F1 key to access the BIOS set up screen
For those using an HP Tablet PC, you can press the F10 or F12 keys.
You can also access the BIOS set up menu by pressing the F2 or ESC keys.

IBM
When your system restarting, press the F1 key to access the BIOS set up.
Previous IBM models will require the use of the F2 key to access the BIOS set up utility.

NEC
NEC will only use the F2 key to access the BIOS set up menu

PACKARD BELL
Packard Bell users, you can access the BIOS set up by pressing the F1, F2 or DEL keys

SHARP
For the Sharp model, when your computer is loading, press the F2 key
For previous Sharp models, you will need to use a Setup Diagnostics Disk.

SONY
Sony users will have to press the F1, F2 or F3 key after switching on their computer.

TOSHIBA
The Toshiba model will require its users to press the F1 or ESC key after switching on their computer to be able to access BIOS set up menu.


hope it helps buddy

[Bob Garage]

DELL
After switching on your computer, let the DELL logo appear before pressing the F2 key until “Entering Setup” is displayed on the screen.
Previous versions of DELL might require to press CTRL+ALT+ENTER to access the BIOS set up menu.
The DELL laptops will use the Fn+ESC or Fn+F1 keys to access the BIOS set up.

Thats for the help Mick.

Unfortunatley, this doesn't work. I have a Dell and need to press F2 at the Dell screen.

However, I am guessing that the USB ports aren't switching on until after that screen. (My keyboard has some lights on it that don't come on until after this screen, hence why I think the USB ports aren't working until ater then). Because the USB ports aren't working when the the dell screen appears, my usb keyboard isn't working and pressing f2 has absolutley no effect.

Ideally I need a ps/2 keyboard to go into the bios, however without any ps/2 ports on my PC I'm stuck. bit of a pain really.

[deadone]

ok, have you got an "F Lock" button on the keyboard, if so while booting press this then the normal key and that should work.
the "F Lock" or F Mode key might not be on there so if it aint dont worry about it as its a special Function mode on some keyboards (microsoft).
if you dont have this im pretty sure even tho the keyboard's power lights are not on it should still work.
what is the exact model of your machine, there are a few different variations to access del machines, its possible your using the wrong one..

im not saying your doing it wrong but might be worth looking into it tho then at least you can say its not that causing the problem

[sjmike]

Don't know how many USB ports you have on the back of your system, but try plugging the keyboard into a different one that it is now. We have a bunch of Dell PCs @ Work and I often have to do that for it to detect the mouse or other USB devices. The BIOS seems to prefer certain ones over others.

[Bob Garage]

Don't know how many USB ports you have on the back of your system, but try plugging the keyboard into a different one that it is now. We have a bunch of Dell PCs @ Work and I often have to do that for it to detect the mouse or other USB devices. The BIOS seems to prefer certain ones over others.

cheers Mike. I have tried the keyboard in all 6 usb ports then turned the PC on... without any luck.

I'm going to try a different keyboard tonight when I get home from work.

[M4ST3R M1K3]

However, I am guessing that the USB ports aren't switching on until after that screen. (My keyboard has some lights on it that don't come on until after this screen, hence why I think the USB ports aren't working until ater then). Because the USB ports aren't working when the the dell screen appears, my usb keyboard isn't working and pressing f2 has absolutley no effect.

Is it the keyboard sold with the computer or another one?

You could try to plug the usb keyboard into a powered usb hub

[Bob Garage]

looks like it was the keyboard.

it was the one that came witht he pc, but had some media controls etc and its own usb sockets built in.

i plugged in a spare bog standard usb keyboard and it worked.

thanks for everyones help. what a pain in the arse this has been!