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Thread ID: 52936	2005-01-03 06:28:00	Can't enter BIOS/CMOS setup on IBM 300GL!	shroeder (6761)	Press F1

Post ID	Timestamp	Content	User
310131	2005-01-03 06:28:00	My son has scored an IBM 300GL running W2000. He wants to reformat and dual boot using W98 (for his games) and Mandrake (for excitement). The trouble is that we can't seem to access BIOS/CMOS setup. On starting it displays the message "Hit F1 for setup" but doing so only delays the showing of the next screen (which allows ctrl-S to enter a different type of setup, such as having number lock on at start etc). During the delay a blinking cursor "_" is displayed. If we don't hit F1 the next screen offering Ctrl-S is still the next screen. Unless I can get into BIOS/CMOS setup I don't seem to be able to get the PC to boot from CD-Rom, which I really need to do what he wants. :confused: Any ideas will be gratefully tried!!! Thanks in anticipation	shroeder (6761)
310132	2005-01-03 06:45:00	Try hitting F1 with machine gun rapidity as the beast is booting!!!!!!!!!!!! IBMs can be awkward till you get the knack.	Terry Porritt (14)
310133	2005-01-03 07:58:00	Tried, and tried, and tried (son is still trying in fact!)... But to no avail (PC just starts beeping as (I guess) we overload its keystroke buffer or something. Thanks though for the suggestion. Any other ideas?	shroeder (6761)
310134	2005-01-03 08:17:00	Well, I suppose it wouldn't do any harm to try a new CMOS battery, possibly that may do the trick??	Terry Porritt (14)
310135	2005-01-03 08:20:00	Try clearing the CMOS memory. Normally this is done by changing a small jumper near the CMOS batter and then changing it back before you start up again. Ash	Ash M (46)
310136	2005-01-03 08:46:00	Well, before I try those things (as I don't know where to look for the CMOS battery!), I've just found out a little more... The screen it jumps to relates to a Intel PRO/100 Network Management adaptor that allows for wake up via a LAN. Could it be that this set up takes precedence over BIOS, and that I should disable/remove or whatever first?	shroeder (6761)
310137	2005-01-03 09:10:00	I've almost always found this to work. You've got to make it fail POST somehow. Not the real important one, just do something that will make it give an error. First try holding down a key (any key) constantly while it is booting. It will usually give a stuck key error and ask if you want to enter setup. Also consider that the setup may need to be downloaded and put on floppy. Hth George	george12 (7)
310138	2005-01-03 09:14:00	My son has scored an IBM 300GL running W2000 . He wants to reformat and dual boot using W98 (for his games) and Mandrake (for excitement) . The trouble is that we can't seem to access BIOS/CMOS setup . On starting it displays the message "Hit F1 for setup" but doing so only delays the showing of the next screen (which allows ctrl-S to enter a different type of setup, such as having number lock on at start etc) . During the delay a blinking cursor "_" is displayed . If we don't hit F1 the next screen offering Ctrl-S is still the next screen . Unless I can get into BIOS/CMOS setup I don't seem to be able to get the PC to boot from CD-Rom, which I really need to do what he wants . :confused: Any ideas will be gratefully tried!!! Thanks in anticipation From memory I think I used the mash every key method on these things or the other thing you can try is if it has two mem sticks ---- pull out one and it should give you the option to enter the setup (bios) due to a change in physical memory	the highlander (245)
310139	2005-01-05 23:33:00	In case you're still puzzling over this (just browsing the old messages) you'll find that all Thinkpads require you to hold the F1 key before turning the machine on. Keep the F1 key pressed while it's booting up & you're in.	Peterj116 (6762)
310140	2005-01-06 01:08:00	I have had a play around with BIOS settings what are CMOS settings? can you can change them and how do you get to them on PC P111. TEDHEATH	tedheath (537)
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