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| Thread ID: 18693 | 2002-04-30 06:15:00 | BIOS help | Guest (0) | Press F1 |
| Post ID | Timestamp | Content | User | ||
| 46474 | 2002-04-30 06:15:00 | Before i start, i warn do not laugh, i'm doing a job that requires a backup of important files. Now the problem is they are having problems with the floppy drive. I have checked the connection, that is OK. My question is how do i get into the bios to check the configuration. The computer is a 286 running Dos 6.1. Ive tried esc and F1 through to F12. but nothing will get me there it just boots into Dos. HELP!!!!!!!!!!!!!! |
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| 46475 | 2002-04-30 06:22:00 | Have you tried the delete key? J. |
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| 46476 | 2002-04-30 06:43:00 | Some/most 286 machines have a setup programme which is on the disk, not in the BIOS chip. Try 'dir c:\*setup.* /s', 'dir setup*.* /s', and any other set of wildcard names you can thing of. If you don't find it that way, just check through all the directories, looking for names which might fit ... What make and model of computer? |
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| 46477 | 2002-04-30 07:47:00 | Try Ctrl+Alt+Esc I've also come across PCs that get you into the BIOS by changing a jumper around on the motherboard so that it enters the BIOS. Have a look for this. |
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| 46478 | 2002-04-30 08:16:00 | On mine (Quadtel bios) you have generate an error for it to let you into the BIOS. Either by hitting F2 just after the memory test (bad stuff tends to happen if you get the wrong timing or key). Or more reliably by hitting reset while its still in the bios and waiting for it to prompt you. |
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| 46479 | 2002-04-30 10:05:00 | Just thought of another way. Try forcing a keyboard error by holding down a key and maybe a message will come up telling you how to enter the BIOS. That is if halt on error is enabled. | Guest (0) | ||
| 46480 | 2002-04-30 10:27:00 | Another option - disconnect the keyboard, then start PC. This will generate a keyboard error, but should also give the BIOS prompt. | Guest (0) | ||
| 46481 | 2002-04-30 12:21:00 | Just so you won't hate yourself. Plug the keyboard back in if it's asking for you to press a button or you maybe back saying your keyboard no longer works now. | Guest (0) | ||
| 46482 | 2002-05-01 02:57:00 | Any lick yet, Matt? I've had a bit of a look, but can't find the programme I though was on Simtel. But the problem might be loading a prog from the floppy. Can you read the floppy drive?. That *should* work regardless of the CMOS memory state. That's how you get the machine started from a totally new state. An AT checks the boot sector, and decides what sort of floppy it's looking at. I suppose that it's DOS which might need to know what it is if it wants to write to the disk. I assume DOS 6.1 has still got the dreaded DEBUG. If so, try this script: (the '-' is the prompt from Debug) '-o 70 10', '-i 71', (just a carriage return here),'-q'. That will give you a 2 character hex number in the second line. The first nibble (char) is the floppy type for drive A, the second is for B. A '0' means no drive there. Post that number, and I'll look up the numbers. But I imagine that 'trouble' with a floppy might be such that if the information's important it's worth fitting a new floppy drive. (Even if you borrow one from a newer machine). You might have to get hold of a big-small powercable adapter. |
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| 46483 | 2002-05-01 04:29:00 | Here's the list of drive types used in byte 0x10 of the CMOS: 0=no drive, 1=360kB 5.25', 2=1.2MB 5.25', 3=720kB 3.5', 4=1.44MB 3.5', 5=2.88MB 3.5' . First digit is drive A, 2nd is drive B. (They are hexadecimal numbers, but below 10, so 'normal'. The 0x10 is decimal location 16, which is the 17th byte in the CMOS RAM). | Guest (0) | ||
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