Can no longer access BIOS

  • Thread starter Thread starter Mattrixx
  • Start date Start date
M

Mattrixx

I`m encountering a very strange BIOS *access* problem unlike anything I`ve
ever dealt with before.

I can NO longer enter the BIOS *OR* the F-8 "Quick Drive Select" feature of
my (Socket 939) Asus A8V Deluxe (AMI BIOS) *OR* even the (press TAB) BIOS
"message".
In fact, I lost ALL the PS2 keyboard functions as well!

Yes, I have tried another PS2 keyboard with exactly the same result...NO
Longer working/typing.
I then connected a USB keyboard and still could NOT enter the BIOS, nor the
"Quick Drive Select"!
HOWEVER, A dedicated *USB* keyboard works/types in WinXP, but yet.... I
still can NOT use even a USB keyboard to enter the BIOS etc!! Also, a PS2
keyboard *WITH* a USB adaptor *DOES* work/type normally... once in WinXP!

According to my manual, in the BIOS "Legacy USB Support" is set to "Auto" by
default.
This Auto setting "allows the system to detect the presence of USB devices
at startup". "If no USB device is detected,the legacy USB support is
disabled"

So to sum up, as of now I can`t use a PS2 keyboard *OR* a USB keyboard to
enter the BIOS!
Yet a PS2 MOUSE works per normal once booted up in WINDOWS, but NOT a PS2
keyboard (without a USB adaptor) This is NUTS!! I can see *maybe* losing a
PS2 keyboard Port somehow (?) but what about
the USB at startup ??? It seems to me something in the BIOS got screwed up?

This problem occurred just after I attempted to correct my LINUX MINT *time*
difference with the WinXP *time* on this "dual boot" Asus A8V Deluxe
(seperate O.S. HDD`s using the F8 "Select Boot" feature to access the
desired HDD with O.S. at startup) by editing LINUX MINT.
I edited using the LINUX terminal (as instructed by a MINT forum), by
changing one word in one line from: UTC=yes to UTC=no.
UTC being: Universal Time Clock?

After the edit I was required to RE-BOOT for the change to take effect which
I did do, but at this point (after the re-boot) my (PS2) keyboard FAILED at
the F8 "Quick Drive Select" function, and bootup just continued on to the
normal default WinXP Drive. Further investigation by me showed *NO* PS2
keyboard functioning in WinXP. Subsequent tests by me also showed I could NO
LONGER enter BIOS as well!

I`m assuming I need to fix something amiss in the BIOS, but how can I when I
can NOT enter the BIOS?

Would "clearing the CMOS" (CLRTC) be the solution?
If so, by resetting the CMOS I could be "stuck" with all default settings
*IF* I still could NOT enter the BIOS after clearing the CMOS.
I cant even consider updating or "FLASHING" the BIOS, since I need to be
able to use a keyboard!

Thanks for any further insight into my dilema

Matt
 
Mattrixx said:
I`m encountering a very strange BIOS *access* problem unlike anything I`ve
ever dealt with before.

I can NO longer enter the BIOS *OR* the F-8 "Quick Drive Select" feature of
my (Socket 939) Asus A8V Deluxe (AMI BIOS) *OR* even the (press TAB) BIOS
"message".
In fact, I lost ALL the PS2 keyboard functions as well!

Yes, I have tried another PS2 keyboard with exactly the same result...NO
Longer working/typing.
I then connected a USB keyboard and still could NOT enter the BIOS, nor the
"Quick Drive Select"!
HOWEVER, A dedicated *USB* keyboard works/types in WinXP, but yet.... I
still can NOT use even a USB keyboard to enter the BIOS etc!! Also, a PS2
keyboard *WITH* a USB adaptor *DOES* work/type normally... once in WinXP!

According to my manual, in the BIOS "Legacy USB Support" is set to "Auto" by
default.
This Auto setting "allows the system to detect the presence of USB devices
at startup". "If no USB device is detected,the legacy USB support is
disabled"

So to sum up, as of now I can`t use a PS2 keyboard *OR* a USB keyboard to
enter the BIOS!
Yet a PS2 MOUSE works per normal once booted up in WINDOWS, but NOT a PS2
keyboard (without a USB adaptor) This is NUTS!! I can see *maybe* losing a
PS2 keyboard Port somehow (?) but what about
the USB at startup ??? It seems to me something in the BIOS got screwed up?

This problem occurred just after I attempted to correct my LINUX MINT *time*
difference with the WinXP *time* on this "dual boot" Asus A8V Deluxe
(seperate O.S. HDD`s using the F8 "Select Boot" feature to access the
desired HDD with O.S. at startup) by editing LINUX MINT.
I edited using the LINUX terminal (as instructed by a MINT forum), by
changing one word in one line from: UTC=yes to UTC=no.
UTC being: Universal Time Clock?

After the edit I was required to RE-BOOT for the change to take effect which
I did do, but at this point (after the re-boot) my (PS2) keyboard FAILED at
the F8 "Quick Drive Select" function, and bootup just continued on to the
normal default WinXP Drive. Further investigation by me showed *NO* PS2
keyboard functioning in WinXP. Subsequent tests by me also showed I could NO
LONGER enter BIOS as well!

I`m assuming I need to fix something amiss in the BIOS, but how can I when I
can NOT enter the BIOS?

Would "clearing the CMOS" (CLRTC) be the solution?
If so, by resetting the CMOS I could be "stuck" with all default settings
*IF* I still could NOT enter the BIOS after clearing the CMOS.
I cant even consider updating or "FLASHING" the BIOS, since I need to be
able to use a keyboard!

Thanks for any further insight into my dilema

Matt
Click to expand...
Clear the cmos and hope that the USB resets to auto. You have nothing to
lose since the machine is toast now.
 
Would "clearing the CMOS" (CLRTC) be the solution?
If so, by resetting the CMOS I could be "stuck" with all default settings
*IF* I still could NOT enter the BIOS after clearing the CMOS.
Click to expand...

Search for a utility to backup and restore your CMOS RAM.

Check that there is +5V power available at the PS2 connector:
http://pinouts.ru/Inputs/KeyboardPC6_pinout.shtml

If there is no +5V, then look for an open picofuse near the connector.

- Franc Zabkar
 
evilmeeko said:
i have the same issue.. and even replaced the PSU, RAM graphics, reset
CMOS, and changed the battery.. it still won't recognize the USB
keyboard.. so i can't get INTO the Bios to get past the prompt to fix
the time/date (which happens when you clear the CMOS). now what?

I only have USB keyboard ports.. no ps2, and i tried the usb to ps2
adapters (3 of them) and still no luck.
Click to expand...

Try this, it has worked on occasion for me....
boot the machine without the keyboard connected
just as the post begins hit pause/break key
plug in keyboard
hit 'enter' to proceed with post
immediately hit the key that enters setup

good luck..its not guaranteed..but you'll be no worse off than you are now.
 
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