Can't access Bios

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PostMaster

A friend of mine gave me her pc to look at she's been having problems
with it running slow and freezing up. The first thing I'm trying to do
is do a diagnostics scan but I can't even get into the bios. F10 F2 on
start up and it goes strait to windows login. I know the keyboard is
working because I was able to type in login name and pass and then it
freezes after that. She has had a new hardrive put in a couple years
back, so there is no recovery drive or disc. Is there a way I can boot
this thing using usb or live cd? Is there anything at all I can try?

HP media center000
running winxp pro
 
PostMaster said:
A friend of mine gave me her pc to look at she's been having problems
with it running slow and freezing up. The first thing I'm trying to do
is do a diagnostics scan but I can't even get into the bios. F10 F2 on
start up and it goes strait to windows login. I know the keyboard is
working because I was able to type in login name and pass and then it
freezes after that. She has had a new hardrive put in a couple years
back, so there is no recovery drive or disc. Is there a way I can boot
this thing using usb or live cd? Is there anything at all I can try?
Click to expand...

Have you tried F1, DELETE and TAB, if F2 and F10 don't work to get into the
BIOS? (Although I think for HPs its normally F10 which you've tried ...)
 
Brian Cryer said:
Have you tried F1, DELETE and TAB, if F2 and F10 don't work to get into
the BIOS? (Although I think for HPs its normally F10 which you've tried
...)


--
Click to expand...

Have you tried the ESC key?
 
A friend of mine gave me her pc to look at she's been having problems
with it running slow and freezing up. The first thing I'm trying to do
is do a diagnostics scan but I can't even get into the bios. F10 F2 on
start up and it goes strait to windows login. I know the keyboard is
working because I was able to type in login name and pass and then it
freezes after that. She has had a new hardrive put in a couple years
back, so there is no recovery drive or disc. Is there a way I can boot
this thing using usb or live cd? Is there anything at all I can try?

HP media center000
running winxp pro
Click to expand...

Try a PS2 type keyboard instead of a USB type to get into the bios.
 
PostMaster said:
A friend of mine gave me her pc to look at she's been having problems
with it running slow and freezing up. The first thing I'm trying to do
is do a diagnostics scan but I can't even get into the bios. F10 F2 on
start up and it goes strait to windows login. I know the keyboard is
working because I was able to type in login name and pass and then it
freezes after that. She has had a new hardrive put in a couple years
back, so there is no recovery drive or disc. Is there a way I can boot
this thing using usb or live cd? Is there anything at all I can try?

HP media center000
running winxp pro
Click to expand...

The Keyboard may be working but it's possible that you may hit the wrong
comination to access to CMOS setting.

If my memory ain't so bad, I think most computer use DEL key. Notebook
and some pre-built system may use different KEY
 
        The Keyboard may be working but it's possible that you may hit the wrong
comination to access to CMOS setting.

        If my memory ain't so bad, I think most computer use DEL key.  Notebook
and some pre-built system may use different KEY
Click to expand...

Hey thanks for all the help. It took forever but I did get windows to
at least start up. For the most part I've got windows going at a
normal speed after cleaning out all the old AV anti-spy, ect. Replaced
it with MS security essentials did a virus scan cleaned out a couple
files. Once I get it up and running it seams to do OK but once you
turn this sucker off and restart it takes FOREVER to get to the login
then Forever again to load Desktop. And Like I said I can't get the
bios to come up, but once I give the desktop a couple minutes to
finish loading(once it finally comes up) it seams to do OK a little
lag but I'm used to zipping right along.

Why on gods green earth ppl don't keep the original OS disk or make
one I'll never figure out. Thats what this thing needs is to be
formatted. But I also wonder If there may be some kind of hardware
issue because of how long it takes to start up.

I'm going to try all the above posted suggestions to see if I can get
the bios up. If I could just run diagnostics scan on the hardware that
would help me to see if I'm just wasting my time with trying to patch
up the OS.

Thanks,
PM
 
Why on gods green earth ppl don't keep the original OS disk or make one
I'll never figure out.
Click to expand...

If you have a licence and the key for it, just download a copy of windows.
 
PostMaster said:
Hey thanks for all the help. It took forever but I did get windows to
at least start up. For the most part I've got windows going at a
normal speed after cleaning out all the old AV anti-spy, ect. Replaced
it with MS security essentials did a virus scan cleaned out a couple
files. Once I get it up and running it seams to do OK but once you
turn this sucker off and restart it takes FOREVER to get to the login
then Forever again to load Desktop. And Like I said I can't get the
bios to come up, but once I give the desktop a couple minutes to
finish loading(once it finally comes up) it seams to do OK a little
lag but I'm used to zipping right along.

Why on gods green earth ppl don't keep the original OS disk or make
one I'll never figure out. Thats what this thing needs is to be
formatted. But I also wonder If there may be some kind of hardware
issue because of how long it takes to start up.

I'm going to try all the above posted suggestions to see if I can get
the bios up. If I could just run diagnostics scan on the hardware that
would help me to see if I'm just wasting my time with trying to patch
up the OS.

Thanks,
PM
Click to expand...

If you can get Windows to start then I don't think it has much or anything
to do with CMOS. Slow Windows could relate to something (or combination) of
these

1. Bad anti-virus program, and especially have the [x]E-mail checking option
enable which often slow down the whole system.

2. Main drive (drive C:) doesn't have enough free disk space for swapping
and cause slowness. I would check and delete the TEMP files to free up some
junks

3. Check with Task Manager to see what else loaded in START-UP, and to see
which TSR eating system resource.
 
Hey thanks for all the help. It took forever but I did get windows to
at least start up. For the most part I've got windows going at a
normal speed after cleaning out all the old AV anti-spy, ect. Replaced
it with MS security essentials did a virus scan cleaned out a couple
files. Once I get it up and running it seams to do OK but once you
turn this sucker off and restart it takes FOREVER to get to the login
then Forever again to load Desktop. And Like I said I can't get the
bios to come up, but once I give the desktop a couple minutes to
finish loading(once it finally comes up) it seams to do OK a little
lag but I'm used to zipping right along.
Click to expand...
Why on gods green earth ppl don't keep the original OS disk or make
one I'll never figure out. Thats what this thing needs is to be
formatted. But I also wonder If there may be some kind of hardware
issue because of how long it takes to start up.
Click to expand...
I'm going to try all the above posted suggestions to see if I can get
the bios up. If I could just run diagnostics scan on the hardware that
would help me to see if I'm just wasting my time with trying to patch
up the OS.
Click to expand...
Thanks,
PM
Click to expand...

        If you can get Windows to start then I don't think it hasmuch or anything
to do with CMOS.  Slow Windows could relate to something (or combination) of
these

1. Bad anti-virus program, and especially have the [x]E-mail checking option
enable which often slow down the whole system.

2. Main drive (drive C:) doesn't have enough free disk space for swapping
and cause slowness.  I would check and delete the TEMP files to free upsome
junks

3. Check with Task Manager to see what else loaded in START-UP, and to see
which TSR eating system resource.
Click to expand...

Its funny you should type all that. Thats exactly what I've been doing
since yesterday. I scraped all the AV programs she had and replaced it
with MS security essentials and then. Cleaned out all the junk. I DL
Daves Multi-AV scan tool and scanned with all 5 vendors, deleted all
flagged files.

When I got it took almost an hour to go from power on to desktop. Now
it takes about a minute.
I'd still like to do a bios scan tho.

If you have a licence and the key for it, just download a copy of windows.
Click to expand...

I wish I knew how. I can't do it from HP site and when I called HP (As
soon as I said 2003) they got all rude they said they could not/would
not even "sell" me a copy for that comp. because the warranty had
expired. The MS site only offers updates for XP. I tried. I posted in
another group and I was told about the best I could do is find a used
OEM copy on ebay.

Thanks,
PM
 
A friend of mine gave me her pc to look at she's been having problems
with it running slow and freezing up. The first thing I'm trying to do
is do a diagnostics scan but I can't even get into the bios. F10 F2 on
start up and it goes strait to windows login. I know the keyboard is
working because I was able to type in login name and pass and then it
freezes after that. She has had a new hardrive put in a couple years
back, so there is no recovery drive or disc. Is there a way I can boot
this thing using usb or live cd? Is there anything at all I can try?

HP media center000
running winxp pro
Click to expand...
What is the correct model again? The post you made didnt make sense. I need
the exact HP model.

I can see if i can locate a recovery disk for you.
 
What is the correct model again? The post you made didnt make sense. I need
the exact HP model.

I can see if i can locate a recovery disk for you.
Click to expand...

Thanks
hp media center pc m260n (listed on bottom front)
HP Media Center m000 (listed on back panel)

However the last time the hard drive was replaced the guy put Win XP
pro on it.

The OS should be Win XP 2003 media center edition. This PC has a TV
tuner, cable in, s-video out (which is now useless running XP pro)

PM
 
PostMaster said:
Thanks
hp media center pc m260n (listed on bottom front)
HP Media Center m000 (listed on back panel)

However the last time the hard drive was replaced the guy put Win XP
pro on it.

The OS should be Win XP 2003 media center edition. This PC has a TV
tuner, cable in, s-video out (which is now useless running XP pro)

PM
Click to expand...

Using the HP Parts Store, this is what is offered for recovery media.

http://h20141.www2.hp.com/hpparts/p...473F8B29585BEEF62BD3&SearchCriteria=5069-4882

"Part number 5069-4882 is used in the product models listed below.

Media Center m260n DF200A, DF200AR"

Now, the trick is, tracking down a reputable source. It's not
listed as a stock item at HP, meaning the computer is probably
no longer eligible for warranty service, and they no longer
stock the CD after that period (after everyone's warranty
for said machine has expired).

You could try talking to a human at HP. While they may not
magically offer stock, they should be able to point you
at a trustworthy source. The thing is, anybody could list
that part number on the Internet, in the hope you'll forward
$50 to them, so just seeing the part listed somewhere, doesn't
mean much.

Even if the recovery media was a "Xerox copy", that will still do
the job. There would be nothing magic about an original CD. You want
your source to be trustworthy enough, not to put malware on the
CD :-)

Paul
 
Hey thanks for all the help. It took forever but I did get windows to
at least start up. For the most part I've got windows going at a
normal speed after cleaning out all the old AV anti-spy, ect. Replaced
it with MS security essentials did a virus scan cleaned out a couple
files. Once I get it up and running it seams to do OK but once you
turn this sucker off and restart it takes FOREVER to get to the login
then Forever again to load Desktop. And Like I said I can't get the
bios to come up, but once I give the desktop a couple minutes to
finish loading(once it finally comes up) it seams to do OK a little
lag but I'm used to zipping right along.

Why on gods green earth ppl don't keep the original OS disk or make
one I'll never figure out. Thats what this thing needs is to be
formatted. But I also wonder If there may be some kind of hardware
issue because of how long it takes to start up.

I'm going to try all the above posted suggestions to see if I can get
the bios up. If I could just run diagnostics scan on the hardware that
would help me to see if I'm just wasting my time with trying to patch
up the OS.

Thanks,
PM
Click to expand...

I don't read anything in your postings about using certain good, free
and well-reputated freeware like:
1. SIW (System Information for Windows) does not need installation
process.
2. HD Tune (free version) to test harddisk for errors.
3. Autoruns (Microsoft) for easily forbidding certain progs to start
up with Windows.
4. Memtest86+ which is a .iso file that has to be burned to cd. It is
used for testing the system memory.

Massimo
 
If you are lucky and the motherboard option is on, holding a letter or
number key down continuously as soon as you request a reboot might do it
for you. Sure it might beep quite a bit but if the "Go to BIOS on
Keyboard Error" option is active you might luck out.
Click to expand...

No guarantees on any of these either, but always worth a try.

Keep "a palmful" of keys mashed down while booting. (sometimes just one
key isn't enough.)

Pull the data cable off the boot harddrive.
 
No guarantees on any of these either, but always worth a try.

Keep "a palmful" of keys mashed down while booting. (sometimes just one
key isn't enough.)

Pull the data cable off the boot harddrive.
Click to expand...
You could try talking to a human at HP
Click to expand...

I did. (as previously posted) They were very rude as soon as they
learned they were not obligated under a warranty to give me the time
of day. I have never been talked to like that by any other vendor.
I've owned 3 different comps. in my life. None were HP and after that
experience none will "ever be" HP. They made sure I knew they were not
interested in pointing me in any direction.

I've got the pc running like new now so I'm happy even if I can't get
into bios. I will try getting in with the tricks posted before I give
it back. Changing the AV program. and cleaning it out with Daves Multi-
AV tool did the trick. It would be nice to find the correct restore
disk for her but at this point she'd be better off just getting a new
PC then spending anymore time and money on this one. Lucky for her I'm
cheap. :-)

I don't read anything in your postings about using certain good, free
and well-reputated freeware like:
1. SIW (System Information for Windows) does not need installation
process.
2. HD Tune (free version) to test harddisk for errors.
3. Autoruns (Microsoft) for easily forbidding certain progs to start
up with Windows.
4. Memtest86+ which is a .iso file that has to be burned to cd. It is
used for testing the system memory.
Click to expand...

Thanks for posting those. I now have them bookmarked.

Thanks for all your help. I'll be back. :-)

PM
 
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