I just found these links that discuss various methods to enter bios. <G>
bootdisk.com
How Do I Access My BIOS or CMOS Setup Utility?
First see if there is a message when you first turn on your system like: "To Enter Setup Press" and make a note of it. That will be the key you need to access the CMOS setup. Check your motherboard manual also.
The most popular way is to hit the Delete key as the computer boots up, but there are many other ways depending on what type of system you have. Other popular keys include F1 or F2 and for Compaqs, F10 when the big cursor is in the upper right of the screen for example. Also Ctrl-Alt-Delete, Ctrl-q, Ctrl-s, Alt-s, Esc, Alt-Esc, Alt-Enter, Ctrl-Alt-Esc, Ctrl-Alt-Enter, Ctrl-Alt-F8, and Ctrl-Alt-Insert.
Or type setup in DOS on older boxes. then we have F12, other F keys, Ctrl-Alt-q, Ctrl-Alt-s, Ctrl-Alt-d, Ctrl-Alt-p, Ctrl-Esc, Ctrl-Shift-s and combinations of above.
Here's another list that was posted on usenet that may help.
Sometimes, just holding down a key when you first turn on the computer forces an error which tells you how to enter "setup". Often you can just disconnect the keyboard to get the "To Enter Setup Press" prompt. Write it down, turn the power off, reconnect the keyboard and go.
A whole slew of laptops have cmos access software on the hard drive. For example, on old Toshiba's there is a tsetup file in c:\dos. Check the C: drive for a folder that matches your model laptop maybe there's a setup file there. Or, your laptop may have bios access software that you have to find and run in windows. It is often available from their website.
If you get real desperate, you can sometimes take out a set of RAM which may cause an adjustment notice where the directions may appear on how to access, or just pulling out the floppy cable or hard drive cable sometimes works.
bootdisk.com
Alternate BIOS Entry provided by DONALD ANADELL except where noted
Method : System
del during boot AMI, Award
Ctrl-Alt-Esc Acer or slap the F keys down to see the hidden screen (plato)
Esc during boot Toshiba
F1 during boot Toshiba; Phoenix; Late model PS/1 Value Point and 330s
F2 during boot NEC
F10 when square in top RH corner of screen Compaq
Ins during boot IBM PS/2s w/ Reference Partition
Reset twice Some Dells
Alt Enter Dell
Alt ? some PS/2s
Ctrl-Esc General
Ctrl Ins some PS/2s when pointer at top right of screen
Ctrl Alt Esc AST Advantage, Award, Tandon
Ctrl Alt + General
Ctrl Alt S Phoenix
Ctrl Alt Ins Zenith, Phoenix
Ctrl S Phoenix
Ctrl Shift Esc Tandon 386
Shift Ctrl Alt + Num Pad del Olivetti PC Pro
Setup disk Old Compaqs, Epson (Gemini), IBM, IBM PS/2, Toshiba, old 286s
DELL Laptops by Tacitus
On most LatitudeT systems (except the LM), press the <FN> + <F1> keys
simultaneously at any time.
On all InspironT systems and the Latitude LM, press the <F2> key as the
system powers up. |
