Hardware

Ask something
Question Locked

Can't access Bios

0 helpful
8 replies

by davidclift

Closed to new repliesThis discussion is closed. It stays readable, but it takes no new replies.

Hi,
I am trying to access the bios of a gateway 5300.I want to install a new operating system on a new hardrive.
My problem is that the keyboard is malfunstioning and i can't use the F2 button to get in.
I have tried the follwing
Remove hard drive, cd rom, battery and 1 stick of memory but this only gives me the option to enter bios by hitting F2, not possible,
I have held down a bunch of keys during boot, same result.

I tried removing the hard drive and installing it in another laptop, loaded dos on to it and copied all the winxp setup cd on to it with smartdrive, in the hope of being able to ignore bios and just start up in dos and load the OS like that.
No joy there either as it seems the C key doesn't funstion either. Tricky working dos without the C as you can imagine.
Anyway, have tried booting with an external keyboard but that didn't work either as it probably has to be set up in Bios as well.
So to recap,
The bios is set to boot from HD.
On boot i get the "operating system not found"
If i remove the HD and boot with XP install cd in i get the same response.
My question is,
Should i now just presume that its a keyboard problem and fork out for one or is there anything else i can try to get into Bios? I have the feeling its not the keyboard.
PS, i have also tried SHFT+scroll lock etc. Nothing seems to work.
any help would be apreciated.
Thanks

8 replies

by tig2

Hook it up to the lappie and see if the keys function. My guess is that your keyboard is hosed and wants either replacement or for you to use an external.

Good luck!

by davidclift

Sorry, should have mentioned that that was one of the first things i tried, I have a ps2 keyboard i plugged in and tried booting but the keyboard isn't recognised at all, I think that is disabled in the bios as well.
Any other ideas, Much appreciated.

by willcomp

Did you hot plug PS/2 keyboard? Turn off PC before plugging in a PS/2 device. Keyboard will not work and you may short out PS/2 port.

by davidclift

I'll have a go at that when i get home although i think i tried most combinations, the esc key is next to all the F keys so not even sure if that one is functioning either,
Thanks for your effort.

by davidclift

Nope, tried all of those combinations, i guess the ESC key is dead along with all the other useful ones. I think i am going to have to bite the bullet and get a new keyboard.
Thanks for all trying.
Dave

by davidclift

Nope, tried everything suggested, not to worry, i have ordered a new keyboard and hopefully that will sort it out otherwise i really am snookered.

This discussion is closed to new replies.