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Can't get into the BIOS

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8 replies

by ikathyd

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When my computer starts up, the screen is black until Windows has completely booted up. There is no opportunity to see the BIOS. When I do hit the F2 button it is just a black screen that appears and stays there untill I hit the escape button. Windows then loads. How can I get to the BIOS? I need to change a setting so that my computer does not boot from the Network.

8 replies

by rob miners

of your System would probably help us to help you.

EDIT: or hold a key down as the System starts up and dont worry about the beeping. It should then display the access key for you to enter the BIOS.

by rob miners

working previously with the adapter that is required to run it. If you have remove the adapter and connect an IBM compatable monitor to see if there is a problem with the graphics card.

by thumbsup2

You need to press the F2 key almost just as soon as you turn on the power to the machine and keep pressing it repeatedly until you see the BIOS. If you see the Windows loading screen, you pressed it too late.

Also, like Jacky said, what make/model of computer? Some BIOS are entered using another key, such as the DEL key. Are you sure F2 is the correct key for your make/model?

Also, what kind of keyboard do you have hooked up? If it's a USB keyboard, try plugging in a PS2 keyboard instead.

by ikathyd

It is not that I can't get to the BIOS, it is that I can't see it. The screen remains black. Could it be my screen? I have an apple screen with my PC. I have a Frys computer that is about 3 years old. I am running WIndows XP pro. I have a wireless mouse and keyboard.

by ikathyd

So I plugged in another monitor and could see the BIOS. I changed what I thought would stop the computer from rebooting when I turned it off. And it seemed to work until I plugged my Apple monitor back in. The computer then rebooted, so I think it is in the monitor setting but I can't find what to change. Any ideas?

by seanferd

whichever allows you to view your desktop normally.

Right-click an epty space on the desktop. Click Properties > Settings tab > Advanced > tick the button "Apply new display settings without restarting". Click Apply.

Now, adjust the screen resolution to the one that worked before. Click Apply. The screen will change, and you should get a dialog box that says that the resolution will change back to the old setting in 15 seconds unless you click OK.

(If you changed the color depth or refresh rate rather than the resolution, change them back instead.)

You can also do it this way to try to find a better resolution than the old one when in normal Windows mode. If the display gets weird when you change it, wait 15 seconds and it will go back to the prior setting.

If you look up the exact model number of the monitor, you will be able to find out what resolutions it is capable of at what refresh rate and color depth.

Thing is, I don't know if there are Windows monitor drivers for Apple monitors, so it will not always work as expected. Windows will allow you to change the settings to something that won't work.

You can check these, though
http://www.google.com/search?ie=UTF-8&oe=utf-8&q=windows+apple+monitor+driver

You can also try to update your graphics drivers as well, it may help with this particular problem, or maybe not. But updated drivers are a good thing in general.

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