I can not access my CMOS settings

[ron-mcdonald]

I have an IBM Net Vista computer with a 1GH PIII processor.
I dont have a manual, but was able to get a detailed PDF file which is
near as good. It says that I should press the F1 key during booting,
to access the CMOS. Well, I can press it repeatedly, hold it down as
soon as I turn on the computer, boot to windows or to dos. No matter
what, I dont get into Cmos. I also tried the DEL key since that is
used on other computers.

How the heck do I get into there?

OK, I did find one way, and a dangerous one. While the computer is
running, I remove one of my Ram strips. The computer locks up. When
I shut it off, the CMOS screen pops right up when it restarts.
However I know that's bad for the Ram.

Any ideas????

Thanks

Ron

 

[Paul]

I have an IBM Net Vista computer with a 1GH PIII processor.
I dont have a manual, but was able to get a detailed PDF file which is
near as good. It says that I should press the F1 key during booting,
to access the CMOS. Well, I can press it repeatedly, hold it down as
soon as I turn on the computer, boot to windows or to dos. No matter
what, I dont get into Cmos. I also tried the DEL key since that is
used on other computers.

How the heck do I get into there?

OK, I did find one way, and a dangerous one. While the computer is
running, I remove one of my Ram strips. The computer locks up. When
I shut it off, the CMOS screen pops right up when it restarts.
However I know that's bad for the Ram.

Any ideas????

Thanks

Ron

Are you using a USB keyboard or a PS/2 keyboard ? Try a PS/2 keyboard.

And don't pull out the RAM while the power is on. Eventually, you're
going to cook the RAM, or the Northbridge.

Paul

 

[Ken]

Are you using a USB keyboard or a PS/2 keyboard ? Try a PS/2 keyboard.

And don't pull out the RAM while the power is on. Eventually, you're
going to cook the RAM, or the Northbridge.

Paul

Excellent point about the USB keyboard! He also could have a bad PS2
keyboard with the key necessary for CMOS entry being bad. If none of
these is true, he could try disconnecting one of the components
currently connected such as the hard drive or floppy. Most systems will
recognize the change in the hardware status and allow entry into CMOS so
that the new configuration can be saved.

 

[JFG]

I have an IBM Net Vista computer with a 1GH PIII processor.
I dont have a manual, but was able to get a detailed PDF file which is
near as good. It says that I should press the F1 key during booting,
to access the CMOS. Well, I can press it repeatedly, hold it down as
soon as I turn on the computer, boot to windows or to dos. No matter
what, I dont get into Cmos. I also tried the DEL key since that is
used on other computers.

How the heck do I get into there?

OK, I did find one way, and a dangerous one. While the computer is
running, I remove one of my Ram strips. The computer locks up. When
I shut it off, the CMOS screen pops right up when it restarts.
However I know that's bad for the Ram.

Any ideas????

Thanks

Ron

Does the NetVista have a Supervisor password and is it set? That would
prevent entry into the BIOS. That's a problem with used IBM laptops I know.
If the SVP is set and you can't find out what it is from the prior owner,
you're pretty well juiced. There are some ways around this, none easy and
some requiring that you send the computer off for a pricey fix. How do I
know this? I bought a used ThinkPad from ebay with a SVP in place so I
can't get into the BIOS to reset the boot order so that I can load an os. J

 

[kony]

I have an IBM Net Vista computer with a 1GH PIII processor.
I dont have a manual, but was able to get a detailed PDF file which is
near as good. It says that I should press the F1 key during booting,
to access the CMOS. Well, I can press it repeatedly, hold it down as
soon as I turn on the computer, boot to windows or to dos. No matter
what, I dont get into Cmos. I also tried the DEL key since that is
used on other computers.

How the heck do I get into there?

OK, I did find one way, and a dangerous one. While the computer is
running, I remove one of my Ram strips. The computer locks up. When
I shut it off, the CMOS screen pops right up when it restarts.
However I know that's bad for the Ram.

Any ideas????

Also try ESC and the other <F%> keys like F2 and and F10.

When you pulled the ram (don't do that anymore) and got to
the bios, was the keyboard working to navigate the bios
menus at that point? If so I doubt you need a different
keyboard but do use a PS2 if yours is USB for best chance of
success.

 

[Sam]

I have an IBM Net Vista computer with a 1GH PIII processor.
I dont have a manual, but was able to get a detailed PDF file which is
near as good. It says that I should press the F1 key during booting,
to access the CMOS. Well, I can press it repeatedly, hold it down as
soon as I turn on the computer, boot to windows or to dos. No matter
what, I dont get into Cmos. I also tried the DEL key since that is
used on other computers.

How the heck do I get into there?

OK, I did find one way, and a dangerous one. While the computer is
running, I remove one of my Ram strips. The computer locks up. When
I shut it off, the CMOS screen pops right up when it restarts.
However I know that's bad for the Ram.

Any ideas????

Thanks

Are you using a Microsoft keyboard? If so, see if it has an F-Lock key.
Try first hitting that key once and then using the F1 key. Hopefully
that'll make a difference.

Sam