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General discussion

There is no splash screen to enter into Bios

Mar 12, 2011 10:19AM PST

I want to reformat this old computer I got off Ebay for a couple bucks but there is no splash screen to hit delete or f2 to get into change the boot order. Any ideas?

Discussion is locked

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Since you didn't tell . . .
Mar 12, 2011 12:36PM PST

what this "old computer" is: make, model, OS, the only answer we can give, is "Nope" to any ideas.

We, here, are very good. But we can't read minds.

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mmOS
Mar 13, 2011 10:42AM PDT

IBM Thinkcentre, Model: 8183-DGU. And, I don't know why the OS matters when dealing with the Bios but it's Windows XP.

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What happens when?
Mar 13, 2011 10:49AM PDT

Keep pressing the blue Access IBM button on your keyboard during startup and tell us what it displays. If nothing you have a machine in need of repair.

Remember that this PC is not unique so use the same old methods used to fix any dead PC.
Bob

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IBM
Mar 13, 2011 11:13AM PDT

I have an IBM Keyboard, but I don't have the keyboard that came with it, so there is no blue IBM Access IBM button for me to push. I was thinking the splash screen and ability to get to the BIOS were hidden because this computer was used in an office setting. But I'm not sure that is true, it may just be broken...Thanks though Bob.

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(NT) There is no "Blue" key on an IBM keyboard.
Mar 14, 2011 2:13PM PDT
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(NT) OIC. It must be on select models?
Mar 14, 2011 2:18PM PDT
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(NT) Laptop only.
Mar 14, 2011 2:26PM PDT
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Since I own or have owned . . .
Mar 13, 2011 11:27AM PDT

at least a dozen ThinkPads, and ThinkCentres, you have a major problem. The splash screen is generated by the BIOS and if there is nothing displayed, back to statement one.

Depending on the age you might try replacing the BIOS battery. It may help, but don't count on it as the battery only saves settings, not bootability. A dead battery will still allow boot but the clock will be wrong. I'm assuming you KNOW the monitor is working.

Here is the specific model http://www-307.ibm.com/pc/support/site.wss/quickPath.do?quickPathEntry=8183DGU

On ThinkCentres, hitting the Enter key will bring up the BIOS access screen. Power up, give the machine about 5 seconds, no more, and start pressing Enter, tap, tap, tap. Your first choice will be Enter setup, Choose temporary boot Device, Choose Network boot. If there is no response or still no picture on the screen, you probably have a "couple bucks" door stop. The ThinkCentre has integrated video and that MAY be the problem.

Hope you didn't pay much.

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Problem Solved
Mar 15, 2011 8:08AM PDT

No, I didn't pay much only 20 bucks. But, hey you fixed my problem. The reason I needed the splash screen was to see what key I needed to press to get into BIOS. Because I wanted to change the boot order and nuke it for a linux install. Got in there just fine and I'm nuking right now thanks Coryphaeus! Happy