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    Impossible to access BIOS configuration

    Discussion in 'Lenovo' started by Glider.g, May 28, 2011.

  1. Glider.g

    Glider.g Newbie

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    Hi all,

    I changed the hard disk after a HDD failure in my Z61m and I'm trying to reinstall Win XP but I cannot boot from CD/DVD.
    I'm trying to access the BIOS to check if the boot otpion from CD/DVD is enabled.
    I turn on the PC, hit F1, on the screen appears 'Entering BIOS Setup Utility' but after few seconds the screen becomes black and nothing happens.
    I tried to hit ESC instead of F1 and a boot screen appears: I can see the RAM check, the HDD is recognized and identified, but then the screen becomes black again.
    If I hit F1 while the RAM check is running, it appears 'Entering Setup...' but again nothing happens.
    The only thing I can do is turn off the PC.

    Any idea about these symptoms?
    Is there another way to boot from a Win XP installation CD?
    Am I forgetting something?

    Thank you in advance for your replies.
     
    Glider.g, May 28, 2011
    #1
  2. AESdecryption

    AESdecryption Notebook Evangelist

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    BIOS Setup Utility is NOT what you want, you go to Boot Menu (F12) to boot into a CD or entering the BIOS to change settings. This is standard on the T61 official BIOS.
     
    AESdecryption, May 28, 2011
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  3. Glider.g

    Glider.g Newbie

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    Thanks AESdecryption,

    I didn't know about F12.
    I tried, but it doesn't work: I hit F12, the screen shows 'Preparing Boot Device List' for about 15 seconds and then the screen becomes black.
    The only sign of activity is the HDD led that lights.
    I tried both with empy cd player and with the Win XP setup disc in the player.

    Probably the HDD wasn't the only one to fail :(
     
    Glider.g, May 28, 2011
    #3
  4. Thors.Hammer

    Thors.Hammer Notebook Enthusiast

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    Will the machine boot from a Windows setup DVD or a Linux startup DVD? If not, it sounds like you have bigger problems.
     
    Thors.Hammer, May 28, 2011
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  5. Glider.g

    Glider.g Newbie

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    Thank you for your reply Thors.Hammer,

    no, it doesn't, at least not from my Win XP setup disc.
    For this reason I tried first to access BIOS set up, just to be sure that the CD player was enabled as boot device.
    I don't have any Linux installation disc to try.

    So, the situation is:
    1) The original HDD failed: I tried it in an external SATA case and it doesn't work.
    2) The new hard disk seems to be correctly recognized and identified during initial system checks.
    3) The Win XP CD works: I tried it in another notebook and I was able to boot and launch Windows set up.
    4) The CD/DVD player spins, its LED lights, it makes the regular sound.

    Is there a way to boot from an USB key with a macgine in this state?
     
    Glider.g, May 28, 2011
    #5