From owner-freebsd-stable@FreeBSD.ORG Tue Mar 7 21:10:36 2006 Return-Path: <owner-freebsd-stable@FreeBSD.ORG> X-Original-To: freebsd-stable@freebsd.org Delivered-To: freebsd-stable@freebsd.org Received: from mx1.FreeBSD.org (mx1.freebsd.org [216.136.204.125]) by hub.freebsd.org (Postfix) with ESMTP id 8527516A420 for <freebsd-stable@freebsd.org>; Tue, 7 Mar 2006 21:10:36 +0000 (GMT) (envelope-from delphi123@zebra.net) Received: from smtpauth01.mail.atl.earthlink.net (smtpauth01.mail.atl.earthlink.net [209.86.89.61]) by mx1.FreeBSD.org (Postfix) with ESMTP id DECC943D48 for <freebsd-stable@freebsd.org>; Tue, 7 Mar 2006 21:10:35 +0000 (GMT) (envelope-from delphi123@zebra.net) Received: from [66.32.64.209] (helo=[192.168.1.100]) by smtpauth01.mail.atl.earthlink.net with asmtp (Exim 4.34) id 1FGjRy-0000Eh-No; Tue, 07 Mar 2006 16:10:35 -0500 Message-ID: <440DF6CB.1090001@zebra.net> Date: Tue, 07 Mar 2006 16:10:35 -0500 From: Benjamin Sher <delphi123@zebra.net> User-Agent: Thunderbird 1.5 (Windows/20051201) MIME-Version: 1.0 To: Miguel Lopes Santos Ramos <miguel@anjos.strangled.net>, freebsd-stable@freebsd.org References: <200603072042.k27KgH5W002542@compaq.anjos.strangled.net> In-Reply-To: <200603072042.k27KgH5W002542@compaq.anjos.strangled.net> X-ELNK-Trace: 6d7a96d530d16c3b5e89bb4777695beb69025943178dce0b9e71402efd89cb6ff37f55893c11d807350badd9bab72f9c350badd9bab72f9c350badd9bab72f9c X-Originating-IP: 66.32.64.209 Content-Type: text/plain; charset=ISO-8859-1; format=flowed Content-Transfer-Encoding: 7bit X-Content-Filtered-By: Mailman/MimeDel 2.1.5 Cc: Subject: Re: Can't boot into setup to install FreeBSD 6 X-BeenThere: freebsd-stable@freebsd.org X-Mailman-Version: 2.1.5 Precedence: list List-Id: Production branch of FreeBSD source code <freebsd-stable.freebsd.org> List-Unsubscribe: <http://lists.freebsd.org/mailman/listinfo/freebsd-stable>, <mailto:freebsd-stable-request@freebsd.org?subject=unsubscribe> List-Archive: <http://lists.freebsd.org/pipermail/freebsd-stable> List-Post: <mailto:freebsd-stable@freebsd.org> List-Help: <mailto:freebsd-stable-request@freebsd.org?subject=help> List-Subscribe: <http://lists.freebsd.org/mailman/listinfo/freebsd-stable>, <mailto:freebsd-stable-request@freebsd.org?subject=subscribe> X-List-Received-Date: Tue, 07 Mar 2006 21:10:36 -0000 Dear Miguel: Thank you so very much for trying to help. My answers below: Miguel Lopes Santos Ramos wrote: >> From: Benjamin Sher <sher07@mindspring.com> >> Subject: Can't boot into setup to install FreeBSD 6 >> >> Dear friends: >> >> Just downloaded the two FreeBSD CD's from the web and I would like to >> install them on my second hard drive. But I've discovered that I cannot >> boot up into my Setup (F2, as clearly indicated on my Dell 8200 >> Dimension during bootup). I have never had this kind of problem before. >> I have two 40GB hard drives and wanted to install Linux into my second >> hard drive, but to do this I have to be able to go into my Bios and >> change the boot sequence. I have done this several times before with the >> same computer and the same Win XP OS. But now there is something wrong. >> In fact, I even tried to insert my Windows XP CD and tried to click on >> F2. But, once again, all that happened is that I was taken immediately >> to Windows XP. How do I regain entry to my Setup? >> >> One last thing: I searched for the boot.ini file (making sure that the >> search included all hidden and system files). It's under C:\boot.ini >> >> [boot loader] >> timeout=30 >> default=multi(0)disk(0)rdisk(0)partition(1)\WINDOWS >> [operating systems] >> multi(0)disk(0)rdisk(0)partition(1)\WINDOWS="Microsoft Windows XP >> Professional" /fastdetect /NoExecute=OptIn >> >> I called Dell and asked for their help. Unfortunately, they are now >> charging $99 per incident, which is way beyond what I and my family >> (being Katrina refugees) can afford. But they did let me explain the >> problem, and the lady said that in her opinion this is a software issue. >> I tend to agree since I have never had a single hardware problem with my >> Dell computer in the six years I have had it. If so, may I ask if >> someone on the FreeBSD list would be kind enough to help me resolve >> this. We would very much appreciate it. >> >> Thank you so much. >> >> Benjamin Sher >> 865-690-3898 >> > > I think this is a bit off-topic on this list, but of course I'd like to help. > I don't think this can be a 'software issue', this must be the BIOS (firmware). > > 1- Did you change your keyboard, or is your keyboard not well connected? > I once had a keyboard which had a long reset time and sometimes was not > detected. Try different keyboards, check the plugs. > First, my thanks for explaining that this is a BIOS issue. Does this mean that it is a HARDWARE issue? I did change my keyboard some months ago. I changed my keyboard from a Belkin ergonomic keyboard to a Microsoft ergonomic keyboard when I arrived in Knoxville. But I had this problem before in New Orleans with my old keyboard. The Setup got jammed sometimes last fall for some inexplicable reason and has never worked right since. > 2- Are you pressing F2 at the right time? Try keeping F2 pressed as soon as > you power on, keep it pressed. > Believe me, I press F2 the moment boot starts and keep hitting it throughout the boot process. On the other hand, I can stop the boot process with F12. > 3- Did you update your BIOS? > > I don't think removing the CMOS battery can help in this case. Your problem > seems surreal. > No, I have not updated my BIOS since I purchased the Dell. Thank you again. Benjamin > Miguel > > >