Can't access BIOS

[oscarmike247]

Hey all, I'm new to the site and honestly came here out of desperation.

I have two problems... i have a dell xps 400... thats the first problem lol. the 2nd problem is i cant access the BIOS at all.

Upon start up it does NOT display the usual dell load screen... instead it jumps to the following text...

Pheonix ROM BIOS PLUS Version 1.10 A07
Copyright 1985-1988 pheonix technologies ltd.
DELL DXP051 Series
BIOS Version A07
www.dell.com

From there i can boot into my Hdd. But when i press f2 and what not, it will mot enter bios set up.

Yes i have flashed the bios, yes i have reinstalled the apparent correct bios from dells website, yes i have reset CMOS using the pins on the MOBO, and yes i have removed the CMOS battery... nothing seems to work.

My pc also seems to no longer recognize my secondary drive, which is partly why im trying to access the BIOS.

Please help... ive spent too many days on this issue.

 

[Smoblikat]

As soon as you start the PC continuously press F12 like your life depended on it.

 

[oscarmike247]

As soon as you start the PC continuously press F12 like your life depended on it.

ok which takes me to the boot menu. I have no issues accessing that... now what?

 

[VirtualLarry]

http://forums.anandtech.com/showthread.php?t=2041146&highlight=dell+xps+400+keyboard

http://forums.anandtech.com/showthread.php?t=2141765&highlight=dell+xps+400+keyboard

Seems that you are not the only one with keyboard problems with the Dell XPS 400.