Computer boots into WIN7 but no BIOS

rbwalter

Junior Member
Aug 9, 2007
4
0
61
A little back history. Skip to the next paragraph if it's TMI...Somebody gave me an older Dell computer and I am repairing it for a friend. The main problem was that the video card was shot and the only way to get Windows to work was to boot into safe mode. Next, I found an old video card laying around that worked okay and allowed me to install Windows 7, but it started showing artifacts so I knew it was bad as well. So, I told the person who wanted the computer that the video card was bad and, the next thing I know, she brings a new video card over that she had just bought.

I install the new video card and the screen shows nothing. No Dell logo, no Bios screen, no "Starting Windows". The power button on the monitor is staying amber as well. However, it give the single beep and I can hear the hard drive working, so I just wait. The Windows start screen pops up and everything works beautifully. I have tried clearing the BIOS and turning on/off Fast Boot. I guess she can use it as-is, but I'd really rather have the BIOS screen info if possible. Any ideas?
 

Dahak

Diamond Member
Mar 2, 2000
3,752
25
91
Don't suppose the dell has some sort of integrated video.
I have seen some older hp if you do not manually disable the onboard video, it will use that for boot until windows starts and it switches over.

or you could try mashing the DEL, or F9 or F2 keys after the beep and see if that gets you into the bios
 

rbwalter

Junior Member
Aug 9, 2007
4
0
61
No, there's no onboard video that I can see. There definitely isn't a video connector on the motherboard. Plus, the BIOS screen comes up with the "somewhat working" video card.

I can get into the BIOS setup screen, but I just can't see it. If I hit F2 right away, Windows never comes up and it just sits there running with a black screen. I'm pretty positive that it's in the BIOS setup menu at that point with nothing on the screen.
 

lakedude

Platinum Member
Mar 14, 2009
2,772
524
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Perhaps the BIOS it putting out a display at a resolution or refresh rate that is incompatible with your monitor. Do you have another monitor you could try? I haven't seen anything like this in years and it was usually the other way around, the command line stuff would show up but the when the GUI would fire up it would be "out of range" or some such.
 

VirtualLarry

No Lifer
Aug 25, 2001
56,570
10,200
126
Perhaps the BIOS it putting out a display at a resolution or refresh rate that is incompatible with your monitor. Do you have another monitor you could try?

I agree. It seems like a video card / motherboard BIOS issue - the card's BIOS won't fully initialize with that monitor, but the Windows' driver will.

If the card has a VGA-out, try using that. Not all cards will output BIOS screens on all video outputs.
 

flexy

Diamond Member
Sep 28, 2001
8,464
155
106
There is LIKELY signal on the VGA port. You just don't see it. Plug in a VGA cable if you have one and check. There should be a setting in BIOS for that too.
 

LPCTech

Senior member
Dec 11, 2013
679
93
86
Your pc is showing the bios screen on one of the outputs you are not using for some reason, thats why you suddenly see it when you get to windows. Then once windows loads the drivers for your card kick in and you can see the screen. If thats not it, perhaps you should try re-seating the card and making sure all connections are good. But I think flexy is correct or on the right track.
 

lakedude

Platinum Member
Mar 14, 2009
2,772
524
126
Yeah, if you have more than one output the BIOS is most likely just not going to the one you have hooked up. If you only have one video out try another monitor.
 

who?

Platinum Member
Sep 1, 2012
2,327
42
91
The bios may be set to only display the screen for a very short period of time if at all.
 

rbwalter

Junior Member
Aug 9, 2007
4
0
61
Thanks everyone. I replaced the DVI cable with a VGA cable and the BIOS is showing now.
 
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