Dell Dimension 8200 BIOS lockup

[MurdarMachene]

Hello all. My father has comissioned me to fix his dell for him and I'm unable to help him. He has a Dell Dimension 8200 from quite a few years ago. The computer has been compromised by spyware and crap so I'm trying to reformat it with the Windows XP disk that he was provided by Dell. However, I cannot change the boot order in the BIOS to boot to CD rom first, as when I enter the BIOS the entire thing is locked. The arrows keys won't move the cursor, enter does nothing. If you go into the BIOS, you have to reboot with the button on the tower.

I tried resetting the bios jumper to clear it. I haven't tried the BIOS battery removal trick yet, because I'm not familiar at all with how to do that, or the risks involved. I have no clue why I can't use the BIOS, can anyone help?

On a related note, after the format should I download any Dell-specific drivers for the computer or just use the Windows XP defaults and let it be?

 

[MustISO]

The Dell's sometimes have a Boot menu, I think it's F12. If you hit F12 when the machine first starts it should give you the option of booting from the CD.

If XP has the correct drivers I would just use those to start with.

 

[pentiumobile]

My brother has a 8200 too and I am buying him a new PC. (read thread)

Turn it off.

Put the CD on.

Press F12

I think the Boot CD is Option #4

Press down arrow three times an press enter

Now reformat.

Thats all.

PD: If the arrows doesn't funtion, maybe you have a mayor problem try updating the BIOS, i think the last ones was A09

 

[Hacp]

DL dell specific drivers

 

[MurdarMachene]

Originally posted by: pentiumobile
My brother has a 8200 too and I am buying him a new PC. (read thread)

Turn it off.

Put the CD on.

Press F12

I think the Boot CD is Option #4

Press down arrow three times an press enter

Now reformat.

Thats all.

PD: If the arrows doesn't funtion, maybe you have a mayor problem try updating the BIOS, i think the last ones was A09

I need to know where to get the BIOS files, that's the only problem. Do you have a link?

Also I need a BIOS flashing utility, prefferably a windows one, not a boot disk.

 

[MurdarMachene]

Hmm, F12 doesn't do anything. It just boots up as it normally does. It said I can hit F8 to configure windows stuff and it goes to scandisk, so I rebooted it and gave up on that. Is that what F12 was supposed to take me to?

 

[bamacre]

http://support.dell.com/support/edocs/systems/dim8200/

Specifially, this may help...

http://support.dell.com/support/edocs/systems/dim8200/syssetup.htm#1104690

Not sure if that will reset the BIOS or not.

Steps to replacing (or re-installing battery) linky

CAUTION: A new battery can explode if it is incorrectly installed.
Replace the 3-V CR2032 battery only with the same or equivalent
type recommended by the manufacturer. Discard used batteries
according to the manufacturer?s instructions.

1 Record all the screens in the system setup program so that you can
restore the correct settings in step 7.

2 Open the computer cover (see page 67).

3 Locate the battery socket BATTERY (see page 70).

4 Remove the battery by carefully prying it out of its socket with your
fingers or with a blunt, nonconducting object such as a plastic
screwdriver.

NOTICE: To avoid damage to the system board while you pry the battery
loose, be sure to insert the plastic screwdriver between the battery and the
socket (not the system board).

5 Insert the new battery into the socket with the side labeled ?+? facing
up and snap it into place.

6 Close the computer cover (see page 90), and plug your computer and
devices into their electrical outlets.

7 Access the system setup program (see page 97) and restore the settings
you recorded in step 1.

8 Properly dispose of the old battery (see page 99).

 

[MurdarMachene]

The BIOS is just completely frozen. I can't change or select any options, so this plan is not viable. I can't check the settings to set them back to what they should be, because I can't navigate the menus. Also, is it possible that the BIOS battery is dead, so that's why the BIOS is frozen up?

 

[bamacre]

Originally posted by: MurdarMachene
The BIOS is just completely frozen. I can't change or select any options, so this plan is not viable. I can't check the settings to set them back to what they should be, because I can't navigate the menus. Also, is it possible that the BIOS battery is dead, so that's why the BIOS is frozen up?

Just skip #1 and go from there.

 

[MurdarMachene]

You didn't even answer my question. Also, the BIOS is still frozen.

 

[bamacre]

Originally posted by: MurdarMachene
You didn't even answer my question. Also, the BIOS is still frozen.

Possibly, to answer your question.

Taking the battery out for a while, and then putting it back in will probably reset the bios, and may unfreeze it. It's worth a shot.

 

[MurdarMachene]

Well, we finally figured out why it was locked up in the BIOS...the printer and the mouse were both connected into USB ports on the keyboard, which were taking up all the IRQ's in dos functions. How did we figure that out? I don't even know. At any rate, thanks for your help. I flashed the BIOS to the newest version and reformatted to Windows XP with no problems.

 

[bamacre]

Originally posted by: MurdarMachene
Well, we finally figured out why it was locked up in the BIOS...the printer and the mouse were both connected into USB ports on the keyboard, which were taking up all the IRQ's in dos functions. How did we figure that out? I don't even know. At any rate, thanks for your help. I flashed the BIOS to the newest version and reformatted to Windows XP with no problems.

LOL, it's times like this that make one hate computers. Good job getting it done though.