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I have posted on this before but now really need to boot from CD. I can get into the BIOS with a USB keyboard, but cannot boot from CD. When I get the screen that says press any key to boot from CD, it won't recognize any key at all. I can get into the boot menu or Bios with a PS2 keyboard, and it won't accept any key press from that either at the press any key prompt. What can I do to get it to boot from CD? All the keyboards work fine inside windows, so it's not a keyboard problem. I doubt it's a port problem as it accepts the key input to get into BIOS, just not on that boot from CD screen. Please help!
Pat
I think it's a timing problem. When you see the boot from cd message, start tapping the key. I think you're missing the right time to press the key.
Keep Smiling
It makes them think you're up to something...
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Thanks but I've done it all ranges of times from last minute to all the way from pressing the power button, nothing works. I've done this before on my 4 other PC's, it just isn't working on this one.
Pat
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Do you get the following two lines on the screen?
Boot from CD:
Press any key to boot from CD.
FWIW to XP users: When you click on the 'Command Prompt' you are just causing the 'Command prompt' to be displayed. This prompt gives you access to NTVDM.EXE, the 'NT Virtual DOS Manager'.
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It's probably your USB keyboard. The bios will normally accept its keystrokes to get into setup but, between that and when the USB OS drivers load, there is no support.
Look for 'legacy USB support' and/or 'USB keyboard support' while in bios setup. Or, try a PS/2 keyboard.
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Yes I do get those two lines. Yes I enabled USB keyboard support to no avail.
I decided to take the HD out and run nuke disc on it while in an external case. It is nuked and I will try to put the HD back in and install XP today. I read somewhere that the press any key prompt won't happen if the HD is clean. Is that true? I sure hope so:)
Pat
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OK, so now after running nuke disc on the drive I reinstalled it. I was again able to get into the BIOS using either the USB or PS2 keyboard. The XP initial driver install ran. Then I got the XP pro screen that asks you to hit enter to install XP, R to recover, etc. Here it does not accept any keystrokes again despite being able to move up/down, etc. while inside the BIOS (makes me think it's not the keyboards). I have tried with both the USB keyboard (with USB support enabled in BIOS) and the PS2 keyboard. I have a Gigabyte GAM61PS3 board with an AMD 3000+ processor. I looked on gigabytes website and there is nothing mentioned there. I also considered flashing the BIOS however I do not have a floppy drive and now have no OS installed. Anybody else have any ideas? I hate to think the MB is bad as it works fine otherwise. This is getting very frustrating.
Thanks much for your feedback.
Pat
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It just doesn't make any sense, does it? I can't believe it's a bios problem.
The only thing I can think of is a problem with the CD. The program code on the CD displays the 'Press any key to boot from CD.', and it also has to issue the keyboard read command.
FWIW to XP users: When you click on the 'Command Prompt' you are just causing the 'Command prompt' to be displayed. This prompt gives you access to NTVDM.EXE, the 'NT Virtual DOS Manager'.
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I agree, makes no sense. Can you explain the "problem with CD hypothesis"? I can't see that as an issue as the Nuke disc also didn't allow any keyboard input, I had to put the drive in a case attached to another computer to get that to run. The only thought I have is a MB issue possibly, although everything worked fine when the OS was up.
Thanks,
Pat
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"Can you explain the "problem with CD hypothesis"?
As I said the command to read the keyboard has to come from the CD. It's not the bios that issues the command.
I'm afraid I can't help you. Maybe someone else can.
FWIW to XP users: When you click on the 'Command Prompt' you are just causing the 'Command prompt' to be displayed. This prompt gives you access to NTVDM.EXE, the 'NT Virtual DOS Manager'.
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Anybody else? I am currently looking for a good karaoke player for linux in case I am stuck with that. I'll let you know if linux works or if I figure something out.
Thanks,
Pat
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"I can get into the boot menu or Bios with a PS2 keyboard".
Are you using the PS/2 keyboard to access the BIOS (setup) screens? If the keyboard allows you to access the BIOS then there is no problem with the keyboard.
You may have a BIOS password enabled. Have you looked at all the screens or just the ones you want to change? Clearing the CMOS with the computer unplugged should return to defaults. You will then need to reset the values in the BIOS.
Is the CD drive recognised by the BIOS during the POST screens? If you don't see any post screens you may need to disable fast boot and any logos in the BIOS screens.
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"I can get into the boot menu or Bios with a PS2 keyboard".
Are you using the PS/2 keyboard to access the BIOS (setup) screens?
Yes I am able to do this.
You may have a BIOS password enabled.
It does not ask me for a password. I am not sure exactly what this means given that fact. Is is possible that what you say is true even if it doesn't ask for one?
Have you looked at all the screens or just the ones you want to change? Clearing the CMOS with the computer unplugged should return to defaults. You will then need to reset the values in the BIOS.
I have looked at all the BIOS screens. I have cleared the CMOS and loaded failsafe settings. I have played witb the settings a lot but do not recall playing with the password setting as it didn't even ask me for one.
Is the CD drive recognised by the BIOS during the POST screens? If you don't see any post screens you may need to disable fast boot and any logos in the BIOS screens.
I am pretty sure it does as it loads all the drivers, etc. in the initial windows setup. It gets to the loading windows screen, then the screen asking me to press enter to install XP. Would it do all that if the CD drive wasn't recognized? Should I disable the logo screen so I can see for sure?
Thanks so much for trying to help me, I really appreciate it!
Pat
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The only thing I can respond to for sure is the ALWAYS disable the logos. Why would you want to look at advertising? All drives should be identified by model and capacity in the POST screens.
I would try clearing the CMOS to eliminate BIOS settings as an issue. Be sure to do that with the PSU switched off or the plug pulled.
Might be a dumb question but what keys are you attempting to use? Are prompts for the proper keystrokes displayed in the BIOS screens?
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OK, I will disable the gigabyte screen so I can see what's going on and post back with any errors I might see.
I will pull the plug and do it again tonight.
I am using the keystroke "enter" as told in the Windows install screen. I use DEL to enter BIOS and it works. The arrow keys also work in BIOS. The ESC and F keys also work in BIOS. They are all displayed on the bottom of the BIOS screen.
Thanks so much! You all have always helped me in the end, I can't thank you enough for the effort. I always share new info with others on my end so that we all may learn something.
Pat
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I got it, but still don't know why the USB didn't work. I saw that the PS2 keyboard was flashing the num lock light. I took the cover off the PC and held the back of the PS2 port against the keyboard plug and the light stayed on. Bad connection I guess, but still don't know why I could get into bios with it.
I do have another problem, but will start another thread.
Thanks so much,
Pat
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