Kevin Groat

Computer support have suggested I clear my CMOS to see if that sorts a problem I've got installing an ISDN PCI card. The instructions to clear it looks ok but I'm not sure about their final instruction - 'Run the Computer setup utility to reconfigure the system'

What am I reconfiguring (BIOS settings?) and is there anyway I can get the existing configuration before I clear the CMOS?

PC is running XP Pro - how do I access the BIOS on startup?

Kevin.

bigsinky

what type if BIOS is it. phoenix/award etc? it is usually hold the delete key on start up to access the BIOS page.

cheers

sinky

Kevin Groat

Too late, cleared the CMOS using the internal jumper. Copied the BIOS file to a floppy before doing this just in case.
Powered it back up and all I get is three green lights on the keyboard - aarghh nothing on the monitor and no whirring hard drive. Any ideas how I can get the CMOS startup utility running from here.

Kevin.

Devil's Refugee

Try making a boot disk from another machine and using in the FDD. What make is the laptop ?
I’ve had similar problems, so try a search on Google for resetting BIOS/ killing CMOS

I take it there’s no prompts on screen (screen is dead ?) as it may be asking for a supervisor password

Foot_Tapper

After clearing the BIOS by repositioning the "jumper";
did you put it back to its original position ?

It seems strange advice to reset the BIOS for installing a PCI card.
Their final instructions, would most likely mean run the setup fom the install media.

Kevin Groat

Sorry, never got back on this one. The blank screen, machine not starting must've been something to do with either the jumper or the processer board not being fully pushed 'home' while putting it all back together.
After clearing the CMOS I had to install new ROM software that had a lot of 'fixes' related to the PCI slots. Machine then happily installed PCI ISDN card and it's all running ok now.
Pretty chuffed bearing in mind I'm a novice

Kevin.