Sorting out a Dell Inspiron 5100... got most of it done but having to do things in an odd way as I cannot, for the life of me... enter the BIOS.

All instructions say F2 at the boot screen ... or F12 for a boot menu ...

F12 just gives a load of "keyboard error" type beeps .. but no keyboard error message or entry to BIOS

F2 comes up with :

Broadcom UNDI, PXE 2-1 (build 082) v1.0.4

Copyright 2000- 20002 broadcom corporation

Copyright 1997 -2000 Intl Corporation

All rights reserved

Intel Base-code PXE-2.1 (build 002)

copyright 1997 -2000 Intel corporation

PXE-E61 : media test failure, check cable

PXE-M0F: Exiting Broadcom PXE:ROM

Operating system not found

If I stick a bootable CD in .. it autoboots from there, with a bootable harddrive and no CD it works normally .. so the thing is useable .. but I'm puzzled

a) what does all that mesage actually mean

b) why can't I enter BIOS

WEB searching gets me no sensible answers ... Dell forums just get stupid questions...    "what version BIOS ??" ... I don't pigging know as I can't get to it you numpty !!!   >:( >:( >:(

Any one any ideas ??  :)

According to this, BIOS is password protected by Dell
http://en.community.dell.com/support-forums/software-os/f/3524/t/17591442.aspx

The dells I have here are F2 as soon as you power on

Entwood I wish help but this imageshack icon (instead of avatar occupies half of the page and I cant read anything..-unregistered domain message)

Entwood wrote on 08. Apr 2011 at 10:31:

Sorting out a Dell Inspiron 5100... got most of it done but having to do things in an odd way as I cannot, for the life of me... enter the BIOS. All instructions say F2 at the boot screen ... or F12 for a boot menu ... F12 just gives a load of "keyboard error" type beeps .. but no keyboard error message or entry to BIOS F2 comes up with : Broadcom UNDI, PXE 2-1 (build 082) v1.0.4 Copyright 2000- 20002 broadcom corporation Copyright 1997 -2000 Intl Corporation All rights reserved Intel Base-code PXE-2.1 (build 002) copyright 1997 -2000 Intel corporation PXE-E61 : media test failure, check cable PXE-M0F: Exiting Broadcom PXE:ROM Operating system not found If I stick a bootable CD in .. it autoboots from there, with a bootable harddrive and no CD it works normally .. so the thing is useable .. but I'm puzzled a) what does all that mesage actually mean b) why can't I enter BIOS WEB searching gets me no sensible answers ... Dell forums just get stupid questions...    "what version BIOS ??" ... I don't pigging know as I can't get to it you numpty !!!   >:( >:( >:( Any one any ideas ??  :)

ok..can read after quoting..  checked on the net .. seems you are not lonely.. several people had this problem with dells.. cause can be several reason but primary cause is system cant see the disk.. try connecting the disk to another device for recovery.. 

if you can reach it , back up, -reconnect and if successful format it .. (someone disable network boot :-?)

Thanks cem .. but it sees a disk if one is inserted, and it sees a hard drive if one is inserted ..if neither are then that mesage comes up .. which I'm guessing is it trying to boot via a netwrok ??

So the boot sequence must be set, in BIOS, to :

CD, Hard Drive, Network.

System is working .. but I now just want, 'cos its annoying me, to be able to get to the BIOS (F2)... or to change the boot order ... (F12) neither of which work !!

>:( >:( >:( >:(

Flash the bios Nige, latest seems to be A32 on the dell website  :y . That should fix it  :)