Problem after booting of windows98

[ITlover]

Need help

I have borrowed a Dell computer with windows98 on it and what I have noticed in that computer is that when I boot it, the BIOS setup appears
automaticallly before the setup of windows 98, why is this happening,?



Regards,

[bailey]

there may be a setting in it that the system thinks is not correct and is letting you have a chance to correct it, may be over clocked .

[ITlover]

over clocked ,what is this?

[Heon2574]

Look through the BIOS for your answer. Look for anything that may seem like the boot-to-the-BIOS-first setting. If you exit the BIOS (disregarding new settings) will your PC reboot again sending you back into the BIOS? Another possibility is that your keyboard may have a jammed button.

[GaryRouth]

. . . just in case this is a matter of mixing-up our definitions: do you mean that before you see the Windows 98 startup splash screen, you briefly see a screen full of Bios data? Or are you actually forced into the Blue & White Bios Setup screens and their menus, and must "Save & Exit" to continue booting?

. . . if it's the 1st circumstance, no problems (it's just informational screens). If it's the 2nd - either the Bios battery is a bit old and needs replacing (it no longer has enough charge to hold the settings), or an item is misconfigured. Like Heon2574 mentions, checking through the settings can help: you should be able to find a manual for that model online at Dell.com's support pages. It will have a guide to all the necessary Bios settings.

You can tell if it's the old battery problem, because the system's date in the bios will read incorrectly. The battery is often a Sony-type 2032, 3v. = they only cost about $1.50 at your local computer/electronics store.

Best of luck
. . . Gary

[P.S. ...should you suspect a bad keyboard, or stuck key, at all - on the 1st screen of your Bios Setup, you should find an item for "Halt On" errors: try "All, but keyboard". If it starts fine then, check the keyboard for stuck keys, or try another same-type keyboard.]

[P.S. #2 ---and, "overclocking" is when certain system timings in the Bios Setup are set higher than the normal specification for that part. Depending on the motherboard/cpu/memory involved: cpu timings, memory timings, and bus timings can sometimes be set much higher than the original specs. Usually voids the warranty, of course: but many enthusiasts enjoy the tweaking & simply pay the price if parts fry once and a while]