New Posts  All Forums:Forum Nav:

Alienware M5500i-r3 BIOS issue

post #1 of 15
7/22/10 at 11:07am
Thread Starter 
No matter how hard I try, I can't get in the BIOS. I pulled the CMOS battery, but still can't get in.

It's not password protected, just doesn't seem to accept the keyboard input. I can hit F12 till the keyboard buffer fills, but it still tries booting to a (failed) Windows 7 install that I want to nuke. I've tried F2 to get into the main BIOS setup screen, same thing, no dice.

All I want to do is change the boot order to boot from CD so I can nuke Windows 7 and put XP MCE back on it. I pulled the hard drive hoping it would give me "press any key to boot from CD" but that didn't work either, just comes back with "operating system not found".

Only started happening after the Windows 7 install attempt. Weird.

Anyone else encountered this?
Reply
Reply
post #2 of 15
7/22/10 at 11:25am
Didn't the older Alienware's have the bios locked?
Reply
Reply
post #3 of 15
7/22/10 at 11:25am
Oh I don't think you need to get into the bios to change the boot loader.
Reply
Reply
post #4 of 15
7/22/10 at 11:52am
Thread Starter 
Shouldn't have to get in BIOS to change boot order, just hit F12, but that's not working, so I tried F2 for main BIOS screen and that doesn't work either.
Reply
Reply
post #5 of 15
7/22/10 at 2:08pm
Thread Starter 
This has been RESOLVED. For some reason, couldn't enter the BIOS because of the video card issue. Works fine now.....but even though I can (and have) changed the boot order, it's not booting to any boot media from CD.

Something else I should look at?
Reply
Reply
post #6 of 15
7/22/10 at 3:07pm
Optical drive failing? Maybe? Try with different installation disks?

cheers ...
Reply
Reply
post #7 of 15
7/22/10 at 3:13pm
Thread Starter 
Tried multiple bootable rom, but nothing. I hear thr drive spin up, but it seems to immediately go to hdd boot without even the normal cd seek time.
Reply
Reply
post #8 of 15
7/22/10 at 4:24pm
I would try to remove the optical drive and re-seat it. Use also some sort of cleaning as well. Also trying with an external (USB) optical drive.

cheers ...
Reply
Reply
post #9 of 15
7/22/10 at 4:47pm
Thread Starter 
Quote:
Originally Posted by qhn View Post
I would try to remove the optical drive and re-seat it. Use also some sort of cleaning as well. Also trying with an external (USB) optical drive.

cheers ...
I tried your suggestion, set the boot order to boot from external CD, same thing. I then setup a linux boot image on USB key and I'm seeing the same thing.

Windows 7 boots just fine from the hdd though.....

I just need to reset the password which requires booting to a CD image to use the tool. I've used it on many computers (servers, desktops and laptops) but can't even get this to boot to a DOS 6.2 CD :/
Reply
Reply
post #10 of 15
7/22/10 at 4:47pm
Thread Starter 
How do you pull the DVD out of the case?
Reply
Reply
post #11 of 15
7/22/10 at 4:59pm
http://aliendl.alienware.com/mobile/...ers_Manual.PDF

Reference user manual, not quite complete but it might help. Usually 1 or 2 screws underneath and just push the optical drive out,

cheers ...
Reply
Reply
post #12 of 15
7/22/10 at 5:32pm
Thread Starter 
Thanks. I found a single screw that enabled me to pull it. I opened the drive (3 mini screws) and saw a small blue rubber band inside, about 1/4" tall and about 1/3" diameter. I'm assuming that it's a part of the drive somehow, so I believe the optical to be completely bolloxed, unless someone knows where the blue rubber band goes so I can try to fix it. Not seeing anything broken inside, loose, etc.
Reply
Reply
post #13 of 15
7/23/10 at 5:22am
Pics please?

cheers ...
Reply
Reply
post #14 of 15
7/23/10 at 10:42am
Thread Starter 
OK, it wasn't from the drive. I disassembled it completely and couldn't find a capstan or anywhere it would go. I did see that the flat ribbon cable was cracked, and put a blob of solder on it though, and the drive now works. Still won't BOOT from it though, but I watched Toy Story 2 last night on it from start to finish, and loaded MS Office 2007 on it.
Reply
Reply
post #15 of 15
7/23/10 at 5:52pm
1/2 way working

cheers ...
Reply
Reply
New Posts  All Forums:Forum Nav:
  Return Home