Hey everyone! I have an older PC that's running a dual boot with Windows and Linux, which my little brother uses. We recently tried to switch from Windows to Linux through GRUB, but for some reason, the keys stopped responding. After doing some research, I learned that it might be caused by the Fast Boot option in the BIOS. However, now I can't even access the BIOS setup because the system prompts me to press F1 or F2, and none of my keyboards seem to work. I've tried doing a CMOS reset by removing the battery, but now I'm stuck at the American Megatrends screen with the date and time error. I'm really worried we might not be able to use this computer again, and we actually need it for some work. Any guidance would be greatly appreciated!
3 Answers
You might want to look for a keyboard with a PS/2 plug instead. If your computer has a round port (usually purple), that's your best bet for getting into BIOS since PS/2 keyboards can often diagnose these issues better than USB ones.
Just a thought—does your keyboard have a "function key" feature? Sometimes F1 or F2 can be overridden by other functions like volume control. If that's the case, try hitting "Fn + F1" or "Fn + F2" right when the prompt appears. It sounds silly, but sometimes that works!
It sounds pretty frustrating! One thing to check is if you're using a wireless keyboard. Those often don't work when trying to enter the BIOS. Make sure you're using a wired keyboard, preferably one with a PS/2 connection if you have that port on your computer. It might just do the trick!
Thanks for the tip! I do have a couple of wired keyboards, but I've tried them in all the USB ports and they still don't work. I'm kind of at my wit's end here.
I don’t see a function key on my keyboards. I did accidentally manage to get into the setup once, but the keyboard stopped working after that. Now I'm back to square one.