Resolved BIOS Hard Disk Priority

By way of Delete -On entering the BIOS
My boot sequence is.
1st. HD
2nd. HD
3rd. HD
Boot Other - enabled

PC is booting into the wrong HD
I am unable to change the order of the HD using Shift+

By way of F8 -On entering Boot Menu
My boot sequence is.
CHO M. xxxxxxxxxxxx 8gb HD
CH1 M. xxxxxxxxxxxx 40gb HD
USB xxxxxxxxxxxxxHD

I have to change the Boot preference to CH1 M. xxxxxxxxxxxx 40gb HD

This happens at each bootup.

Why do you think I am
1. Unable to change the order of boot sequence in the BIOS ?
2. If I was able to change the boot sequence in the BIOS would that automatically correct the Boot Menu ?

thanks
roy66

 

See if this helps:

Click start, then run, type msconfig, and hit OK.
Go to the boot section, choose the system you want as default, and restart.

You can also Check All Boot Paths.

 

This is the current readout in boot section.
[bootloader]
timeout=30
default=multi(0)disk(0)rdisk(0)partition(1)WINDOWS
[operating systems]
multi(0)disk(0)partition(1)WINDOWS= "Windows XP Home Edition" /fastdetect

As for bootpaths it says....It appears that all BOOT.INI lines for Microsoft operating systems are OK.

 

Normal boot settings for a computer:

> Enter the Bios Setup menu.

> Migrate to the Boot Area (last section normally)

> Set the Boot Order or Device Priority to:

CDRom/Dvd - 1st
Floppy - 2nd (if any)
Hard Drive - 3rd​

> Then migrate to the Hard Drive boot area (might say Priority) so the Hard Drive you want to boot from is listed FIRST.

​

Be sure you save before you exit and remember each bios lists things a little differently, so one has to use their imagination to locate these two areas if we are talking generalities and not a specific motherboard Bios.

 

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In the BIOS Setup I am unable to change the order of the HD using Shift+ as stated previously above.

 

Somehow I missed that, just overlooked it I guess. What motherboard do you have?

 

Msi pm8m-v

 

You may need to look at a different location in the bios for the hdd order. With my bios one place to select hdd/cd/floppy or external and a different place to select hdd order.

 

Assuming you have a number pad on the keyboard, try the "+" key on that (check the NumLock light is on). Do you use the Up and Down arrows to select/highlight the drive? If you highlight the top selection, you probably need to use the "-" key to drop it down the list.

 

Hi Mattman, looks like you missed that/this; in my first post.....

I am unable to change the order of the HD using Shift+.....or the Shift-
yep the Num Lock light is on

 

Hi Roy,
I've read & re-read all the posts, so here is my thoughts, by the way; the user manual for this board is next to usless, well the one I downloaded from the MSI site is anyway!

Why are you using the shift+/shift- keys? normally you would just use the + or - keys in bios unless your keyboard is without a numeric keypad
when you get in to advance bios feature, go to boot priority highlight using the up/down keys the drive you wish to boot to then using the +/- keys on the numeric pad to place that drive in position 1, next highlight the next drive and follow the same procedure, etc

if you are using sata drives go to integrated peripherals, set sata settings here, raid/ide, you should also be able to set keyboard settings if using USB, set to enable, the same with mouse if it is usb.

press f10, press y, system will reboot, if the settings have been written to bios correctly then it should boot to the correct drive

have you gone to the MSI site to see if the Bios is up to date
http://www.msi.com/index.php?func=downloaddetail&type=utility&maincat_no=1&prod_no=205

hope some of this helps
Jac

 

Have you tried Page Up/PgUp or Page Down/PgDn to change the order of the drives?

 

Hi Wildfire good to see you back!

the bios is a common Pheonix Award set up, so either should work, the user manual didn't expand the pages like most, so I took the obvious

Jac

 

I only commented as +/- does not change the boot order in my Pheonix Award BIOS but PgUp/PgDn does

 

A word of warning jacrabbit...topfarmer is looking down on you from post 8..just trust he is not loaded and you are not in his sights.

 

That's alright roy, I'm hoping he's a potato farmer

Jac

 

WILDFIRE...you ignite me..THANKS a million..page up did it but I can't understand why the BIOS instructions don't provide that option..just hope I can remember it as the BIOS instructions give you the + or - as the way to go.
Thanks All...case resolved...hopefully for good.
roy66

 

No problem,

Thanks for letting us know.

 

Roy, FWIW, my Phoenix-Award CMOS setup shows at the botom of the screen:Select +/-/PU/PD:Value. Cheers Neil.

 

That sounds to me like you ARE able to change them, but that the changes are not holding after you shutdown.

So just to make sure, are you saying when you attempt to change, you see no other options, or that they just don't stick after you change them?

If it does not let you change the option to what you want, you may have to set them to something off-the-wall first so the same device is never listed twice, then shuffle them around until you have what you want.

If they are not sticking after you change them, and next time you reboot they are wrong again, then perhaps your battery is dying and the boot order is not holding.

Since batteries are inexpensive, little is lost if that is not the problem. I would power down AND UNPLUG the computer from the wall. Open the side panel, touch bare metal of the case to discharge any static and put you and the computer "at the same potential ". Then pry out the battery with a non-metallic object, being careful not to scratch the motherboard. Note the polarity (orientation) of the battery in the socket.

Visit your local camera/watch/battery counter and get a new battery, most likely a CR2032. Take the old battery with you as most counters recycle.

Do NOT touch the new battery with your bare skin as skin oils attract dust and promote corrosion. I put a clean sock over my hand. Be sure to touch bare metal again before reaching in, especially after sliding the sock over your hand. Insert the battery in the same orientation as the old - it should only go in one way, unless forced.

While inside, make sure the case, fans, and heatsinks are all free of heat trapping dust and dirt. Carefully press on all cables and connections to ensure they are tight and secure.

Connect power and boot directly into the BIOS Setup Menu. Set your date and time, then your boot order. Make sure you select Save and Exit on your way out to boot normally with the new settings.

Then let us know what happened.