"F1" is a four-letter word!!!

It's me again. I still can't start Windows unless I hit "F1" during set-up.

I've changed the battery (CR2032 3V), but it didn't help. I get a "Conflict I/O Ports: 2F8 ", but when I go to Device Manger, there's no problems (no yellow exclamation marks). Everything checks out. Here's exactly what the screen says when I have to "F1 ":
Award Modular Bios v4.60 PGMA
Ax3l R1.14 Dec. 16 1999 Aopen
Main Processor: Intel Celeron 466 MHZ
Memory Testing: 199608K OK
Award Plug & Play BIOS Extension V.1.OA
IDE Primary Master: Maxtor 9204 U4
IDE Primary Slave: None
IDE Secondary Master: CreativeCD-RW RW 121032E
IDE Secondary Slave: CDROM CDR5240
Conflict I/O PORTS: 2F8
Press F1 to continue, DEL to enter setup
12/16/199-i440LX-00000006C-00

Any ideas??

 

Okay...

Just did a check for your back posts and this should have been continued by a thread inside that particular post, which incidently also contains a link to the original post. You've apparently had an on going problem for a while. It is always best to keep all the threads to a particular problem in the original so all can know what has been done and what has not been done. So for continuities sake here's a link to that post:

http://www.windowsbbs.com/showthread.php?s=&threadid=11586

Dahh! Sorry edited question from this spot as I can see from a reread that you indeed do still have the fault with io port setting.

Give me a few minutes to double check myself....
On second thought this may be best left to those members who are more experienced in hardware issues and device conflicts because I bet your going to have some device not functioning when accessed for use. This may be modem, printer, scanner, etc.
The fix will envolve either changing the bios for the com/serial port using the address 2F8. This may be done through device manager/hardware tab or sometimes does require a bios change. As this may also become one of those "Hair Puller" trial and error challenges and as it is in someone elses bios I am leary of giving advice. On my own computer, I'd dive in, but prefer to stay out of yours. Which is probably for the best.

Recently went through an old rage sblive 128 nightmare that still has my blood pressure shooting off the charts!

 

F1 cont'd

Goddez... thanx (I think...) 'preciate your thots.

 

Going into Device Manager will not help.

It seems that Com2 is the conflict, as 2f8 is the default address. If nothing is using that port, you can go into the BIOS and disable it. But I think a better solution maybe to go into the BIOS and maybe change the address to 2e8. Before you change the address, check the address for your modem in Device Manager. The modem may be on Com4, but it's address could be already be 2e8. If the modem's address is Device Manager is set at 2f8, you can change the com port address in the BIOS to 2e8.
In my experience, when there is an address conflict concerning com ports, it is usually between a com port and an internal modem.
FYI, Com1 and Com3 are typically related to each other, the same for Com2 and Com4.

I looked at the other threads that you have started, it seems that you have not yet went into the BIOS to change anything, only looked in Device Manager. The BIOS and Device Manager are two completely different things. Where it says 'Press F1 to continue, DEL to enter setup', and you press DEL, you are not going into Windows Setup. You are going into the BIOS setup. This is where the problem originates.

One other thing, do not change the addresses in Device Manager, as it will take hours to check all the IRQ's and port addresses to be sure nothing is conflicting. If something goes wrong, you will be lucky to get into Safe Mode.

 

Oh thank you Markp62,
I thought I was going to have to go ahead and do this one anyway, as numbers racked up for member peeks and passes. Guilt was nagging at me for being one of the "passers ".

This is a link to the Award bios pdf [requires adobe reader]. I thought a look through may ease poster if he/she is nervous [or just plain curious] about what lies within the Bios.

http://www.compaq.hu/support/magyar/presario/download/6315-3.pdf

Just don't go experimenting, with anything other than what Markp62 is giving instructions for, without being dead sure of what your doing. While a default reset may pull your butt out of the fire, some of these switches are down right dangerous.

This may also help with some step_by_step as poster has described self as beginner: [note*not all in the link will be valid to your situation]:
http://computing.net/windows95/wwwboard/forum/3512.html

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Sounds like you are in expereinced hands so I leave this post "guiltless"

Good Luck