Strange behavior BIOS boot screen, intermittant no boot

I have been getting strange intermittant behavior on boot that I have never seen before.

Occasionally, after all bios screens have been displayed, the last being the one that displays the IRQ settings and checks out DMI, instead of booting into windows, I get a flashing cursor and underneath it a lower case "q ". Nothing else happens. I have let the machine sit on this screen for 5-10 minutes, no boot.

Reset key instantly cures the problem, go through BIOS boot sequence again, no "q" displayed, Windows boots normally.

I would guess that clearing CMOS would correct the problem?

Opening the machine and moving the jumper that is buried and near inaccessable is such a pain, then I'd have to go into the BIOS and reset all, don't particularly care to do that.

This problem only happens rarely and a quick reset cures it, I'm interested in finding out:

1. what would cause this behavior and why not on every boot?

2. Am I going to get cascading problems as a result? (that is, is this going to precipitate more grief?)

Or, should I just go ahead and clear CMOS?

Any information will be appreciated.

Martin

 

Hi there.

Might be a bad battery or jsut a confused bios!

Are you running your pc overclocked in anyway? This can cuase the bios to get a bit confused, if you are not, then follow below.

You do not have to do the jumper if it is difficult to get at, probably its easier to remove the battery as its bigger, if you have not changed the battery now would be a good time to do it if its old. Its probably a CR2032 type but dont quote me on that, look for yourself to confirm.

Make sure you have unplugged the pc from the mains power then carefully remove the battery with a non-metal object and be careful not to scratch the motherboard.

Wait five minutes then fit it back in and plug the mains cable back in and start up.

If all goes well then the bootup screen should display, choose whatever you need to get into the bios Del,F2 etc.. and choose set defaults, then save it to the bios and startup.

If all is well then no problem.

You can then choose later to do whatever you want with the bios, if it has an optimal bios setting, then try it and see if all is ok.

Hope this helps

Regards
tel33