This is my current situation, thanks for reading by the way. I have had three PC's donated to me from a library, these are very old systems. I removed the password protect via the cmos battery, and then reinstalled the OSto get rid of the password protect on the OS, this PC is now operational. I have clone to that system, these two were exactly the same, I did the cmos trick on the second one, now all I get is the system hands at the post. I try to run setup at (f1) and the system says it is entering setup, but the bios will not load, and the post will not continue. Also I tried to let the system boot up, but it too hangs at the final post screen, no beeps, no screem errors. Why did this work on one unit and not the other when both are identical? Ay Ideas would help greatly. I also have one more that will need to have the same thing done except it is a Dell and is DEAD completely, have to get it started first. Any Dell experts out there, have had a rash of Dells that will not power up, acts like dead power supplies but the power supplies test out good, CHECK the rm MODULES all are seated fine, what is going on with these Dell machines?I speak Dell. What are the model and processors? Better yet doyou have the service tags on the machines? It should be on the side of the case, a 5-7 digit combo of numbers and letters.

What make is the one other machine that won't boot up correctly? By requiring you to press F1, I am ASSUMING it is an IBM. What is the machine code for it - a seven digit like xxxx-xxx?I will get this for you and repost, it will take a couple of days so please stand by, thanks for your reply.