I have a Dell Dimension 1100 w/ XP Home Edition Version 2002
Service Pack 3, Intel Celeron CPU 2.53 GHz and 2.00 GB of Ram

I used to have a HP PC with Windows XP Pro

I was given the Dell Dimension 1100 and when my HP

Lost its hard drive I took the ram out an put it into the
Dell...

I have been using this Dell for a couple of months

I find from time to time I like to boot in safe mode
to run my malware softwares.

On my Dell I cannot boot up in Safe Mode and I cannot
access Bios (I am attempting to boot from CD/DVD Drive)
I want to run SpinRite 6.0

..When I boot the computer and tap any of
F keys to either boot in safe mode or set up boot sequence
the pc just beeps at me and never loads.

I can turn it off and it boots up fine on the regular boot...

I have been in several forums hoping to find some answers
to this problem but have yet to have any success

So to sum it up...I cannot boot from CD/DVD drive nor can
I get access to bios to change boot sequence so I can
boot from CD/DVD drive...nor can I boot into safe mode
to trouble shoot...

Any one that has some suggestions I would love to hear them..

Thanks Everyone

Kirk




Good evening kleddon and welcome to CH

Let see if we can't help you with your issues.

On some of the older Dell's like your "Dimension 1100" if you start tapping F8 for safe mode or F2 to get into the BIOS or F12 for boot selection (if i remember right if not F12 maybe the esc key) if you do this to early it will not go into the BIOS or safe mode and the PC will just beep every time you press any key while you boot the PC.

Just do this Cold start the PC and look on the screen on the top right for "Press F2 for setup or F12 for for boot" start tapping the keys at that time and not sooner. If you miss it just reboot and try again. Now if you want to go into safe mode when you see the above info just start tapping F8 at that time.

Otherwise maybe the keyboard is on it's way out.  Mike  Thanks I understand what you are saying..it's just that I never see any messages on the screen at all..

My screen remains black for quite a while then all of the sudden I will see the cursor arrow.

the next thing I know I am already booting into windows ...I have tried this several time...

I have worked on several other pcs in the past and I have always seen the notes you are

talking about.. but for some reason I just don't get those messages at all on this pc...

Seemed crazy to me...Hi Again

    Do you see a blue bar up top that says Dell? while booting

You may also try hitting the esc key while booting maybe then it will show up and it will get rid of the dell splash screen.

Mike .

EDIT: when you see the dell icon in the middle of the screen and it shows BIOS # start tapping the F2 key then No I do not see a blue bar that says dell...

Like I previously wrote when I turn on the computer...the screen is blank and black...

a cursor arrow will appear...then suddenly the screen is blue and windows is loading...Hello again kleddon

OK when you start the PC do you see anything, like econ logo or Intel logo. I am starting to wonder if the motherboard was changed so that is why you are not seeing The WORD Dell or the round Dell logo with the bios version next to it.

Have you tried the delete key while booting. Most aftermarket boards use the del key.

Mike  No I do not see anything but a black blank screen

then the cursor arrow...

then suddenly screens turns blue and window is booting...

Yes I have tried tapping the delete button, the escape button, F2, F8, F12 at that Point I tried
almost all of the F BUTTONS...

but whenever I do tap on the F buttons the system will not load at all. I have to manually shut the
computer and start again and then I boot to window the regular way...Hello kleddon

Do you have a different keyboard and if not can you barrow one. The stock keyboards for your PC were PS2. I really would try a different one and see if that helps. The odd part is that you see nothing up to the cursor then the typical blue windows screen. I don't think back then dell had a option to disable the splash screen etc.

Have you tried to pull the CMOS battery (for 5 min) and then you should be told that the DATE and time are incorrect etc. and then you can press the key it tells you too?     

Mike  Hello again

I just found the motherboard lay out for your desktop.

Just remove the CMOS battery and use the jumper to clear all settings.

If still can't get into the BIOS i really would locate a keyboard and try that one.

Mike It's funny you should ask about the CMOS battery I was just sitting here trying to remember everything
that I have read and then I thought about the CMSO battery and was just going to ask you about that...

I will try that tomorrow...I am really burnt tonight so I thought I would shut down and read a little bit tonight and then go to sleep...so I can get a fresh start tomorrow when I am not so tired..

Hey bro, I really appreciate you taking the time to try and help me tonight...

by the way my name is Kirk..Leddon

It has been great I will catch you if that works tomorrow...Good night!

So Once Again THANKS PAL  ====

=====================================================

You had posted while I was typing so in answer to your reply tomorrow I will
pull the battery and try that out...if that does not work I will just go buy a keyboard...

This keyboard is probably older than the computer is...so it is about due anyway....

Thanks for the schematic but, I do know where the battery is..I did download
the schematic just to have it ..thanks

Kirk


Hello again Kirk

     On the pic that I put up it doesn't say CMOS it says "battery socket" (round silver about the size of a nickle) and the CMOS jumper is "J9H1" all you do is pull the jumper (This will be a blue or black plastic) jumper it will cover 2 of the 3 pins and what you do is pull the jumper off where it is and move it 1 pin so it covers the middle and the other end pin.

     What you do is shut down the PC and UN-plug the power cord, then open the PC case (Please stand still and don't move while you are doing this until you are done now take your one hand and touch bare metal to drain out any static that you have in your body like on the power supply to ground your self this only takes a sec or two) and look for the CMOS battery & remove it (leave it out for now) move the jumper over 1 pin and leave it there for say 1 min. Then move the jumper back to it's original position and put the CMOS battery back in the way you took it out. 

      The CMOS battery holder will have 2 black plastic hooks / nubs on one side of the battery a metal spring clip on the other side just push the spring clip away from the battery and the battery will pop up. Take note of what the polarity is + is up or - is up? most are + up.

Now when you boot the PC is should ask you to hit key "?" to enter the setup. 

Hope this helps you, Mike

PS you are very welcome that is why we are here is to help FOLKS like your self