why can't I change the bios on my pc?

Question

I wanted to change the Bios on my PC. It is a Dell Optiplex GX280. At the moment I have Windows 7 Home Edition installed on this PC. What I want to do is try a live Linux disk on it. But when I put the disk in, nothing happens. I tried changing the boot order, but I could not do so. A friend who is more technically minded than I am had a go, but he found it impossible to change the boot order.
I went to the Dell site, which said there were no downloads available for my PC model.
This seems like a simple problem, but all attempts to change the boot order have failed so far.
Could some kind person suggest a solution.
Thanks!

Answer 1

Taht's really strange, because I've had same model computer, and never had that trouble. I've had to change boot order when redoing XP on it. Seems highly strange that you cannot change it. I'd think you were not setting it correctly, but since you've had someone else try it, it makes it even more mysterious.



Only other thing I can consider is that the Win 7 is preventing it.

Try searching within the Win 7 on how to change boot order, that might be the problem. Usually, with XP you change boot order when the computer begins to start up. But perhaps you can change boot order while Win 7 is normally running. Win 7 was made with ability to do lots of changes within while it is running normally, where prrevious windows you had to stop running it to change it.



I'd try perhaps the win 7 part of rescue, maybe yo can find it in there.

Answer 2

Check your bios configaration. In the bboting option select your booting order.

Answer 3

On some motherboards you have to use a different key-press to get into a "boot menu" rather than the BIOS. For your particular machine it is F12.



Reboot the machine and rather than going into BIOS press F12 and you will be presented with the boot menu. You can change it from there.

Answer 4

For the Dell Optiplex GX280 pressing F12 during the dell splash screen should get you into the boot sequence menu

HTH

David

Answer 5

Many BIOS versions offer a place to change boot order. Others like yours use F12 to select the boot device.

Answer 6

It might help a bit if you provided some more information on what didn't work. Were you able to access the Bios at all? And if so, were you able to see the setting to change boot order? Did any message pop up if you tried to change it?



All that aside, if you really want to dry a Linux disk, you could open up your computer and disconnect the hard drive, forcing it to boot to the next available medium. This sounds like a much more scary task than it is and I could link you to videos if you're interested.