System Date says November 9, 2004. When I escape the set up page, and get an F1 option for retry boot, i can only get back to F2.
Both me and the computer are gong to sleep.
This suggests that either the CMOS battery has expired and needs replacing or in a worse case scenario the BIOS chip is hosed.
The CMOS battery being dead is the most likely candidate as they do not last forever, typically 6/7 and possibly up to 10 years, this is dependant on how old the battery was already when it was first inserted into the MB.
The first thing that I suggest that you do is restart the computer, disable the floppy disk device in the BIOS, also in the BIOS set the correct time and date, save and exit and see if the computer will boot into XP, canned details below for convenience;
To change the Boot Sequence in the BIOS/disable the floppy disk in this instance.
Reboot the system and at the first post screen (where it is counting up memory) start tapping the appropriate button that allows you to access the BIOS (Esc - Del – F2 etc)
This will enter you into the BIOS/CMOS
Find the Advanced area and click Enter
Look for Boot Sequence or Boot Options and highlight that click Enter
Now highlight the first drive and follow the directions on the bottom of the screen on how to modify it and change it to DVD/ CD drive
Change the second drive to the C or Main Drive
Once that is done then click F10 to Save and Exit
You will prompted to enter Y to verify Save and Exit.
Click Y and the system will now hopefully reboot into XP with the new settings.
While you are in the BIOS you will also need to reset the time and date and again save the new settings (F10) and then Y to accept the changes.
If you are able to boot normally into XP, use the computer as you normally would but when you are finished do not shut down the computer but restart it to see if 1: you are able to boot straight into XP and 2: to check that the time and date settings are still correct, if all is good fully shut down the computer, disconnect the power cord from the wall socket and then press the power on button for a couple of seconds to dispel any residual charge that has remained within the system.
The acid test will come the next time that you power up the computer, if the CMOS battery has expired then the previous settings that you saved will have been lost and the date reverted back to November 9, 2004 which is the date that the BIOS was first activated on the MB.
To replace the CMOS battery please refer to the attachment below.
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