[stevemabry]

I was given a Dell Dimension w/win98 and I need to boot up from the CD drive, when I try to get to Bios setup utility the PC continued to start up Windows 98 from hard drive. I try the F keys it will not work. Can you get to the setup utility thru MSDOS and change the order of boot devices?

[Dalo Harkin]

When the BIOS posts - it will tell you what button to press to get into the BIOS - its sometinmes del and you have to continually press whatever button it says not just press it once.
It sounds like someone has done what I always do and set the first device to HDD and then disable the 2nd,3rd options.

[Seth]

No, you can't get into the bios from DOS.

Also make sure that the keyboard you're using is standard PS2 keyboard (round connection), and not a USB one (small narrow rectangular connection).

[stevemabry]

Thanks for your reply, but how do you get around this problem?

[maynardvdm]

Hi

You need to set the Boot order to CD first and then Hard drive

Like Dalo said you need to press Del or one of the F keys when the computer first starts up to get into the BIOS. It should say on the first screen.

Hi Steve

I'm assuming by the title of your original post that you are trying to boot to a Linux operating system that is on a partition on your hard drive.

Would this be correct?

[stevemabry]

Hi, everyone.

I have a old computer with win98 I would like to change the operarating sytem
to Linux. But I can not get to my setup screen, its like its been lock out. I try the DEL and F keys but it still goes to Window screen. The computer is in new condition it been in storage.

It sounds like the motherboard battery has died, which is no big deal Steve as it's replaceable.

What error message do you get when trying to boot up?

I would also advise that you run the linux disk straight off the cd rather than try to install it as a stand alone operating system at this time.

What flavour of Linux is it by the way Steve?

[stevemabry]

Wolfeymole,

I went through the steps that were recommended. What I had to do was to hold DEL key down before I powered up the computer, then I went to the Dell Dimension 4100 setup screen.
Across top of the screen came up:
MAIN, ADVANCED,SECURITY,BOOT,EXIT

Boot:
1st Boot device: (ATAPI CDROM)
2nd Boot device: Floppy
3rd Boot device: IDE-HDD
4th Boot device: Disabled

If I read this right would I be able to boot up from CDROM?


On the MAIN screen:
Processor type: Intel (R) Pentium(R) III
Processor speed : 1 GHz
System Bus Frequency: 133Mhz

Is this system fast enough to run Linux?

To your question as to what flavor Linux: SUSE Linux 10.

Installing Linux as a dual boot scenario is not like installing windows Steve, have a read of this to get the idea of just what's involved.

Dual Boot Windows and Linux Grub - Debian Linux with Windows 98 ME NT 2000 and XP

As I said earlier unless you are fully conversant with linux then it would be better to run it straight from the cd.

[Dalo Harkin]

Steve,

why are you wanting to run Linux in the first place?
dependant on your reasons for wanting Linux - I would upgrade to XP rather than Linux