AL SMITH wrote;
>Several readers gave me leads to Dell's sites on their computers, including
>mine, but nothing on BIOS setup.

I sent this site in my post to your problem. After reading your latest post
I thoroughly read the complete article and find that it does give
instructions on how to set up the BIOS. This link,
http://support.dell.com/support/edocs/systems/opgx200/en/ug/index.htm

is platform specific to your system and it is a document from "Dell." You
will have to drill down to "System Setup Options" Where it will explain how
to set the boot sequence.
http://support.dell.com/support/edocs/systems/opgx200/en/ug/setupopt.htm

If nothing works I suspect that there is an underlying problem that may not
be related to any BIOS settings. It could be a virus or Trojan. A remote
possibility may be something that corrupted the BIOS.

> I found 3 little pin jumpers " SWC  SAFE  Bios "

This little shunt allows you to do several things. If memory serves me
correctly, it allows the machine to operate normally, allows for more in
depth BIOS setting options. When you enter the BIOS as an "owner" there are
many this that are grayed out that the normal computer user can't change.
Playing in this field and setting something wrong may cause your system to
malfunction. Caution should be used here. The other position if usually used
for recovery from a Bios flash that didn't work.

> I hit some?? key and now the startup  is FLOPPY and I can enable/disable
>by hitting the space bar.

The normal "boot" sequence on most computers is, Floppy, Hard Drive, CD-Rom.

> While trying to change the order to - -floppy, CDrom, HD0   I hit some??
>key and now the startup is FLOPPY and I can enable/disable by hitting the
>space bar.

Looking at what is written I am puzzled. Should the word "can" be "can't"?
Does "the startup is floppy" mean the system won't recognize anything but
the floppy?

What is your reason to change the boot sequence to, Floppy, CD-Rom, Hard
Drive? If you are installing an Operating system then you would want to
change to the CD first...

Sincerely,

Frank Suszka
netTek Computers
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