First, the stall.  It is most likely hardware, though it could have to do
with an incompatible driver.  I do know with 3COM PCI NICs that you get
hesitations at regular intervals (the mouse freezes for a moment, the
keyboard stops responding for a moment, etc.) when it is not connected to a
network and it is expecting a network to be there.  Apparently it kept
polling to see if a network would magically show up.  Disabling the card or
removing it was the only solution.  Soooo, your problem could be related to
some hardware or setting.  Following the normal troubleshooting channels,
start removing components til the problem goes away.  Replace components
that are necessary when all unnecessary components have been removed (i.e.
the video card).  If it gets better, you know the last component you removed
was the problem.

About the BIOS issue, try the normal keys on bootup.  I just got through
working on a Pavillion, and F1 worked to get into the setup, even though
there was nothing instructing you to use this key on bootup.  Other
possibilities are the "Del" key, F2, or F10.  One further possibility is to
boot the machine, go to a command prompt, and press Ctrl+Alt+Esc, or
Ctrl+Alt+Enter, or Ctrl+Alt+Ins, or Ctrl+Alt+End.  I have played with a few
machines that required this kind of setup for BIOS changes.  That or you
could check their web site.  HTH.

Kyle

From: "Mick Fitzpatrick" <[log in to unmask]>
Sent: Thursday, November 11, 1999 4:51 AM
Subject: [PCBUILD] HP Pavillion M50


> Hello
>
> A friend of mine has a Hewlett Packard M50 PC.
>
> He has a strange problem that at first I believed to software oriented,
but
> it occurs almost excactly every 10 mins!
>
> No matter what application (Internet, office, graphics etc) he is using it
> will lock out! I don't mean a total crash. The mouse pointer or cursor
will
> stall for a while then it's fine.
>
> Firstly I want to try a format (he has a lot of 'clutter' on his HD and
this
> may well cure the problem?). But when the machine boots up you don't get
the
> normal on screen bios checks that one sees ... you see a Hewlett Packard
> splash screen and you get 'no' on screen prompt to enter bios. When I've
> done the format I intend to do a clean intall W98. I don't want to use the
> disks that came with his HP as they are adding a lot of stuff he does not
> need. So I will use a 'normal' W98 disk that came with his other PC.
>
> Therefore I have 2 questions please.
>
> 1. What could be causing the 'stall'? I suspect the CMOS battery!!
>
> 2. If I format his disk will I then see a more familiar boot up screen or
is
> HP using a special bios? if they are using a special bios how do I enter
it?
>
> I'd be very grateful to an answer to this problem that has me 'pulling my
> hair out' :-)
>
> TIA ... Mick

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