When you see the IBM Splash screen; hit "esc", you will then see the bios
info.  I believe F2 will take you to setup options.

The intermittent "freezing" may be due to an "automatic save or backup
function" in Office or the "fast find"  update interval.

Jerry

>
>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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