I have an old computer Dell Model p5-5151-1 It is a 133. I'm trying to get it up and running was running b4 storage. I get the message HARD DISK CONTROLLER FAILURE then get a NO BIOS INSTALLED error. 1. Where do i get the bios 2. how do i install it 3. do I have bigger problems than that? Help me out fellas Rocket River
Like it says in How Stuff Works, Bios is Flash memory so what make flash memory erace? But it does say that you can configuire it, http://www.howstuffworks.com/bios3.htm. I'm guessing you don't have the origional reinstall disks?
No I don't but i figure they have to be download able. Thanks man . . I appreciate it. . . i will check this out Rocket River
There should be a small battery inside (one of those button or dime sized ones). Replace it and try again.
I know i may be stating to obvious but it may not be worth fixing. It is going to be difficult to find the bios software for a system that old and messing with the bios can be a real pain.
The Basic Input Output System resides on the Complimentary Metal Oxide Semiconductor BUT that's not the problem here. You do have a BIOS installed, it's just those old dell's way of saying it's not configured correctly. When it turns on press [F1], [F2], and [delete] a bunch and you'll enter a BIOS configuration page. Your computer either isn't recognizing the boot sector of your hard drive, or there's something wrong with that boot sector, so that's what you need to figure out. Auto detect the HD from there and see if it will boot, or try booting to a floppy and see if it will see a partition on the hard drive using something like "fdisk".
Good take Otto and bobrek. I used to work in desktop system test. Removing the motherboard battery for about a minute, then reinserting it usually works. Like Otto said, you might have to go into BIOS, and set it to boot from your hard drive if it recognizes it. Otherwise, try to use a DOS boot disk and reformat your hard drive.
I would like to Thank all you guys for you help it is not completely fixed but MAN DELL HAS A FINE WEBSITE I just typed in the Number on the Bar Code and it pulled up the complete specs motherboard . . .. chip . .. all of it. . . I have to give HUGE props to Dell for that Rocket River Sherlock Tech . . .
No not really. Most support site's suck. Dell just realized that it cost them 30 dollars each time they answer the phone. Since they sell millions of computers, they found it very cost effective to hire hundreds of programmers to keep their support site working well. Most companies can't afford to do that.
