wrote in message
...
Hello,

Someone gave me an old Dell.

When I tried to start it, the BIOS required a password, which I
didn't know. The usual backdoor passwords didn't get any resuults,
so
I removed and replaced the CMOS battery. That got me past the
password, but now the BIOS has forgotten everything else it's
supposed
to do, also.

How do I get into the setup, so as to start using the machine? It's
looking for something particular (details below); what do I tell it?

I've pressed Del, F2, Esc, and a lot of other keys, trying to
enter the setup. Nothing happens.

Following is the relevant information from the startup screen.

= = = = = =

PhoenixBIOS 4.0 Release 6.0
4S4EB2X0.10A.0032.P10

Dell Dimension XPS T800r
BIOS Version A09

SERIAL PRESENCE DETECT (SPD) device data missing or inconclusive.

Press Del to enter SETUP.

= = = = = =

(Please don't tell me just to get a new computer. That's not the
question.)

Thank you!

Ted Shoemaker

Have you tried the debug routine?
O 70 FF
O 71 17
Q
You were unclear about what the computer *was* doing, many BIOSes will
automatically enter the CMOS Setup program if the checksum is
invalidated.http://www.wimsbios.com/faq/clearbioswithdebug.jsp