Re: Tony was right again!
Hi, Tony - and BP.
USUALLY, the Pause/Break button (upper right on most keyboards) is
functional even during POST (Power-On Self Test, for those reading along).
When you see the first page of text, press that button and take as long as
you need to read the screenful of information. Then press almost any key
and the process will continue. Some systems present a second or even a
third page of info as devices and IRQs are detected; a second timely press
of the Pause key should let you read that, too.
Unfortunately, my current keyboard (from Microsoft! The Wireless Desktop
Laser 6000) does NOT let me use the Pause/Break key at that point, so I have
to READFAST - and then <Ctrl><Alt><Del> a few times to get all the info -
and that near the bottom of the page disappears REALLY fast! :>(
(Digression: This is a nice keyboard - but with several maddening traits.
The Function keys (F1 - F12) are grouped in 3s, not 4s - and they do double
duty, toggled by the F Lock key between the normal F5 and "Open", for
example. The Pause/Break key toggles to "ScrLk", for which I've seldom
found a need. :>( On boot or reboot, this key is set to the ScrLk function
and I can't get it toggled to Pause/Break , or at least, not quickly enough
to do me any good.. Don't you just LOVE Microsoft's hardware? Maybe HP's
keyboard works more sensibly.)
RC
--
R. C. White, CPA
San Marcos, TX
rc@grandecom.net
Microsoft Windows MVP
(Running Windows Live Mail 2008 in Vista Ultimate x64 SP1)
"Tony Sperling" <tony.sperling@dbREMOVEmail.dk> wrote in message
news:u5$hNXD2IHA.4164@TK2MSFTNGP03.phx.gbl...
> You are right, the Boot Screen text messages are wizzing by rather
> quickly,
> but usually the messages that identifies the BIOS info stays long enough
> to
> be read - among other things, the brief pause give you an option to press
> <F2> or <DEL> or whatever it happens to be, to access the BIOS Setup
> utility - if you want to write down some of the information, you can enter
> the BIOS at this stage and all the version information can be read from
> inside!
>
> Don't make changes that you don't understand what they are for - but you
> can
> safely turn off support for devices that you know you don't have!
> Notebooks
> often do not have a lot of options so probably better to leave it alone,
> but
> it is absolutely safe to go inside and read - then <F10>, and you are back
> out again!
>
> Or, as an alternative - your monitor probably eats a few seconds to light
> up, so you can give the machine the 'three-finger' (Ctrl+Alt+Del) if
> you've
> missed anything and after the re-boot you'll find it is easier to read
> some
> of that stuff since the screen has already been activated.
>
>
> Tony. . .
>
>
>
> "BP" <brcphillips@hotmail.com> wrote in message
> news:mn.d5117d8619e3459a.88421@hotmail.com...
>> I like my HP. Having used it for 6 months I'm sorry I didn't get the
>> larger monitor, but it's a sweetheart. Oh, and sometimes I wish I had
>> waited for another 6 months because the machine now being sold is
>> faster, etc. But I recall having waited another six months before
>> getting this one so I'd get a faster, etc. machine. Oh Well.
>>
>> And thank you for the information. I've checked the HP site and there
>> are no new updates for the computer. You've also solved a minor puzzle
>> for me. I can see white text on the screen during the boot process,
>> but it's never on long enough to read and I've wondered what it said.
>> I still can't read it, but at least I have an idea what the subject
>> matter is.
>>
>> Tony Sperling has brought this to us :
>> > With HP, you are actually lucky, because if you visit their home site
> you
>> > can type your product name and number into the search-box and it will
> take
>> > you to the correct place where there are (or isn't?) updates waiting
>> > for
>> > you.
>> >
>> > As an alternative - when your machine is booting, the first thing that
>> > appears on your screen is the name and BIOS number of the graphics
> card -
>> > the next thing that displays will usually be the CPU and memory and
>> > BIOS
>> > info of your machine and if you want to look for updates you go to the
>> > manufacturers site and see what they have. Most times, when you buy
> someting
>> > new, it is at least six months old and updated system drivers and
>> > BIOS's
> are
>> > likely to be available. But if you are not having any trouble with the
>> > machine or the OS, then you may want to wait, many updates concerns
> specific
>> > hardware that you may not have anyway. HP don't issue a lot of BIOS
>> > updates - it is my understanding that they make a considerable effort
>> > to
> do
>> > it right the first time. My HP notebook is three years old now and
>> > there
> has
>> > been one single update that I wanted, in that time.
>> >
>> > If there are things you don't like about a HP machine, it is not likely
> to
>> > go away with an update - it is probably associated with the particular
>> > philosophy by which HP build their products.
>> >
>> >
>> > Tony. . .
>> >
>> >
>> > "BP" <brcphillips@hotmail.com> wrote in message
>> > news:mn.d4b87d862e637a69.88421@hotmail.com...
>> >> Carlos expressed precisely :
>> >>> One of most recommended fixes by Tony is to upgrade (flash) your BIOS
> to
>> >>> the latest version in case of strange troubles.
>> >>> I helped one friend of mine who could not add a second DDR-667 2 gigs
>> >>> memory stick to his brand new Gigabyte GA-MA790FX-DS motherboard
> (Vista
>> >>> x64). 2 gigs DDR-667, Vista would boot Ok.
>> >>> 4 gigs DDR-667, Vista would BSOD on boot.
>> >>> His BIOS was ver F3 so I downloaded the latest one, a.k.a. v F6.
>> >>> And that was it!
>> >>> Vista is now happy with 4 gigs.
>> >>> Carlos
>> >>
>> >> Carlos and Tony - This thread raises some questions fro me. How do I
>> >> find out about the mother board, BOIS, etc. that is in my system so I
>> >> can find out if there are updates? I have an HP and I've checked the
>> >> HP site to look for updates to my system, but is there another way?