Cant get into BIOS

[Smurf Shoes]

I'm attempting to fix a co-workers Gateway desktop that's been presumed dead for a few years now because it wouldn't power on. It seems to power on just fine for me, but I get stuck at the gateway/mobo loading screen where it gives you the option to enter BIOS menu or load boot options. The thing is none of my keyboards are recognized so I cant press F2 to get into BIOS. I tried two USB keyboards, a PS/2 keyboard, and even a keyboard with one of those old school IBM style (DIN?) things with a PS/2 adapter. Ive already reset CMOS, taken out everything except a stick of ram, ran it on my PSU, and still get the same thing. I know power is getting to the keyboards at some point because the lock button led's flash on power on but die at the Gateway screen. I read somewhere on some obscure forum that sometimes these prebuilt machines only recognize the keyboard they came with on first setup. Has anybody else heard of this? or is it probably a dying motherboard.

Its a Gateway GT5252 if anyone wanted to know.

Thanks

[L.E.D]

A PS/2 keyboard SHOULD be recognized by just about ANY PC. I would try it again and press "F2" "F12" "Delete" or "Del" possibly "F10" those are the most common keys,

Nathan

[asusfan]

Lots of the older machines had different hotkeys to get into bios. it should say on post screen the key to hit.

another thing if its like a really old thing as a company computer or something it might be set in the bios when it was new and running to not alow users to enter for security reasons, but normally there would be a password screen.

Its hard to say what it could be, maybe the bios chip is dead as you said it attempts to boot, but wont load or go into bios?

Have you tried to reset the CMOS?? or checked the battery is ok.

if all fails just try to salvage what you can from the hard drive and bin it.

[Smurf Shoes]

Lots of the older machines had different hotkeys to get into bios. it should say on post screen the key to hit.

another thing if its like a really old thing as a company computer or something it might be set in the bios when it was new and running to not alow users to enter for security reasons, but normally there would be a password screen.

Its hard to say what it could be, maybe the bios chip is dead as you said it attempts to boot, but wont load or go into bios?

Have you tried to reset the CMOS?? or checked the battery is ok.

if all fails just try to salvage what you can from the hard drive and bin it.

It says hit F2 but I've tried them all. Ive reset CMOS a few times. Checking the battery might be a good idea. I was thinking since I reset CMOS there might be some sort of hardware lockout where it only accepts what came out of the factory. Its pretty out there but who knows. I don't know a lot about factory built machines.

But, she did say if I was unable to fix it I'll just give her the drive and I can keep the rest of the computer for parts. I could probably build a decent rig for the wife with an Athlon 4600+. Just need to find an old AM2 board somewhere.

[Smurf Shoes]

Thanks for the replies everybody.

[Smurf Shoes]

A PS/2 keyboard SHOULD be recognized by just about ANY PC. I would try it again and press "F2" "F12" "Delete" or "Del" possibly "F10" those are the most common keys,

Nathan

Errgh my comment got deleted.

Ive hit every button on the keyboard for the sake of science and there was no response. I ruled out a broken PS2 jack too because the usb boards would not work either. Its very strange.

[L.E.D]

A PS/2 keyboard SHOULD be recognized by just about ANY PC. I would try it again and press "F2" "F12" "Delete" or "Del" possibly "F10" those are the most common keys,

Nathan

Another thought then, If you disconnect every drive leave a DVD Drive connected, Will it post with say a Ubuntu Live CD in the drive, Will it load with that ? If not I would then check the board for any signs of damage, if none are present then it could possibly be RAM, Maybe the Clock battery is bad, a jumper was installed incorrectly, something that would have been completely looked over or you wouldn't notice I should say, give those ideas a go and let me know what turns up,

Nathan