@ TechnoMage2016 again.. You said "Six" DVD's? Yes indeed, that is what they mailed me upon my Phone request to do so. One "systems" disk. Five subsequent install disks. Heck, I remember in my older HP days there were just a big bunch of disks. Maybe a dozen? A lot anyway. I do realize the more recent recovery discs are less in numbers, like just one, but I got what they had for this gateway recovery process.
I don't see anything wrong or unusual with a six-DVD factory reinstall package. Years ago, HP was sending four DVDs.
Just make sure that your computer will boot from the DVD, and that the DVD is the first item in the boot order list.
@mrjimphelps Thanks but I'm unable to access a bios program that has been erased due to a format. That's the problem at hand.
You or anybody else know how to set up a flash drive boot? My thinking is that because I would be booting from an f-drive & not the PC1 HDD, I could do what I need that way. Maybe not? Thanks Jim
Formatting a drive won't erase your BIOS. There has to be some other problem.
Maybe I missed an earlier post, but perhaps your USB keyboard isn't active when you first boot up. That would prevent your being able to get into BIOS. If you have PS/2 ports on your computer, try to find a PS/2 keyboard. That would solve it, if USB is the problem.
If you did a firmware upgrade at any point, that could explain why you are unable to get into BIOS.
The following lists comments from users who did a firmware update on their Asus computers, and now it is next to impossible for them to get into BIOS. Acer and Asus are partners, and Acer owns Gateway, so it is possible that a Gateway firmware update has caused this issue.
https://forums.anandtech.com/threads...-help.2251785/
OK that is a realistic option to try but please know I witnessed the format as part of the initial recovery process. with a format in place on the HDD it's hard for me to see how its possible to access an erased BIOS program. See what I mean?
con't... what do you mean a format won't erase the bios. Is the bios program not installed on the HDD?
Here's something else you can try, if you can't get into the BIOS. It is probably time to change your CMOS battery; if you haven't changed it in a few years, this would be a good time to do so. Power down, and unplug the computer. Pull out the CMOS battery, and leave it out for a while (at least 10 minutes), then install the new CMOS battery. Now plug the computer in and turn it on. It will prompt you to go into BIOS, because the time is now wrong, because there was no CMOS battery in to maintain it. While in the BIOS, set the clock to the correct time and date, and make sure that your CD/DVD drive is first in the boot order. (You could also put USB as the second item in the boot order, in case you ever want to boot from a flash drive.) Save and exit the BIOS. Now you should be able to boot from the recovery DVD with no problem -- when you boot the computer, it will ask you to hit any key to boot from the DVD. Be watching for that prompt, then hit any key.
Even if the CMOS battery is good, you should still remove it for about 10 minutes (with the computer unplugged), in order to clear the BIOS clock, so that it will prompt you to go into BIOS.
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