BIOS Issue

[Dragonschild]

I recently bought a Lenovo Ideapad for my wife which came with windows 8 pre-installed on it. Needless to say it didn't take long for her to realize that windows 8 is not worth the trouble on a non touch screen pc or laptop(Even though I tried to explain it to her beforehand heh). Anyways, I told her that I would install windows 7 on it for her so I proceeded to set up a usb stick with a windows 7 install since the Ideapad does not come with a disc drive but I quickly ran into problems once I got windows 7 installed, since there are partitions that are locked on the HDD and it says the only way to delete them is through booting from the OS install disc. I tried setting the boot order in the BIOS so that it would boot from USB flash drives but it would not do it for some reason and after I changed that setting and tried a few more installs of windows 7 from within the OS the BIOS decided to stop working. I have tried everything I can think of to get to the BIOS but it seems like it has just been deleted from the system somehow. I have tried the OneTouch button on the side and it will give me a menu on boot to go to the BIOS but when I select that option it just boots right into the OS like there is no BIOS. I bought a external disc drive to try the install that way, thinking that it should allow me to boot from that drive to install the OS but to no avail. I managed to delete most of the partitions containing the largest space and have windows 7 now installed on the SSD with about 4 Gigs to spare lol. This problem is really bugging me as I don't like having those partitions sitting there and I especially don't like that the BIOS is not accessable. My question to you all is this:

Is there a way to get to the BIOS from within the OS once booted up? Or is there a way to make the laptop reboot and go directly into the BIOS?

Please any help is welcome as I am at the end of the line here as far as my knowledge can take me.

 

[Rain08]

Try resetting your BIOS and see if it works.

You can try a ClearCMOS procedure (CLRTC is the same thing):

• Note all your current BIOS settings
• Shut down the computer > remove the power cord.
• Remove the 3v motherboard battery.
• Move the CLRTC jumper from pins 1-2 to 2-3.
• Touch a metal part of the case and Press and Hold the reset button for approx. 30 seconds to discharge all power from the board.
• Put the CLRTC jumper back on pins 1-2.
• Replace the 3v battery > replace the power cord > boot.
• Immediately go back into BIOS and reset all your preferred settings. If the CLRTC worked you will need to reset the date and time.

 

[pscowboy]

Too bad you've done all that, and now are in a pickle.

You can (and should in your wife's case) run W8 like any windows. And, its faster and more responsive. I have it on one my five machines, and think its terrific. If you can, try to go back to it.

Two things you can do to achieve the normal windows feeling.

Install the $5 Stardock product to get the Start menu back (this will also boot you right into the desktop).

Next, boot without having to type a password every time.
In an "elevated" command prompt (right-click the command prompt icon - properties - Run as admin)
type the following:

netplwiz

1. See that the "Users must ......" box is checked.
2. Select user.
3. Now uncheck the box for "Users must ....." Then Apply.
4. Enter the password twice and OK out.

Barring that you cannot now go back, and need to perform a BIOS reset, you will have to download, from another pc, the technical drawings for disassembling the Lenovo in order to remove the cmos battery. If you do this, be very diligent in taking notes and labeling screws - and TAKE YOUR TIME!