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162-System Options Not Set
Can't get past this message

New Message162-System Options Not Set (modified 1 times) AirMan
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Help! No matter how many times I reset the BIOS, I see the memory count, then get the message "162-System Options Not Set", then the system reboots itself.

I've tried hitting the Compaq button at various times. I've checked the battery. The battery is good. I'm manually moving the jumper on every attempt. I honestly believe I'm doing everything correctly. This is one of the new IA-1's from TigerDirect.

This is my second IA-1. My first one got hosed after attempting to reset its BIOS. Either you guys have had very good luck with the BIOS or I'm having very bad luck. I'm desparate. I really want this to work.

12-20-2001 21:47:09

New MessageRE:162-System Options Not Set (modified 0 times) Root
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are you sure you are doing it right?
this is what worked for me: ¥try at your own risk¤

1¤ turn off ia1, wait 30 sec or so, open it up
2¤ move jumper to new location
3¤ turn on ia1, wait a few seconds, ¥you will see strange colors¤
4¤ turn off ia1 , wait 30 sec or so!
5¤ replace jumper to where it was initialy©

Diagram:

|||

these are the 3 pins© normally the jumper is on the right two pins©
in step 2 you have to move them to the left two pins, is step 5 you
return them to the right two pins!

12-21-2001 08:03:39

New MessageRE:162-System Options Not Set (modified 0 times) AirMan
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I've definitely tried all that. Can you tell me when the BIOS Setup Screen should appear relative to the memory check? I see the memory check count all the way to the top. At what point should the Setup Screen appear?

Thanks!

12-21-2001 10:18:27

New MessageRE:162-System Options Not Set (modified 0 times) Garfield
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I get the exact same thing. I moved the jumper, powered on, powered off, swapped jumper, powered on say memory count & hit one of the following: person, compaq, t

I also used the paperclip trick yielding the same results.

I have a referb (it has the referb into inside and is stapped referb on the box. is there any way to tell it i infact have a referb by looking at the unit itself? when it is at the intro screen and i hit the power key, i do get a picture of a street with a kid walking. (single static picture)

when i opened the unit, the heatsink was stuck to the CPU

any thoughts? any one?

TIA

12-21-2001 10:58:15

New MessageRE:162-System Options Not Set (modified 0 times) stingray
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I also have the same problem with my refub form Tiger. I posted two messages about this problem about two weeks ago. The only response I recevied was that maybe the battery was bad. It's not. Help is definitely appreciated.
12-21-2001 13:21:25

New MessageRE:162-System Options Not Set (modified 0 times) AirMan
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It almost seems like pressing the Compaq button doesn't do anything. If somebody out there would *please* say when to press the Compaq button relative to the memory check, it would be greatly appreciated. Should we be pressing the Compaq button before, during, or after the memory check? When should the setup screen appear? Immediately after pressing the Compaq button? Or after the memory check completes?
12-21-2001 13:58:54

New MessageRE:162-System Options Not Set (modified 0 times) foresto
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I have a tigerdirect refurb IA-1, and I did the paperclip trick (using a screwdriver) to reset the BIOS. After numerous warm and cold boots, I continue to have access to the BIOS setup. To reach it, I press the compaq key as soon as something appears on the screen, which is normally the red compaq logo and a cursor in the top left corner. (Actually, I usually press the compaq key several times, although I'm not sure that doing so is necessary.) This usually causes a "keyboard error" message, followed by the opening setup screen that prompts for my preferred language.
12-21-2001 14:52:35

New MessageRE:162-System Options Not Set (modified 0 times) stingray
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My problem is I have never gotten in to the BIOS. Also I have never seen a cursor in the top left corner. After resting the BIOS by moving the jumper, I power up, I see the Compaq screen then memory count, then the 162 error. The thing reboots you see Compaq screen with nothing else and then it loads MSN. I have hit the Compaq key before, during, and after the memory check, no luck.

I read in another thread about made an image of there BIOS. Does anyone know of a way to flash the BIOS on these things? If so maybe I could get an image of BIOS that is accessible and flash mine.

12-21-2001 22:24:05

New MessageRE:162-System Options Not Set (modified 0 times) Root
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try this:

1¤ unplug power cord, replug©
2¤ hold compaq key down as soon as you replug, dont let go of it, ¥make sure keyboard is close to base, IR range is short¤

if you get to the msn crap again, something must be wrong© someone mentioned that if you dont save your own settings the first time you boot after dont the jumper thing,
you cant get into the bios again© i dont know if this is true, but it is worth tryinh©© apply bios trick again, then hold the compaq key all the way through boot©

good luck©

p©s©
note that holding compaq key all the way through boot is not truly necessery, but its a good way to eliminate the chance you are holding it down in the wrong time©

12-22-2001 08:32:23

New MessageRE:162-System Options Not Set (modified 0 times) stingray
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Ok, I tried holding down the Compaq key all the way through the first boot after clearing the BIOS. I still get the memory count, then as long as you hold the Compaq key down it just sits there. After you let go you get the 162 error, and it reboots. I tried the same thing pressing the Compaq key rapidly, the same thing happens as long as I keep pressing the button. I have had this happen at other times during the boot process. It seems that the machine can't process the keyboard interrupts fast enough to continue booting.
12-22-2001 09:36:14

New MessageRE:162-System Options Not Set (modified 0 times) keith721
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okay - this may be a really stupid question, but: are the batteries in the keyboard good? i only ask, because i used the batteries that came with the unit (a refurb) and they were good for about two weeks, then phhhttt! had to replace them.

of course, if your keyboard works well with the MSN browser, then this (or any other possible keyboard hardware-related issues) aren't the answer. on the other hand, if your keyboard isn't working well at all, it could be related to the IR LED's in the keyboard and the base unit. some users have cleaned/removed the lenses, cleaned/straightened the LEDs, etc.

apologies in advance if you've covered all this . . .

12-22-2001 09:55:40

New MessageRE:162-System Options Not Set (modified 0 times) AirMan
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I've tried the exact same things as stingray with the exact same results. I get the memory count then the "162-System Options Not Set" message. The keyboard is good (works with MSN) and the battery is good. It seems like some of these units have been made hack-proof. Any other ideas? Since it appears the Compaq button doesn't do anything, should we try connecting a USB keyboard. I don't have a USB keyboard handy. Stingray, do you? Would upgrading to MSN V2 make a difference? Or does that not do anything to the BIOS?
12-22-2001 10:53:21

New MessageRE:162-System Options Not Set (modified 0 times) stingray
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I have a USB keyboard; it didn't work.
12-22-2001 14:55:40

New MessageRE:162-System Options Not Set (modified 0 times) Root
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Hey ©©

ok©© so i have been playing with my own ia-1 now©©
first of all, i get the same message as well, ¥162-sys ©©©¤ , but then i get the bios language menu and all is good©

Second, i heard some talk a while back about the ia1 having problems booting with USB devices connected© i have never has this problem personally ¥i have a USB linksys 10tx lan adapter¤, nor do i remember if the lookups thei encountered were bios related or jailbait related, but its worth a try©

here is how my ia behaves:
--------------------------------

tap compaq key once during memory count - Bios redetects ide devices, then reboots©
tap compaq key once *immidietly* AFTER memory count - bios menu shows©

tap compaq key repeatedly from boot time - still loads bios stuff!

Note that I DO get the 162-system options not set error as well before the menus show up©©

Root©

12-22-2001 15:29:57

New MessageRE:162-System Options Not Set (modified 1 times) AirMan
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My unit just doesn't function like that. I get the memory check, then the 162-System Options Not Set message, then it reboots. The Compaq key does nothing no matter how or when it is pressed.

It really seems that those us with this problem (I've counted 3 so far) have units that are somehow different than everybody else's. It really seems like the setup program has been disabled.

Until we can get to the bottom of this, I would warn anybody intent upon running Linux to consider this before purchasing one of these devices.

12-22-2001 22:17:24

New MessageRE:162-System Options Not Set (modified 0 times) Root
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there is allways the possibility that the bios key is different©© try hitting keys arround keyboard after the mem count is over©©
12-23-2001 01:03:50

New MessageRE:162-System Options Not Set (modified 0 times) Garfield
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tech support did not help me with regard to this issue...

This is the route I took: I called them seeking to boot off CF to backup the system that I am leagally entitled to, they were not much help. they claim it is all back on some MSN server and can be retrived by taking the failsafe route...

I get the 162 message on my ia-1 but it reboots it self shortly there after.

12-26-2001 19:55:55

New MessageRE:162-System Options Not Set (modified 0 times) Trump
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I too am receiving this on my refurb from TigerDirect. I know that I am doing *everything* correct to get into the bios but as many are starting to see here it just reboots itself and then starts loading CE. It seems that on initial post after clearing the bios the system goes through a normal post (memory count, boot scan, etc) and detects that a boot option has not been set, throws the error 162 and then corrects itself. The big thing here is that it does seem to be correcting itself and not allowing input into the bios.

so, unless the key has changed from compaq to something else, I'm not sure how we can get into this...I have tried multiple keys in attempt to see if the combo has changed (my guess this is actually the issue) but have been unsuccessful in finding the correct sequence/key.

Trump

12-27-2001 08:51:27

New MessageRE:162-System Options Not Set (modified 0 times) ranman
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Press the letter "t' when the 162-System Option Not Set thing appears after you have done the standard boot, with compaq keypress. Hopefully this will work for you and let you in the bios.

Does it also show 3 bluish box type areas, with specific function keys to hit?


ranman

12-27-2001 09:13:45

New MessageRE:162-System Options Not Set (modified 0 times) Trump
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Tried the letter 't' to no avail. I'm still unable to get into the bios...the only thing that happens is I receive error 162 and then it sits for a second or two then reboots itself. Upon reboot, there is no longer a memory count and the system boots directly to the OS.
12-27-2001 11:09:42

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