How to go to boot settings in IBM 6578-PBU machine

Restart your computer
During the boot process you will see on the screen for a very short time to press a certain key to enter setup usually the Delete or F2 key the F1 key for IBM PC 300GL
this will vary depending on your computer and operating system

Press and hold that key during the boot up process to enter BIOS using the arrow keys load failsafe defaults or load optimized defaults press escape then press f10 to save to cmos to restart

or this will set the boot order

the using arrow keys navigate to advanced bios features press enter change which drive you want to boot from

hope this helps

Troubleshooting keyboard issues ThinkPad Lenovo Support US

Internal ThinkPad Keyboard
Power on your computer. At the BIOS splash screen, press F1 on your internal keyboard. You should see a message "Entering System Setup." If you are able to enter BIOS, make sure that you can navigate through the menus to ensure basic functionality. While there, press the CapsLk key and ensure that the indicator light turns on or off.
If you are not able to enter BIOS, try pressing the blue ThinkVantage button or press the Enter key.
Boot into your operating system. Click Start, point to All Programs, point to Accessories, and then click Notepad. Using your internal keyboard, press each letter key and each number key to determine if your keystrokes are being recorded properly. If certain keys do not work, make note of these.
Check to see if you have installed any keyboard mapping software that would be interfering with normal keyboard functions.
Boot into Windows Safe Mode and test keyboard functionality with notepad. Please refer to step "B" above.
Windows XP Safe Mode instructions:
http://www.microsoft.com/resources/documentation/windows/xp/all/proddocs/en-us/boot_failsafe.mspx
Windows 7 Safe Mode instructions:
http://windows.microsoft.com/en-US/windows7/Start-your-computer-in-safe-mode
Verify that the latest BIOS for the ThinkPad system is installed.
Click here to view the latest BIOS files for all ThinkPad systems.
Reseat the internal ThinkPad keyboard, if applicable.
If the keyboard is a customer replaceable unit (CRU), then reseat the keyboard connector. Please verify this in your system's Hardware Maintenance Manual.
If these steps have not solved your problem:
Refer to "Need more help?"
External USB Keyboard
Ensure that the keyboard's USB cable is securely installed into your ThinkPad.
Remove the keyboard's USB cable from your ThinkPad and install it into a different USB Port.
Power on your computer. At the BIOS splash screen, press F1 on your External keyboard. You should see a message "Entering System Setup." If you are able to enter BIOS, make sure that you can navigate through the menus to ensure basic functionality. While there, press the CapsLk key and ensure that the indicator light turns on or off.
If you are not able to enter BIOS, try pressing the blue ThinkVantage button or press the Enter key.
Try entering BIOS with your Internal Keyboard.
Boot into your operating system. Click Start, point to All Programs, point to Accessories, and then click Notepad. Using your External keyboard, press each letter key and each number key to determine if your keystrokes are being recorded properly. If certain keys do not work, make note of these.
Check to see if you have installed any keyboard mapping software that would be interfering with normal keyboard functions.
Boot into Windows Safe Mode and test keyboard functionality with notepad. Please refer to step "B" above.
Windows XP Safe Mode instructions: http://www.microsoft.com/resources/documentation/windows/xp/all/proddocs/en-us/boot_failsafe.mspx
Windows 7 Safe Mode instructions: http://windows.microsoft.com/en-US/windows7/Start-your-computer-in-safe-mode
Verify that the latest BIOS for the ThinkPad system is installed.
Click here to view the latest BIOS files for all ThinkPad systems.
If these steps have not solved your problem:
Refer to "Need more help?"

Hi ,
You can't download the O.S but you can buy the install disc here : http://pcsupport.about.com/od/windowsxp/f/download-windows-xp.htm
Don't forget to back up the drivers before launching the XP install disc .
Best regards .

Don't worry it is very easy to fix it.
Let's get started!

Step 1: Rule out hardware issues. Windows Repair will only fix software problems. Hardware issues can also cause boot problems (i.e. bad hard drive, memory, CPU, or power supply).

Step 2: Backup. It's always a good idea to backup your important data before making changes to Windows XP. Relax, if you follow these instructions your data will be perfectly safe.

Step 3: Boot from your Windows XP CD. Insert the Windows XP CD into your computer's CD-ROM or DVD-ROM drive, and then restart your computer. When the "Press any key to boot from CD" message appears on the screen, press a key to start your computer from the Windows XP CD. Can't boot from your CD? Please see the note at the bottom of this page (Configuring Your Computer to Boot from CD).

Step 4: A blue screen will appear and begin loading Windows XP Setup from the CD.

Note: RAID/SCSI/Unsupported UDMA users:
You will be prompted to "press F6 to install any third party SCSI or RAID drivers". Most users will not have to press F6, but if you are running RAID, SCSI or unsupported UDMA controllers, then you will have to have your controller drivers on a floppy disk. If you are unsure whether you have RAID/SCSI, then simply let the CD load without pressing F6.

When completed loading files, you will be presented with the following "Windows Setup" screen, and your first option. Select "To set up Windows XP now, press ENTER". DO NOT select Recovery Console.






When presented with the screen below. press the F8 key to continue.






Next, Windows Setup will find existing Windows XP installations. You will be asked to repair an existing XP installation, or install a fresh copy of Windows XP.

If no installations are found, then you will not be given the option to repair. This may happen if the data or partition on your drive is too corrupted.

Note: If you install a fresh copy, all data on that partition will be lost!






Your almost finished! Windows XP will appear to be installing itself for the first time, but it will retain all of your data and settings. Just follow the prompts, and have your CD-KEY ready if needed.

Do you have more than one system, or lost your CD-KEY? Visit the keyfinder page to retrieve your CD-KEY.

Update: Due to the proliferation of the Blaster and Welchia Worm/Virus be aware that a Repair Install will leave your system vulnerable. You can get infected within seconds. Do not go on line until you have enabled XP's firewall first.

Remember to run Windows Update! (install critical updates first)

-----------------------------

Configuring Your Computer to Boot from CD

Many computers are not configured to boot from the CDROM. If you cannot boot from the CDROM, this is probably due to the boot order of your devices being incorrect. You can change this in the BIOS.

You enter the BIOS from the first screen you see when you turn your computer on. To enter your BIOS, most users here will press the DEL key.

Most Dell, Toshiba, Gateway, Sony & HP systems will press F2.

Compaq users will usually have to press F10.

IBM typically uses F1 or F2.

Other brands may have different keys to press to enter setup, F1, F2, Del, Tab and CTRL+S. If possible see the manual for your computer or motherboard. Also, the BIOS will usually display which button to press to "enter setup" during POST (if it flashes by too fast, press the Pause key).

When you enter the BIOS setup, you need to change the boot order. The CDROM should be setup before the Hard Drive. Each BIOS is different, but here is an example:

change the settings

During the XP install, you will be given the chance to set up partitions on the drive. Blow them all out. Completely. Then recreate the partition and let XP install. I expect this will solve the nt loader issue. If, however, it does not, then use the recovery approach below to get the required loader files onto your boot partition.

1. Insert the Windows XP bootable CD into the computer.
2. When prompted to press any key to boot from the CD, press any key.
3. Once in the Windows XP setup menu press the "R" key to repair Windows.
4. Log into your Windows installation by pressing the "1" key and pressing enter.
5. You will then be prompted for your administrator password, enter that password.
6. Copy the below two files to the root directory of the primary hard disk. In the below example we are copying these files from the CD-ROM drive letter, which in this case is "d." This letter may be different on your computer.
   
   copy d:\i386\ntldr c:\
   copy d:\i386\ntdetect.com c:\
   
   
7. Once both of these files have been successfully copied, remove the CD from the computer and reboot.

http://www-307.ibm.com/pc/support/site.wss/MIGR-4MVU6G.html

newer os like xp and vista have many new power management feautures like acpi-advanced configuration power interface.. when booting your pc press DEL or f2 to enter bios and check if your bios supports this feature.. i have not used ibm pcs but still check with this..

during bootup press del key if not press f10 if not try f1 or f2 or f7. i hope it helps

I searched for hours for a solution to this. Here it is:

1). Restart your computer, NOT using ctrl - alt - del
2). Press F1 when guided to.
3). When you get into the config menu, select Start Options, then hit enter twice.

There are all the options you need! Cool, huh?