Diskette seek failure

[Momofmaddy02]

I have a dell e520 with vista it wont start keeps going to launch startup rpair it shows a diskette seek failre and the repair won't stop running

[Momofmaddy02]

Now I got an error screen saying disable Bios memory options such as caching or shadowing and if I can't get into safe mode, which I can't to press f8 at startup, but when I hit f8 it won't do anything

[Allan]

1) What is new or different since the last time everything worked properly (ie, new hw, new sw, virus, error, etc)?
2) As a starting point I suggest you replace the motherboard battery and then reset the bios to default.

[Momofmaddy02]

Nothing is new or different, and I take it I have to take it somewhere to do that?

[Momofmaddy02]

And if i.dont have a floppy disk y am I getting a seek failure

[Allan]

It should take you 10 minutes to replace a motherboard battery yourself:
http://www.computerhope.com/issues/ch000239.htm

[patio]

There's also the option to disable "floppy seek on boot" in the BIOS...

[Allan]

Yes, but if this just started happening on it's own I'm guessing the battery is dead or dying and the problem will recur until it's replaced.

[Momofmaddy02]

How do I get to the BIOS

[Allan]

Watch the screen when it first boots. You should see a message that says something like: "To enter setup press F2" - at that point press the F2 function key.

[Momofmaddy02]

When I go to setup I dont see any of those options

[patio]

Did you replace the battery yet ? ?

[jason2074]

If changing the CMOS battery did not solved the diskette seek failure, make sure the hard drive boot is listed as first.

[Momofmaddy02]

I just changed the battery and I still can't get into safe mode, how do I know if the hard   drive is listed firstm and if it's not how do I fix it?

[Allan]

Go into the bios and look for the boot device order. Follow the instructions on the screen to move the hd to the top of the order, save, exit. Do not make any other changes.