Cannot access bios setup on Dell Dimension 3000

Do you actually get a message that you are entering the BIOS?  If not, you might need to hit the DEL key instead.

No.  No message or anything on the screen.  I will try booting and using the delete key.  I am pretty sure I tried that but will not say so until I actually try it.  That is the only machine on my network on which I cannot access the bios.

Del key does nothing.  F2 and F12 do cause the system to revert to a blank screen rather than booting.  It appears to be some sort of display problem when going into an OS display rather than Windows.  I am going to also go to the Dell support site, with little optimism, to see what I can find.

Oh, I upgraded the bios thinking that might help but even though that appeared to be successful it changed nothing regarding this issue.

I believe that the 3000 has on board video.. Have you tried using a video card instead just to see if that allows you to see the BIOS screen?

OF course you get video with Windows...is this a dual video out setup?  If so, it might be that the BIOS screen for some reason is displaying on the other video out and all you need to do is move the monitor cable.  Yeah...I know that a stretch, but I seems similar things with gateway machines.

You might try shutting down the PC, unplugging the power cable for 1-2 minutes and then firing it back up again...I've seen that reset certain things on some computers.  You might also need to remove the CMOS battery, but since right now you can't get into the BIOS I'm not sure that the best idea in the world.

I think I am going to avoid removing the CMOS battery at this point.  I suspect that the monitor thing is a possibility.   I'll try booting it with my other monitor hooked up.  If that does not work I am out of luck in the monitor department as I only have two.