[Solved] X230 boots into W7, but cannot get into BIOS

[RealBlackStuff]

My X230 has concocted some strange problems in the last few days.
Since 2 days it boots without showing the "ThinkPad" splash screen.
The screen is black with the backlight on, but nothing shows.
It also does not show the Windows 7 4-color 'circling' window, but goes straight to the screen where I can select which user.
From then on, Windows works perfectly, so no problems there.

More serious: I can't get into BIOS, is that because I see no "ThinkPad" splash screen?
I've tried it on battery alone, on AC alone, and of course with both.
Removed both, held down the power button for 20-30 seconds, tried AC, then battery, no difference.
I also removed the CMOS battery for a minute or two, hoping that would work. Still no dice.
When it now boots, it should, but doesn't tell me to change Date/Time (still blank screen).

My X230 has nitrocaster's FHD mod, plus the EC-mod for X220 batteries.
It still has its original X230 keyboard.

My wife doesn't like the trackpoint, so she uses a small Logitech mouse with a USB dongle (in the blue USB-port on the left).
With or without this mouse, still no access to the BIOS

I'm out of the country at the moment, so have no tools or anything to test/check it with.
Any suggestions how to get into BIOS?

[dr_st]

The FHD mod runs the LCD off one of the DP connections. Sounds like the laptop is trying to display the image on the non-existant internal LVDS?

[axur-delmeria]

Maybe connect a VGA monitor?

[RealBlackStuff]

Like I said above, I have only my laptop, nothing else.
So I decided to hunt around in the FHD thread where I hoped to find a hint.
Sure enough I found my own (!) post from almost a year ago, where I asked which option to use in the BIOS LCD-setting.
nitrocaster's reply: FHD display corresponds to Digital 2 on dock, but there's no point selecting it until you get the image on it.
So that needed to be checked.
Thanks dr_st for steering me in the right (DP) direction.

After hitting almost every possible key combination I finally managed to get into the BIOS.
Sure enough, in the LCD-settings I found it was set to option: Thinkpad LCD.
Changed that to: Digital 2 on dock, rebooted and phew!
Everything is working normal again!

Methinks this BIOS-setting should be mentioned in the next revision of the FHD-manual!

[RRHODY]

I had a problem getting into BIOS because Windows was set to FAST boot. Solution for me: Close Windows while holding down the shift key so the next boot of Windows won't go FAST and leave time for F1 to open BIOS.

[RealBlackStuff]

Fast Boot is not available in W7, so my machine couldn't have that problem.
Fast Boot only applies to W8 and W10 (which I don't use).

[Thinkpad4by3]

Fn-F7...oh wait wrong keyboard. Does it work with the classic KB mod?

[dr_st]

Fn-F7...oh wait wrong keyboard. Does it work with the classic KB mod?

It does. Also, Fn+F7 does the same thing on both **20 and **30 series keyboards.