The issue I'm having is with a Dell Vostro 3360, Windows 7 64 Bit + Ubuntu 12.04 (Dual Boot).
Everything worked perfectly until one day after a windows update it started showing this message on start up (after the Dell logo):
Intel UNDI PXE-2.0 (build 083)
Copyright (C)...
For Atheros PCIE Ethernet Controller v2.1.1.1(12/23/11)
Check cable connection!
PXE-M0F: Exiting Intel PXE ROM.
and then Ubuntu loads immediately instead of showing GRUB menu.
If I press Esc right before Ubuntu is loading I do get the GRUB screen but only with Ubuntu option (together with Memory test and recovery mode options)
If I connect the laptop to a network with a cable it tries to connect to DHCP instead of showing the Check cable connection!
message (with an ASCII progress bar) but never succeeds.
I can access the Windows partitions and files from Ubuntu.
Pressing F12 or F2 does not do anything and I cannot access the BIOS options.
I tried fixing GRUB from recovery mode and with Boot-Repair but it didn't change anything.
I tried to remove the hard drive and boot to BIOS but F12 and F2 still didn't work and the laptop got stuck in a loop of the same PXE message and then reboot.
I tried removing the coin battery and replacing it hoping it will change anything.
I searched the web for a solution but nothing came up with a method I didn't already try.
How can I disable the PXE boot and restore access to the BIOS again?
Thank you.