Methods for Accessing BIOS on Various PC Brands Via Specific Access Keys
In this article, we will guide you through the process of accessing your PC's BIOS (Basic Input/Output System). The BIOS is a crucial system that controls your computer, telling it what storage drives it has, which one to boot from, what processor it has, how much RAM, and more.
When Might You Need to Access the BIOS?
There are several scenarios where you might need to access your PC's BIOS. For instance, an error message may appear if there's no keyboard plugged in or if the keyboard buffer is overloaded from holding down too many keys at start on some desktop computers. Another common issue is a missing or corrupted bootloader, which may cause your system to display a blue screen of death.
Accessing the BIOS: Different Methods
Hotkey Method
Typically, you can access the BIOS by hitting a specific key immediately after powering on your PC. The keys vary by manufacturer, but common ones include F2, DEL, F10, F12, Esc, and others, as detailed in the table below.
| Brand | BIOS Key(s) | |----------------------|----------------------| | HP | F10, Esc | | Dell | F2, F12 | | Acer | F2, Del | | Lenovo | F1, F2, Fn + F2 | | Asus | F2, Del, Esc | | Samsung | F2 | | Sony | F1, F2, F3 | | Microsoft Surface Pro | Volume Up button |
Remember, timing is critical; you must press the key right after powering the PC on and before Windows begins loading. Fast boot options or Secure Boot may sometimes interfere with access using these keys, requiring disabling those features or using Windows advanced startup methods instead.
Advanced Startup Method
If your PC goes through POST so quickly that there's no time to hit a key, or if it doesn't recognise input from a USB keyboard until after POST is completed, you can use Windows 11 or 10's Advanced Startup feature to access the BIOS. To do this, navigate to the Advanced Startup section of Settings, click Restart now under the Advanced startup header.
Linux Command
In Linux, you can use the command to reboot and access the BIOS.
What Can You Do in the BIOS?
The BIOS allows you to perform various tasks such as overclocking the CPU, enabling virtualization, setting memory speed, or enabling TPM encryption. It's essential to know how to access your BIOS to troubleshoot and customise your PC to your needs.
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In the event of an error message due to a missing keyboard or overloaded keyboard buffer, or a problem with the bootloader causing a blue screen of death, you might need to access your PC's BIOS. With the BIOS, you can perform tasks like overclocking the CPU, enabling virtualization, setting memory speed, or enabling TPM encryption, which are all crucial for troubleshooting and customizing your PC's technology and gadgets to your specific needs.
