See also: How to set up a new PC
A common reason to enter the BIOS is to change the boot order. Perhaps you’ve installed a new hard drive, or need to boot from a CD or USB flash drive. You’ll need to alter the list which determines in what order devices are tried to see if they contain bootable software.
How to enter the BIOS
Press your PC’s power button and wait until you see an image appear on the monitor. Press the appropriate key repeatedly. Common keys are Delete and F1, but some systems use F2, F5 or F12. Bear in mind that some wireless keyboards may not work before Windows loads, so use a wired keyboard if possible.
If you don’t know which key to press, look for a message on screen during the POST (Power-on Self-Test) which tells you. If you miss the message, simply press Ctrl-Alt-Delete together to restart it, or hold the power button down until it turns off.
Once in the BIOS, you can use the cursor keys to navigate through the menus. There’s usually a guide somewhere on the screen showing which keys to press to make changes, save settings and exit the BIOS. Esc or F10 are commonly used keys for exiting.
Once you’ve made your changes, make sure you save the settings before exiting the BIOS. You should see a prompt, such as ‘Save changes before exiting: y/n?’ Hit the appropriate key and your PC should restart.
Jim has been testing and reviewing products for over 20 years. His main beats include VPN services and antivirus. He also covers smart home tech, mesh Wi-Fi and electric bikes.
