The BIOS (Basic Input / Output System) is the first program that starts when you turn on a PC and, among other things, contains instructions for recognizing computer hardware devices and instructions for starting or booting your computer ( such as hard drives, floppies and optical disc drives). The Bios can also contain some advanced settings to allow the user to optimize the performance of the computer, such as the CPU clock speed, even if it is absolutely not advisable to touch this type of parameters if you are not truly expert.
The BIOS has evolved to the point of being able to integrate some operating system boot files and offer additional security when we install new hardware: the evolution is called UEFI BIOS, which we will discuss later in order to catch all the differences.
In this guide we will show you how to enter the BIOS of all the main brands of motherboards and laptop manufacturers, so that you can immediately tweak with this special menu.
READ ALSO -> What is the BIOS for and what does it do on a computer "> How to access UEFI and how it changes from the BIOS
2) Commands most used to access the BIOS or UEFI
Accessing the BIOS of a machine is not always a trivial operation for the simple fact that each brand of PC uses a different combination of keys to start this mode.
In general, to access the BIOS configuration screen, the user must press one or a combination of keys quickly and consecutively after pressing the computer's power key, until the BIOS or UEFI screen appears.
No need to keep the keys pressed, we just have to press them continuously to get the desired effect.
The key most used to access the BIOS or UEFI is the Del key ; so let's try to press this button immediately during power up, before the Windows logo appears.
On other PCs or notebooks, the key used to access the BIOS or UEFI is F2, present on the upper part of the keyboard: therefore we try to press it repeatedly immediately after booting to access the requested screen.
If our computer has Windows 10 as the operating system, we can start the PC and immediately enter the BIOS without going through the pressure of a key on startup (which is sometimes too fast).
Instead, you can use the Advanced Start menu in Windows 10 .
In summary, press together the WIN + L keys, click on the shutdown button at the bottom right and then click on the item Restart the system, holding down the SHIFT key on the keyboard.
In this way we will access the advanced menu of Windows 10, which allows you to open the UEFi BIOS.
3) Other commands to access the BIOS or UEFI
Since there are many manufacturers of notebooks, motherboards and stationary computers, we have decided to give you a hand by collecting in a list all the methods and keys to be pressed to access the BIOS or UEFI .
- AMI, Award BIOS : press [Del or Del] during boot
- ACER : Press F2 or Del or on Aspire, press the Fn + F2 keys together
- ASUS
- AST Advantage, AwardBIOS : Press [Ctrl] + [Alt] + [Esc] during startup
- Compaq : press [F10] When the cursor flashes at the top right of the screen or when the Compaq logo appears
- Dell : Press F2 or F12
- Dell Dimension : Press the [Del or Del] key
- HP : Press F2 or F10
- Lenovo ThinkPad : press and hold [F1] or press Enter first and then F1
- Lenovo : F1 key
- Lenovo laptops : F2 or Fn + F2
- Phoenix : Press [Ctrl] + [Alt] + [S] during startup
- Phoenix : Press [Ctrl] + [S] during startup
- Sony VAIO : Press [F2] during startup
- Samsung : F2 key
- Toshiba : Press the [Esc] key during startup or the F2 key
- Toshiba, Phoenix : press [F1] during startup
- Zenith, Phoenix : Press [Ctrl] + [Alt] + [Ins] during startup
Other possible key combinations to access the BIOS or UEFI can be:
[Ctrl] + [Esc]
[Ctrl] + [Alt]
[Ctrl] + [Alt] + [+]
[Ctrl] + [Alt] + [S]
[Ctrl] + [Alt] + [Enter]
[Ctrl] + [Alt] + [Ins]
[Ctrl] + [Alt] + [Esc]
4) Commands to access BIOS or UEFI depending on the motherboard
If we have created a custom PC with a new generation motherboard, the commands to try are the following:
- ASRock (motherboards) : press [F2]
- ASUS (motherboards) : press F2 or Cancel
- EVGA (motherboards) : press [Del]
- GIGABYTE (motherboards) : press the [Del] key
- Intel (motherboards) : press [F2]
- MSI (motherboards) : press [Del]
- SAPPHIRE (motherboards) : press [Del]
- Zotac : press [Del]
5) Conclusions
Most of the time we will have to access the BIOS or UEFI to change the boot of the computer, so that we can boot it from CD or USB stick, as described in the following guide -> How to change the boot order of the computer .
You can also protect your computer with a BIOS or UEFI password, to add additional protection.
READ ALSO: boot the computer from USB .
