Some common options include the F2, F8, F12, and Del keys. However, it could be any of the dozens of other keys on your keyboard. Typically, you will see a brief note at the bottom or top of the screen indicating what the key is. One such screen is visible to the right, note the legend in the top-right corner indicating F2 will start the BIOS setup and F12 will present the boot selection menu.
This key changes from PC to PC, it all depends on your PC’s make and model. Dell, Lenovo, HP, Toshiba, Samsung, ASUS, Acer, Gateway, etc.) shows up on your BIOS splash screen, you will have the option of pressing a special key. Immediately after powering up your PC, as soon as the manufacturer logo (e.g. Notice the key guide in the top-right corner. On most EFI computers, you’ll need to access EFI setup immediately after turning on your PC in order to see the option of enabling UEFI boot, usually as an option under the boot options section of the BIOS configuration. If legacy boot mode (also known as “CSM boot”) is enabled, UEFI boot mode is automatically disabled or de-prioritized.īelow are instructions for turning off Legacy Boot on most PCs and laptops, as well as specific instructions for certain brands of laptops. On PCs and laptops from most manufacturers, including Dell, HP, Asus, Acer, Toshiba, Lenovo, and more, Legacy Boot can be disabled or turned off from the EFI setup/configuration feature, available immediately after turning on your PC. Legacy boot mode does not normally support partitions greater than 2TB in size, and can cause data loss or other problems if you try to use it normally.
The regular way of booting into software and operating systems is called “Legacy Boot” and must sometimes be explicitly enabled/allowed in the BIOS settings. (That’s where Windows resides, after all.) If the hard drive isn’t first on the list, you’ll endure delays while the system checks for the presence of other boot drives.With newer Windows 8 PCs that are designed with UEFI support, the BIOS or firmware often has an option that specifies if the computer can boot into regular operating systems and recovery tools, or if it can boot exclusively into newer UEFI operating systems and environments. At times you may want to boot from a CD or a flash drive, but most often you’ll want the hard drive to go first. Your BIOS manages the pecking order for the system’s various bootable items: the hard drive, optical drive, USB drives, and so on. If there’s no startup screen at all–or if it flashes by too quickly for you to read it–try rapidly pressing a few of the aforementioned keys in hopes of “catching” the right one. You may have only a few seconds to press the appropriate key before the startup screen disappears–and sometimes you don’t even get that. On most systems, a startup screen appears as soon as you power up look for text indicating which key to press to access Setup. Sometimes, getting into the BIOS (usually referred to as ‘Setup’) can be a challenge. The BIOS screen lets you quickly configure how your PC starts.
The process of “flashing” (that is, updating) a BIOS usually goes off without a hitch, but if you do it improperly (or if you try to install the wrong update), you could ruin your PC.
Whatever you do, be sure to follow the installation instructions to the letter. Alternatively, if you know the make and the model number of your motherboard, you can check the manufacturer’s Website for updates. If new BIOS firmware appears on the downloads list for your system, the vendor probably has tested and approved it.
To find out whether an update exists for your system, start with the vendor’s support page–especially if you bought the PC from a company like Dell or HP. Motherboard manufacturers often issue updates to solve problems, update features, and improve system performance. If your machine is more than a year old, chances are good that you can find an updated BIOS for it. Some of the options listed here might not be available on your system, and your system might have options in addition to these. BIOS menus and settings differ greatly from one PC to another.
Finally, your after-tuneup mileage is impossible to predict.