The world has witnessed tremendous growth in the field of technology in recent years, and the computer system is a significant part of this development. A computer system is made up of various hardware and software components, and the BIOS (Basic Input/Output System) is one of the essential components that initialize hardware and boot the operating system. The BIOS provides an interface for configuration and maintenance, making it necessary to access it from time to time. In this guide, we will explore the various methods to access the BIOS on a computer, including using the BIOS key, UEFI firmware settings, Windows Settings, and manufacturer utilities. Understanding these methods will enable you to configure and manage the system firmware of your computer effectively.
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How to Get into BIOS?
The BIOS (Basic Input/Output System) is an essential component of every computer system. It is responsible for initializing hardware, booting the operating system, and providing an interface for configuration and maintenance.
Accessing the BIOS is necessary for performing various tasks like setting up the boot order, configuring hardware components, and updating the firmware. But how to get into BIOS of a computer? Let us now discuss the various ways to access the BIOS on a computer.
Method 1: BIOS Key
The most common way to access the BIOS is by pressing a key during the boot process. The key to enter the BIOS varies depending on the manufacturer and model of the motherboard. Some of the commonly used keys are F2, Del, Esc, F10, and F12.
To access the BIOS using the BIOS key, follow the steps below:
- Step 1: Turn on your computer and wait for the manufacturer logo to appear on the screen.
- Step 2: Look for the message that indicates the key to press to enter the BIOS. The message is usually displayed for a brief moment and may say something like “Press [key] to enter setup.”
- Step 3: Press the key indicated in the message repeatedly until the BIOS setup utility appears.
- Step 4: Use the arrow keys to navigate the BIOS and make changes as necessary.
Method 2: UEFI Firmware Settings
The Unified Extensible Firmware Interface (UEFI) is a modern replacement for the traditional BIOS. UEFI provides a more advanced interface for configuring and managing the system firmware. To access the UEFI firmware settings, follow the steps below:
- Step 1: Open the Windows Settings app by pressing Windows key + I.
- Step 2: Click on Update & Security, then select Recovery from the left sidebar.
- Step 3: Under Advanced startup, click on the Restart now button.
- Step 4: Your computer will now restart and display a blue screen with options. Select Troubleshoot > Advanced options > UEFI Firmware Settings.
- Step 5: Click on Restart to enter the UEFI firmware settings.
- Step 6: Use the arrow keys to navigate the UEFI and make changes as necessary.
Method 3: Windows Settings
Some manufacturers provide an option to access the BIOS from within Windows using the Settings app. This method is usually available on newer systems that use UEFI firmware. To access the BIOS using Windows Settings, follow the steps below:
- Step 1: Open the Windows Settings app by pressing Windows key + I.
- Step 2: Click on Update & Security, then select Recovery from the left sidebar.
- Step 3: Under Advanced startup, click on the Restart now button.
- Step 4: Your computer will now restart and display a blue screen with options. Select Troubleshoot > Advanced options > UEFI Firmware Settings.
- Step 5: Click on Restart to enter the UEFI firmware settings.
- Step 6: Use the arrow keys to navigate the UEFI and make changes as necessary.
Method 4: Manufacturer Utilities
Some computer manufacturers provide a utility that allows you to access the BIOS and make changes from within Windows. These utilities are usually pre-installed on the system and can be accessed from the Start menu or the Control Panel. To access the BIOS using the manufacturer utility, follow the steps below:
- Step 1: Look for the manufacturer utility in the Start menu or the Control Panel.
- Step 2: Launch the utility and look for an option to access the BIOS or the firmware settings.
- Step 3: Click on the option to enter the BIOS or the firmware settings.
- Step 4: Use the arrow keys to navigate the BIOS and make changes as necessary.
BIOS Keys for Different Manufacturers
Different computer manufacturers may use different keys to access the BIOS during the boot process. Here are some of the commonly used BIOS keys for various manufacturers:
- Acer – F2 or Del
- ASUS – F2 or Del
- Dell – F2 or F12
- HP – F10 or Esc
- Lenovo – F1 or F2
- MSI – Del
- Gigabyte – F2 or Del
- Toshiba – F2
It is essential to note that these keys may vary depending on the model of the motherboard or the laptop. If you are unsure of the BIOS key for your computer, refer to the manufacturer’s manual or website for specific instructions.
How to Get into BIOS in Linux?
To access the BIOS in Linux, you need to restart your computer and press the appropriate key during the boot process. The specific key depends on the manufacturer and model of your motherboard, and it is usually displayed on the screen during the boot process.
If you are using a laptop, some manufacturers may have disabled the BIOS key during the boot process to speed up the boot time. In such cases, you need to modify the boot configuration file to enable the BIOS key during the boot process.
To enable the BIOS key during the boot process, follow the steps below:
Step 1: Open the terminal on your Linux computer.
Step 2: Type the following command to open the Grub boot loader configuration file:
sudo nano /etc/default/grub
Step 3: Find the line that starts with GRUB_CMDLINE_LINUX_DEFAULT and add the following parameter at the end of the line:
reboot=efi
The line should now look something like this:
GRUB_CMDLINE_LINUX_DEFAULT=”quiet splash reboot=efi”
Step 4: Save the changes to the file by pressing Ctrl+X, followed by Y and Enter.
Step 5: Update the Grub configuration file by typing the following command:
sudo update-grub
Step 6: Restart your computer and press the appropriate BIOS key during the boot process to access the BIOS.
Note that the steps above may vary depending on the Linux distribution you are using. It is always advisable to refer to the documentation or support forums for your specific distribution to get detailed instructions on how to enable the BIOS key during the boot process.
Enter BIOS in Linux using commands
In Linux, you can also access the BIOS using command-line utilities such as dmidecode or lshw. These utilities provide detailed information about the hardware components on your system, including the BIOS.
To access the BIOS using dmidecode, follow the steps below:
Step 1: Open the terminal on your Linux computer.
Step 2: Type the following command to install dmidecode if it is not already installed:
sudo apt-get install dmidecode
Step 3: Type the following command to display the BIOS information:
sudo dmidecode -s bios-version
This command will display the version of your BIOS.
To access the BIOS using lshw, follow the steps below:
Step 1: Open the terminal on your Linux computer.
Step 2: Type the following command to install lshw if it is not already installed:
sudo apt-get install lshw
Step 3: Type the following command to display the BIOS information:
sudo lshw -class firmware
This command will display information about the firmware components on your system, including the BIOS.
Note that these command-line utilities provide read-only access to the BIOS and do not allow you to modify any settings. If you need to modify the BIOS settings, you will have to access the BIOS using the appropriate key during the boot process.
Another way to boot a Linux computer into firmware setup utility is by using the “sudo systemctl reboot –firmware” command. This command is only available on systems that use the Unified Extensible Firmware Interface (UEFI) firmware, and it requires root privileges.
When you run this command, the system will reboot, and the firmware setup utility will be loaded instead of the operating system. This allows you to modify the firmware settings of your system, including the BIOS, without having to press any keys during the boot process.
Note that not all UEFI systems support the “sudo systemctl reboot –firmware” command, and the availability of this command may vary depending on your system’s manufacturer and model. If this command does not work on your system, you may have to access the firmware setup utility using the appropriate key during the boot process.
It is also important to note that modifying the firmware settings can be risky, and incorrect settings can cause your system to malfunction or become unstable. Therefore, it is advisable to only modify the settings if you know what you are doing and have a backup plan in case something goes wrong.
What to Do If You Can’t Access the BIOS?
If you are unable to access the BIOS on your computer, there could be several reasons for this. Here are some of the things you can do to troubleshoot the issue:
Check the BIOS key
Make sure that you are pressing the correct key to access the BIOS during the boot process. Refer to the manufacturer’s manual or website for specific instructions on how to access the BIOS on your computer.
Disable Fast Boot
Some computers have a Fast Boot feature that disables the BIOS key during the boot process to speed up the boot time. If this feature is enabled, you may not be able to access the BIOS using the regular key. You can disable Fast Boot from the operating system settings or the BIOS settings if you can access them.
Clear CMOS
The CMOS is a small chip on the motherboard that stores the BIOS settings. If the CMOS becomes corrupted, you may not be able to access the BIOS. To clear the CMOS, you need to locate the CMOS jumper on the motherboard and move it to the clear position. Refer to the motherboard manual for specific instructions on how to clear the CMOS.
Remove Hardware
Sometimes, a hardware component can interfere with the BIOS key during the boot process. Try removing any unnecessary hardware components such as USB devices, external hard drives, or PCI cards and try accessing the BIOS again.
Update the BIOS
If none of the above solutions work, you may need to update the BIOS firmware to fix any bugs or issues that are preventing you from accessing the BIOS. Refer to the manufacturer’s manual or website for specific instructions on how to update the BIOS firmware.
If you are still unable to access the BIOS after trying the above solutions, you may need to contact the manufacturer’s technical support for further assistance.
Conclusion
Accessing the BIOS is necessary for configuring and managing the system firmware. The methods discussed in this guide are the most common ways to access the BIOS on a computer.
