How to Access BIOS on Different Laptop Brands?

To quickly install your desired system on your computer, the first thing to do is to understand the computer BIOS settings. However, many people often have trouble with this operation, mainly due to a lack of comprehensive knowledge about BIOS. So today, I’m going to share with you the method and function keys for entering BIOS on brand laptops. If you don’t know how, let’s find out together.

01

The Basics of Accessing the BIOS

The process of entering the BIOS may vary slightly depending on the brand of your laptop or desktop. Here, we will explore the common methods to access the BIOS for some popular brands:

① Acer Laptops

• To enter BIOS, press F2.
• To access the Boot menu, press F12.

② HP Laptops

• Access BIOS by pressing F2 or Enter.
• For the Boot menu, use ESC or F12.

③ Dell Laptops

• To enter BIOS, press F2 or Enter.
• Access the Boot menu with F12.

④ ASUS Laptops

• For BIOS, press F2.
• To reach the Boot menu, press ESC.

⑤ Apple Computers

• Apple computers have no traditional BIOS. To access the Boot menu, simply press Option.

⑥ Hasee Laptops

• To enter BIOS, press F2.
• For the Boot menu, press ESC.

⑦ Desktop Computers

• Typically, press DEL to enter BIOS.
• The key for the Boot menu may vary by brand (e.g., ESC, F11, F9), and it is usually displayed on the startup screen.

02

Navigating Your BIOS: A Step-by-Step Guide

Now, let’s delve into the practical steps of accessing and configuring your BIOS settings. We will use the Acer TMB116 laptop as an example to illustrate the process in detail:

1. Insert the Bootable USB Drive: As mentioned earlier, to access BIOS on this Acer laptop, press F2. For the Boot menu, press F12. To begin, you need to create a bootable USB drive to start your computer. Ensure you insert the bootable USB drive (often referred to as a PE bootable drive) into the USB port at the back of the laptop. Pay attention to distinguishing between USB 2.0 and USB 3.0 and insert it correctly.
2. Accessing the Disk Boot Menu:
   • Turn on the laptop and press F12 continuously during startup to access the disk boot menu.
3. Select the Boot Device: In the Boot Manager menu, you’ll see various options. Choose the ‘USB HDD: SanDisk’ (or the brand name corresponding to your USB drive) by using the arrow keys. Confirm your selection by pressing Enter.
4. Entering the PE Boot System: This step will successfully lead you to the PE boot system desktop, allowing you to proceed according to your requirements.

① Enabling F12 Boot Function

If you find that pressing F12 repeatedly doesn’t take you to the boot menu, it’s possible that the F12 boot function in your computer’s BIOS is not enabled. Here’s how to enable it:

• Restart your Acer laptop.
• During startup, press the F2 key repeatedly.

This will take you directly to the BIOS.

② Exploring BIOS Menus

Once inside the BIOS, you may notice that many laptops, unlike desktop motherboards, still use the traditional BIOS interface rather than graphical interfaces. Let’s explore some key BIOS menus:

• Information: This menu displays hardware and software information about your computer.
• Main: Under the Main menu, you can modify the system time. Ensure that the BIOS time is accurate to prevent issues with system time or other problems. The key focus here is the ‘F12 Boot Menu.’ If it shows as ‘Disabled,’ change it to ‘Enabled’ to activate the boot menu. Additionally, if there’s an option for ‘SATA MODE,’ switch it from ‘IDE’ to ‘AHCI’ before installing the system, as the IDE interface supports only XP.
• Advanced: In this menu, you can control hardware functions. For example, you can enable or disable Wi-Fi and Bluetooth functions.
• Security: This menu allows you to set a BIOS password. Setting a BIOS password is optional, and it is recommended primarily for users with sensitive data.
• Boot: The Boot menu is crucial for managing the boot process. ‘Boot Mode’ defines whether your system boots in UEFI or Legacy mode. Ensure that this setting aligns with your hard drive format (GPT for UEFI, MBR for Legacy). ‘Boot Priority Order’ allows you to modify the boot order, which can be particularly useful for older computers.
• Exit: The Exit menu provides options for saving or discarding changes made in the BIOS settings. ‘Exit Saving Changes’ saves and exits, ‘Exit Discarding Changes’ exits without saving, and ‘Load Setup Defaults’ restores the default factory settings. Alternatively, you can press F10 to save and exit.

03

Conclusion

Whether you own a laptop or a desktop, understanding BIOS settings and boot methods is crucial for effective system management. The steps outlined in this guide are generally applicable to various computer brands, making it easier for you to access and configure your computer’s BIOS settings.

In summary, accessing and configuring your computer’s BIOS is a fundamental aspect of system optimization and troubleshooting. By following the appropriate key combinations and understanding the different BIOS menus, you can ensure that your computer functions optimally.

Related:

1. UEFI vs. Legacy: Differences in USB Boot Disk Making
2. Micron Exits MLC Market, Flash Memory Prices Soaring

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