BIOS setup
doesn't always come up when you press the "F2" key. Normally, when the startup screen loads up, it tells you what key to press to enter setup. You may also try one of four other keys used to enter virtually all BIOS setup screens. These keys are generally used by different BIOS manufacturers, and Intel usually has no control over this.
Why Can't I Reach BIOS?
The "F2" key on your keyboard, although used frequently to enter BIOS, doesn't always work. Some older systems and even some newer ones have specified another key which are hard-wired into the motherboard to access BIOS. Just because Intel manufactures your motherboard doesn't mean the BIOS key remains the same in all its motherboards.
What Does the BIOS Do?
The computer's basic input/output system (BIOS) controls things like the speed of your CPU fan, the amount of voltage your CPU feeds on and the first device where the motherboard looks for an operating system. To configure these settings, you must normally enter the CMOS/BIOS setup in the computer. Your computer usually tells you do this after it passes the power on self-test (POST).
How Do I Know Which Key to Press?
Whenever your computer turns on, it runs a POST, which checks if all the computer's essential components work. After it passes this test, it might beep once and it always shows you a screen that says "hello" in its own fashion. At the bottom of this screen, you usually see "Press X to enter setup," where "X" is the key on your keyboard that accesses the BIOS setup.
If You Don't See a Setup Key
In any case where you don't find a message telling you to press a key to enter setup, you have four other options on your keyboard besides "F2" which virtually all computers interpret as the setup key. You can try either "F1," "Delete," "Esc" or "F10." Through a process of trial and error, you eventually enter the BIOS setup.
Tags: BIOS setup, enter setup, your keyboard, doesn always, enter BIOS, four other, press enter