BIOS is short for "Basic Input/Output System," found on all IBM compatable PC computers. This is the first code run by a PC when powered on, and serves to identify and control hardware built into or connected to the motherboard. Intended for use by the experienced technician, regular users find they must at times access the BIOS themselves, for example to boot the computer from a removable flash drive.
The method of accessing the BIOS at bootup varies from one motherboard manufacturer to another. This article deals solely with accessing the BIOS. For in-depth information about the BIOS, see http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/BIOS. For more information on BIOS settings, see your motherboard manufacturer's website.
All BIOS are accessed by pressing the correct key, or combination of keys, as the computer begins to boot. On most modern computers, the bootup screen will tell you which key to use to access the BIOS, which is commonly called Setup, and may even be referred to as System Configuration. Click on the following image links to see a few examples of actual boot screens:
Example 1: Phoenix Award BIOS circa 2003
Example 2: AMI BIOS circa 2005
Example 3: Another Phoenix Award BIOS circa 2003
Example 4: Dell
Example 5: Early Award Plug and Play BIOS
As you can see in the photos, many BIOS versions are accessed by pressing the "Del" key. Just as common is accessing the BIOS by pressing the "F2" key. If the boot screen doesn't give any instructions, as with some older computers, try the "Del" key. If that doesn't work, reboot and try the "F2" key.
Notice the Early Award Plug and Play BIOS in Example 5 above uses a combination of two keys to access the BIOS. This method of using "combinations" to access the BIOS is usually found on older computers, which can thus be a bit tricky if they don't provide instructions.
Keys and combinations to try are:
Another method is to cause a "Stuck Key" error, which should freeze the computer and display the option to "Enter Setup" or "Continue Booting" by pressing the appropriate keys. To do this, press and hold any key on the keyboard until the computer stops booting and you're prompted with the options.
