How to Change Computer BIOS Settings

BIOS (Basic Input-Output System) is the way that a computer's hardware communicates with its operating system. You can easily access and change the BIOS settings of your computer during startup to provide you with a more customized computer experience.

Difficulty: Moderate

Instructions

1. Turn on or restart your computer and watch carefully as it starts up. You will briefly see a message during startup that will instruct you how to access the BIOS settings. The screen will tell you what button on your keyboard you will press to enter BIOS. It is usually the F1, F2 or Del key.

2. Press the key on the keyboard as specified by the startup screen. You will only be able to press this key to enter BIOS during the time that the screen is displayed. The BIOS settings will now be displayed on the screen.

3. Click the tabs at the top of the screen to enter each section of the BIOS settings. The Main screen is a place where you can define the settings for your hard drives and other storage systems. The Advanced screen allows you to change settings such as how the computer should boot and if you want to overclock the CPU. The Security screen allows you to set a BIOS password. The Hardware Monitor screen lets you view the voltage, temperatures and fan speed of your hardware.

4. Click on an option that you would like to change in BIOS so it is highlighted. Type in a new value or use the arrow keys to scroll through the choices.

5. Press the F10 button to save and exit BIOS after you have made your changes. Reboot your computer after every change that you make to the BIOS settings.