How to Change Settings to Boot From a Hard Drive

In order to set your computer up to boot from a hard drive, you must edit your basic input/output system (BIOS) settings. BIOS settings are recorded on a solid state chip on your motherboard where they will stay even when the computer is deactivated. Even if your hard drive loses all its data, those settings will remain. BIOS can be accessed only when you boot your computer.

Instructions

1. Check your computer system's documentation for which key to press to get into your BIOS. If you have lost your user manual, find your computer's model number and download it from the manual from the manufacturer's website. Typically, this will be a function key such as F8 or F10. Most computer manufacturers refer to BIOS as "Setup" on the splash screen that appears when the computer boots.

2. Start or restart your computer. Press the correct function key when the computer screen prompts you to start the setup program.

3. Navigate your computer's BIOS menus. Every computer's BIOS is different. However, they all have similarities. Click the "Boot" menu item or tab in the selection screen, or use the keyboard arrow keys to navigate to the selection.

4. Find the menu item that allows you to change the boot drive priority. Use the arrow keys or mouse to navigate to the top selection. This drive will be the top priority for booting. Press "Enter" and select the floppy drive from the list.

5. Move the cursor down to the second boot priority drive item in the menu. Press "Enter" and select your CD or DVD drive from the list.

6. Move the cursor to the third boot priority item. Select your system hard drive from the list. Place any auxiliary drives in the fourth and fifth spaces, if any. Save your changes and exit the BIOS setup.

7. Ensure that there are no disks in the floppy or optical drives of your computer. Press "CTRL," "ALT" and "DEL" simultaneously to reboot your computer. Your computer will now boot from the system hard drive as long as there are no disks in your removable media drives. However, you will still have the option of booting from a floppy or optical drive without changing BIOS settings if you should have problems starting your computer's operating system.

Tips & Warnings

• You must take care when changing your BIOS settings, as incorrect settings may prevent your computer from loading the operating system.