How to Go to BIOS With a Laptop

The BIOS controls controls the hardware functions of the computer.

The BIOS, short for "Basic Input/Output System," is the interface between your laptop's hardware and higher level software such as the operating system. The BIOS controls access to system hardware including your keyboard, mouse, hard drive and RAM. You can access the BIOS Setup program to change the date and time of your system, turn certain chipset features on and off, change the boot sequence if you want to boot from a disk drive and make numerous other hardware changes.

Instructions

1. Turn your laptop on.

2. Watch the screen as your laptop boots up. Somewhere on the screen, usually at the top right hand corner, will appear the key that takes you into the BIOS, saying something like "Press F2 for Setup." Some common keys used by manufacturers are F1, F2, F10, Del, Ins and Esc.

3. Press the required key before the operating system splash screen appears. If you press the key and nothing happens, you may have to turn off the machine and try again, since the operating system loaded before you hit the key.

References

• PCGuide: BIOS information
• Inventio: Common BIOS entry commands