How to Enter the BIOS or CMOS Setup

What is BIOS

BIOS simply stands for Basic Input/Output System. It actually consists of low-level software that controls the hardware devices of a computer and acts an interface between the operating system and the hardware. BIOS or CMOS setup is used to change the motherboard configuration or settings.

Due to the different brands of computer and BIOS manufacturers, there are numerous ways of entering the BIOS setup, each brand of system has its own key to access the BIOS. In order words the exact way to enter BIOS setup varies from one motherboard manufacturer to another. Below is the list of different BIOS brands and their BIOS setup keys you will have to press during start-up process.

BIOS Access Keys for Popular Computers

Hewlett-Packard (HP)

1.    Press F1, F10, or F11 in your keyboard after restarting your computer.
2.    Some HP Tablets uses F10 or F12.
3.  You may also access the BIOS in some Computers by pressing F2 or Esc keys.
4.   Some may still require you to press Esc key and then F10.

Acer

1. Acer laptops uses Del or F2.
2. Some uses Ctrl+Alt+Esc key and the F1 key for advanced options.
3. Some old Acer computers uses the F1 or Ctrl+Alt+Esc keys to enter the BIOS.

Compaq

1.  Press F10 or Del key to enter the BIOS.
2. Some Compaq computers you have to press Esc and the press F10 immediately after restarting your computer.

Asus

1. Asus laptops uses F10, Del or Esc key.
2. Some Asus computers require to press and hold F2 until you see the BIOS screen.

Dell

1. Dell laptops uses Ctrl+Alt+Enter or Del to enter BIOS.
2. Older Del uses Fn+Esc or Fn+F1 key to access the BIOS.
3. Some Del laptops you will have to press F2 when the Dell logo appears, then keep on pressing until “Entering Setup” message appears.

Toshiba

1. Press F1 or Esc immediately after restarting your computer to access the BIOS.
2. Some Toshiba systems uses F12 key.

Fujitsu

1. You will have to press F2 once the Fujitsu logo appears.

Lenovo

1. Press F1 or F2 after starting the Computer.
2. Some Lenovo uses F12 to access the BIOS.
3. Some older Lenovo uses Fn+F1 or Ctrl+Alt+F3 to enter the BIOS. 

Sony

1. Press F1, F2 or F3 immediately after restarting the computer.

Samsung

1. Press F2 during start-up to access the BIOS setup

NEC

1. Press F2 to access the BIOs after powering the computer.

Sharp

1. Press F2 to access the BIOS setup.

Gateway

1. Repeatedly press F1 or F2 key after you restart the computer.

IBM

1. Press F1 or F2 to access the BIOS.

Packard Bell

1. Packard Bell uses F1, F2 or Del to access the BIOS.