BIOS (Basic Input Output System) stands for Basic Input Output System, it is software stored in a small memory chip on the motherboard. The BIOS is responsible for POST and is therefore the first software to run when a computer starts up.
The BIOS firmware is non-volatile, meaning its settings are saved and recoverable even after power is turned off from the device. If you are wondering what BIOS is, you can find out by clicking here for a more detailed article. Well, if you are wondering how to open the BIOS on your computer, you can log in on your own computers by following the steps below.
How to Enter BIOS?
Follow these simple steps to access the BIOS setup utility on your computer, no matter what operating system you’re using, excluding Windows 7, Windows 10, or Linux in short Mac.
1-Restart your computer or turn it on if it’s already off.
Here are some common ways to view this BIOS access message:
- Press Windows Key to enter configuration
- Press the key combination Ctrl + Alt + Esc to access the BIOS configuration
- Press F2 and Del keys simultaneously to enter BIOS
- Press F1 to access system configuration
Note: The point you need to pay attention to here is to find the bios key suitable for your own computer, the easiest way to do this is to search google by typing your computer brand and model and typing the bios key at the end.
3-Quickly press the keys indicated in the previous message.
4-Make sure that the BIOS setup utility is properly installed.
Tips for BIOS Access
Getting into the BIOS can be tricky so here’s some more help based on some common scenarios I’ve seen:
Do you see a picture instead of a message?
Your computer can be configured to display your computer logo instead of critical BIOS messages. Press Esc or Tab while the logo is displayed to delete it.
Did you see the message, but don’t know which key to press?
Some computers start up too fast to see the BIOS access message. In this case, press the Pause / Stop key on your keyboard to freeze the screen during startup. Press any key to “suspend” your computer and continue booting.
Having trouble logging into the splash screen?
If you have trouble hitting this pause button in time, turn on your computer with your keyboard disconnected. You should get a keyboard error that will interrupt the boot process before you can see the keys needed to enter the BIOS!
Can’t enter BIOS on old computer?
Some PCs with PS/2 and USB connections are configured to allow USB input only after POST. This means that it may be impossible to access the BIOS if you are using a USB keyboard. In this case, you need to connect an old PS/2 keyboard to your PC to access the BIOS.
Information About BIOS
Check which version is running on your computer before updating the BIOS.
When setting up updates, make sure you’re downloading the correct file for your motherboard and not shutting down the computer halfway or canceling the update abruptly. Interruptions can damage the motherboard and render the computer unusable, making it difficult to recover functionality.
The BIOS can verify that the full update is applied by verifying that the checksum matches the requested value. If not and the motherboard supports DualBIOS, this BIOS backup can be restored to replace the corrupted version.
The BIOS of some older IBM computers was not interactive like modern BIOSes, but was used only to display error messages or beep codes. Instead, all custom options are made by replacing physical switches and jumpers.
It was not until the 1990s that the BIOS configuration utility (also known as the BIOS configuration utility or BCU) became common practice.
However, these days, the BIOS is slowly replaced by UEFI (Unified Extensible Firmware Interface) on new computers that offer benefits such as a better user interface and an integrated pre-OS platform for accessing the Web.
