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Getting Into the BIOS Setup
Most generic computers I have worked with let you know how to get into setup during the boot process. Unfortunately this is not the case with all computers. I believe that some computer manufacturers may be trying to keep people from making incorrect changes to the setup. Several of the older computers I have worked on made it quite difficult to use the setup program. I decided to do some research to develop information that would help me when working on older computers. I have compiled a list of the keystrokes necessary to get into setup with some older computers. This does not cover every computer but it does create many possibilities to try on a unit if you are having difficulty getting into setup. Most of the generic computers only require you to hit Delete during the bootup to get into setup. This is the first thing to try if you don't know how a particular computer opens setup. After this you can try the F keys. F-1 and F-2 are also popular for opening setup during the boot process. Another confusing thing is that some computer do not open setup during the boot process. Instead, they allow to go into setup anything using a combination of keystrokes. Check out the list below: Computers with AMI BIOS Delete during bootup Computer with AWARD BIOS Ctrl+Alt+Esc Anytime Computer with DTK BIOS Escape during bootup IBM PS/2 BIOS Ctrl+Alt+Insert after Ctrl+Alt+Delete PHOENIX BIOS Ctrl+Alt+Escape or Cltrl+Alt+S ALR PCs F-2 for PCI systems Ctrl+Alt+Escape - non PCI Compaq PCs F-10 Gateway 2000 PC - F-1 Sony PC F-3 at Logo then F-1 These are only a few of the setup keystrokes. Some of these pertain to certain models and may not work on other models of the same brand. Obviously, it is always best to have the handbook that came with the computer or motherboard but that isn't always available. This list may help. If you run into any others, please email them to me and I will place them on the list for anyone who needs the information. Thanks to my friend Thomas Yeomans of http://www.elearnix.com for preparing a long list of setup keystrokes for many more computers. The list appears below and should help many of you to get into the BIOS setup in your computer. Bios Manufacturer Key Command(s) ALR Advanced Logic Research, Inc. ® PC / PCI F2 ALR PC non / PCI CTRL+ALT+ESC AMD® (Advanced Micro Devices, Inc.) BIOS F1 AMI (American Megatrends, Inc.) BIOS DEL Award™ BIOS CTRL+ALT+ESC Award BIOS DEL DTK® (Datatech Enterprises Co.) BIOS ESC Phoenix™ BIOS CTRL+ALT+ESC Phoenix BIOS CTRL+ALT+S Phoenix BIOS CTRL+ALT+INS Computer Key Command(s) Acer® F1, F2, CTRL+ALT+ESC AST® CTRL+ALT+ESC, CTRL+ALT+DEL Compaq® 8700 F10 CompUSA® DEL Cybermax® ESC Dell® 400 F3 Dell 400 F1 Dell Dimension® F2 or DEL Dell Inspiron® F2 Dell Latitude Fn+F1 (while booted) Dell Latitude F2 (on boot) Dell Optiplex DEL Dell Optiplex F2 Dell Precision™ F2 eMachine™ DEL Gateway® 2000 1440 F1 Gateway 2000 Solo™ F2 HP® (Hewlett-Packard) F1, F2 IBM® F1 IBM E-pro Laptop F2 IBM PS/2® CTRL+ALT+INS after CTRL+ALT+DEL IBM Thinkpad® (newer) Windows: Programs-Thinkpad CFG. Intel® Tangent DEL Micron™ F1, F2, or DEL Packard Bell® F1, F2, DEL Sony® VIAO F2 Sony VIAO F3 Tiger DEL Toshiba® 335 CDS ESC Toshiba Protege ESC Toshiba Satellite 205 CDS F1 Toshiba Tecra F1 or ESC This is a very extensive list. Notice that there may be more than one keystroke(s) for one particular computer. This is because the keystroke(s) may vary depending on the year it was manufacturered. You may have to try more than one to get into setup. |
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