- Awards Season
- Big Stories
- Pop Culture
- Video Games
- Celebrities

Boost Your Personal Brand with a Free Sample Bio Template
In today’s digital age, personal branding has become more important than ever. Whether you’re a freelancer, entrepreneur, or job seeker, having a strong personal brand can set you apart from the competition and open doors to new opportunities. One crucial aspect of personal branding is your bio – a concise yet captivating summary of who you are and what you offer. Crafting the perfect bio can be challenging, but luckily, there are free sample bio templates available that can help you get started on the right foot.
Why is Your Bio Important?
Your bio serves as your introduction to the world and plays a vital role in shaping how others perceive you. It serves as a snapshot of your accomplishments, skills, and unique qualities. A well-crafted bio can communicate your expertise and credibility while capturing the attention of your target audience.
Whether it’s for your website, social media profiles, or professional networking platforms like LinkedIn, an engaging bio can leave a lasting impression and encourage others to connect with you or explore your work further. It gives potential clients or employers insight into what sets you apart from others in your field.
The Power of Templates
Creating an effective bio from scratch can be daunting – especially if writing isn’t your strong suit. That’s where sample bio templates come in handy. These templates provide a structure and framework to help you organize your thoughts and present yourself in the best possible way.
By using a sample template as a starting point, you don’t have to worry about getting overwhelmed by blank page syndrome. Instead, you can focus on customizing the template to reflect your unique personality and professional achievements.
Finding the Right Sample Bio Template
With countless resources available online, finding the right sample bio template for free is easier than ever before. A simple Google search will yield numerous options tailored to different industries and purposes.
When selecting a template, consider factors such as tone, length, and the information you want to highlight. Some templates may be more suitable for creative professionals, while others may cater to corporate executives or entrepreneurs.
Once you find a template that resonates with your personal brand and goals, adapt it to reflect your own voice and experiences. Injecting your personality into the bio will make it more authentic and relatable to your audience.
Customize and Polish
While sample bio templates provide an excellent starting point, it’s crucial to customize and polish them to truly make them your own. Take the time to review every section of the template and ensure that it accurately represents your unique qualities and achievements.
Consider incorporating keywords relevant to your industry or niche. This will not only help optimize your bio for search engines but also signal to potential clients or employers that you understand their specific needs.
Remember, a great bio is concise yet comprehensive. Trim any unnecessary information while retaining key details that showcase your expertise. Avoid jargon or buzzwords that may confuse or alienate readers. Instead, use clear language that anyone can understand.
Crafting a compelling bio is an essential step in building a strong personal brand. By utilizing free sample bio templates as a starting point, you can save time and ensure that you present yourself in the best possible light.
Remember that while templates are helpful, customization is key. Tailor each section of the template to reflect who you are as an individual or professional. By doing so, you’ll create a captivating bio that captures attention, establishes credibility, and boosts your personal brand in no time.
This text was generated using a large language model, and select text has been reviewed and moderated for purposes such as readability.
MORE FROM ASK.COM

- Best Gaming PC Builds
- Best Streaming PC Builds
- Best Prebuilt Gaming PCs
- Best Refurbished PCs
- The Best Gaming CPUs
- The Best Gaming GPUs
- Optimal CPU GPU Combos
- Choosing a Motherboard
- Choosing the Right SSD
- Choosing the Best PSU
- Choosing a Good Case
- Sound Cards (Optional)
- Optical Drives (Optional)
- Water Cooling Overview
- Best Surge Protector
- Best PC VR Headsets
- Best Gaming Monitors
- Best Gaming Speakers
- Best Gaming Headphones
- Best WiFi Adapters
- Best Gaming Routers
- Best Modem Routers
- Apex Legends
- Escape from Tarkov
- Call of Duty: Warzone
- Halo Infinite
- Metro Exodus
- Battlefield 2042
- League of Legends
- World of Warcraft
- Heroes of the Storm
- Starcraft II
- World of Tanks
- Hogwarts Legacy
- Cyberpunk 2077
- Grand Theft Auto V
- Red Dead Redemption II
- The Witcher III
- Dying Light II
- Fallen Order
- Monster Hunter Rise
- Forza Horizon V
- Rocket League
- Half Life Alyx
- Assembling Your First PC
- Is Building a PC Hard?
- Troubleshooting Guide
- Recommended PC Tools
- Recommended Software
- Best VPN for Gaming
- Build a PC vs Prebuilts
- Saving More on Your PC
- Best Gaming Resolution
- Optimal Graphics Settings
- Frame Rates Explained
- How to See Your FPS
- Safe GPU Temperatures
- CPU Bottlenecks Guide
- How to Buy Used GPUs
- Overclocking Basics
- All Guides / Archives
- Wall of Appreciation
- Privacy / Disclaimers
Home > PC Assembly > What to Do After Building
What to Do After Building a Computer
9-step checklist to setting up a new pc (enter bios, install os, update drivers & more).

Last Updated: February 25, 2023
What do you do after building your computer and successfully booting up your PC for the first time ? The finish line is in sight, but there's still a few key steps left to finish off your new custom gaming or work computer.
It's time to enter the motherboard BIOS software, set RAM speed, set the boot sequence for your operating system installation, install the OS, download any necessary drivers, and a few other things if you really want to be thorough. Confused? Don't worry, we'll go through each step one at a time, all explained in simple language minus the jargon.
See Also: How to Assemble a Computer
1. Enter the Motherboard BIOS
The very first thing to do after building a PC is to enter the BIOS or UEFI. The BIOS (short for Basic Input Output System) is software that comes pre-installed on every motherboard, and is like the main hub of your system where you can control various settings such as how your PC boots up, how your fans run, how your memory runs, among other things. A UEFI is the same thing but with a more modern graphical interface, but is still often referred to as the BIOS as well. So from here, to keep things simple, we'll just refer to either the BIOS or the UEFI as simply the BIOS.

To enter the BIOS, just after pressing the on button of your PC, you'll need to press a certain button on your keyboard to access the BIOS. Which button you need to press will depend on your motherboard, but it will usually be either ESCAPE, DELETE, F1, F2, F8 or F10. Which button you need to press may be written on-screen just after the PC starts up, otherwise check your trusty motherboard manual (or, you could just mash all of the aforementioned keys).
You'll have to time the keypress for just a little after you press the on button, yet not too long after pressing it. Your timing may be off so if you're too late and don't press the required key in time, you will have to turn off your PC and try again.
Once your BIOS comes up, you'll either notice either a very old-school, basic looking menu screen that can only be accessed with your keyboard controls, or a more modern BIOS with mouse access that comes with some (typically higher-end) modern motherboards.
When you first see a BIOS in action for the first time, it may seem a little daunting with all the settings and different sub sections, but don't worry because you won't need to tinker with it much (if at all) as the default settings are often exactly what you need. We will likely have to change the boot order to be able to install the OS, and may have to manually set memory speeds too, but apart from that most people won't have to do anything else in the BIOS.
2. Set Memory Speed
Next step to do in the BIOS after building your PC is to set the correct RAM speed. For this step we have a dedicated guide:
- How to Change RAM Speed in BIOS
3. Check Storage Drives and Fans
While not necessary as you shouldn't be having any issues if you put your PC parts together correctly, if you want to be a little thorough on checking your system, while you're in the BIOS you might as well check that your storage drives are all showing up properly (and therefore connected properly) by clicking on 'storage' from the main screen:

Then look that all your SATA drives (SSD or HDD) and M.2 drives (SSD only) are showing:

If you have any case fans connected to the motherboard - as most case fans will be - you can check that they are working in the BIOS. You can also change their speed if you want to as well, or set a fan curve that dictates how fast your fans will spin depending on system temperatures.
If you have fans plugged directly into the power supply, those won’t be able to be monitored or altered. To check your fans, simply click 'Fan Info' or something along those lines from within your BIOS menu. If you can’t find it for your particular BIOS, check help articles on your motherboard manufacturer’s website or the motherboard's manual itself.
4. Set BOOT Drive for Your Operating System
Before any settings you changed in the BIOS are applied permanently, you need to make sure you click 'Save Changes and Exit' which should show as an option when you press the 'Escape' key. But before that you need to set the boot order if you want to move straight onto installing your OS (Operating System, eg Windows 10 or 11).
If you’re ready for OS installation, let’s set the boot order. The boot order (or boot sequence) controls which device your PC attempts to boot from when it starts up or when it restarts. It should be found in the top of the main BIOS screen as pictured below. You want to set it to the device from where you'll be installing your operating system, whether that’s a USB dongle or DVD Disk:

Sometimes it can be confusing to know which icon is the correct one for your USB drive, so you may have to work it out through trial and error by testing different icons and restarting your system to see if it works. Just make sure to select 'save and exit' every time you make a change otherwise your change won't be registered.
After installing your OS (covered in a moment), if every time you boot-up your system it keeps asking you if you want to boot from disk, you'll need to re-enter the BIOS and change the Boot Order/Sequence like you did before so that your primary SSD/HDD (where Windows was installed) is at the top of the sequence.
A Side Note on BIOS Updates
Motherboard manufacturer's sometimes release newer versions of their BIOS. However, unlike other software updates on your computer which are a typically mandatory and standard procedure (such as updating Windows which is always a good idea unless you have a good reason not to) it's generally NOT recommended to update your motherboard's BIOS unless:
- You know that updating the BIOS will fix a certain issue/bug you're having with your system
- If overclocking your PC
- If installing new hardware that would only be supported by a BIOS update (eg new CPU)
Apart from that, I would forget about updating the BIOS. Updating a BIOS can be a risk. Worst case is you kill your motherboard if you don't do it properly. By all means go ahead and update the BIOS if you need to, as you'll be fine if you pay close attention and take things real slow, but just thought I'd give you a little warning and heads-up because people do screw up their systems via BIOS updates.
Related: How to Update a BIOS Without a CPU
5. Install Operating System
Once you've done whatever you need to do in the BIOS, it's time to install your operating system software. We'll cover the basic steps to Windows installation, which is what most beginner PC builders will use, as while Linux is free it is a lot more involved and not recommended if you're new to the PC world. If you do want to use Linux (it does offer more control for advanced users), you'll want to invest a few days or so to learn the basics.
Installing Windows 10 or 11 is a simple process, and simply a matter of following the on-screen instructions. First of all, if you downloaded Windows to a USB (recommended unless you bought a physical Windows DVD) and you haven’t bought a product key yet (but plan to later), you can still use Windows in the meantime. To do so, when it asks for your product key select "I don’t have a product key" found at the bottom:

For Windows installations from a USB drive, it will also ask you what version of Windows you want to install (when you download Windows onto a USB, it includes the installation data for various editions).
Make sure to select the edition that you want to activate Windows for, which will be Windows Home for most people. If you want Windows Pro, select that but keep in mind that a product key will cost a fair bit more.

When it asks what type of install to do, choose "Custom":

Then, you'll be asked where to install Windows by showing you a list of your drives. Select the SSD/HDD where you want Windows (hopefully an SSD in this day and age!), which should be listed as having 100% free space. If you have multiple drives connected, make sure you’re selecting the correct one.
Also, for anybody who has installed previous versions of Windows in the past and are wondering about whether to create a separate partition on your drive for Windows, these days there's very little need to do so don’t worry about that.

At some point it will ask you to connect to the internet if your WiFi isn’t automatically being detected (assuming you have a WiFi motherboard or wireless adapter installed). If you're using a wired connection, go ahead and plug in your Ethernet cable if you haven't already. This is so Windows can get straight into updating itself. If you don’t have internet configured yet, just skip this and complete the upcoming section on downloading drivers when you are connected to the internet.
Related: Ethernet vs WiFi for Gaming
Once Windows is done installing, it will restart your PC. At this point I would re-enter the BIOS and set your boot drive as your main system drive just to be safe. This is to ensure you don’t encounter boot problems in future, and that your PC knows to boot from the right SSD/HDD when starting up.
6. Update Windows
Before you update your device drivers in the next step, now is a good time to update Windows to its latest version if it hasn't already started doing so. You could perform this update after updating your drivers, for example if you want to use your new computer right away as the Windows update may take hours, but in general we recommend you to update Windows before your drivers just to be safe as they could interfere with one another.

7. Download GPU and Motherboard Drivers
Drivers are software applications that allow a computer to communicate with your hardware devices. Most if not all of the drivers you need for a new PC build will be taken care of by Windows or the Windows update automatically, however you’ll want to manually install the latest graphics card drivers from either NVIDIA or AMD, as well as install motherboard drivers directly from your motherboard manufacturer's website. These are the 2 important ones.
To download motherboard drivers, see that guide I just linked. For your graphics card, simply go to the NVidia or AMD website, go to Support from the main menu, and select your card series, model, and operating system. Download and install. For NVidia drivers, you have the option of getting the Game Ready Driver or Studio Driver. Stick with the game ones unless you’re primarily using your PC for video editing, graphic design, etc.
To double check which other drivers may be necessary for your particular PC (besides the GPU and motherboard which you need to do yourself), use the Windows Search bar to open up the "Device Manager" to look at all your devices. If there are any with warning icons that say something is missing then you know you'll need to go and grab that driver from the manufacturer's site.
You'll notice that some of your parts may have come with device drivers on CD (such as your sound card or optical drive if you used either of those components in your build), however these will be outdated so I wouldn't worry about them and instead I would just get them online.
You can install the latest drivers for all your other components if you really want to make sure, but like I mentioned the OS should take care of it and the graphics card and motherboard are the only ones I'd worry about. Without a graphics card driver your screen may not display properly. Graphics card drivers are also different than other drivers because they not only fix issues/bugs, but NVidia and AMD actually work to improve direct performance in specific games.
To download the latest version, search around your motherboard and GPU manufacturer sites, or just search direct in Google. Keep in mind you don't need to install all of the software available for that device, as just the main driver is what's important. Many manufacturers include optional, bloated versions of their drivers with programs and other extras you either don't need or wouldn't want on your awesome new system. Keep your system lean and mean.
8. Confirm Monitor Refresh Rate
If you're rocking a monitor with a high refresh-rate of 120Hz, 144Hz, 240Hz etc, running your screen at 60Hz is like using a RTX 4080 for 720p resolution. So, to avoid such wastage of quality equipment, check that your system is set to the correct refresh rate of your monitor. Even if you have a 75Hz screen, you might as well check it's not running at 60Hz.
For NVidia graphics cards, simply go to the NVidia control panel by right clicking your desktop screen (or search for it in the Windows search bar) and check the refresh rate that's listed matches your monitor.
For AMD cards, right click your desktop screen and go to Display Settings, then scroll down to Display Adapter Properties. Now select List All Modes, choose your refresh rate, then click Apply. For dual or triple monitor setups, you'll need to select the other monitor/s in the Windows Display settings and repeat the process for each screen you have.
9. Install Utility Applications (& Check Temps)
The last "must-do" step to do after building a PC is to install a small range of good-quality, useful utility programs for important things such as security, system monitoring/tweaking, and so on. That said, unless you know what you're doing, don't go too crazy and immediately clutter your brand new system. Here's my current recommendations on what to install on fresh new PC builds these days:
- What to Install On a New Gaming PC (Must-Have Software)
After adding a small handful of some top-notch programs, you're on your own my friend. Time to load up your favorite game and do what you do best. I could go on with more things to do after building a PC, but I'll leave it here otherwise this article will go on forever.
But one popular thing to do is to stress-test your system to see how it performs, and to check for safe GPU temperatures while you're at it to confirm that your graphics card (usually the hottest component in a gaming PC) isn't getting too hot when under load and is well-cooled. To check CPU temperatures you can use the programs recommended in the guide to the best software for gaming PCs .
Advanced users may want to also look into overclocking the GPU or overclocking the CPU , but it's not recommended for most people. Anyway, good luck with your new system and hope this guide helped.
Trusted VPNs
VPN software is quite important in this day and age and will improve the security and privacy of your PC when online. There are also benefits to using VPNs for gaming . There's lots of VPNs out there but the ones I recommend most to gamers is ExpressVPN (special link that gets you 3 months off. they also offer a free trial here ) and NordVPN which are both highly rated gaming VPNs because they're the fastest and most secure.
Popular Articles (or see the latest articles )
- Best Gaming PC Builds for the Money
- Introduction to PC Water Cooling
- Building the Best PC for Tarkov
- How to Assemble Your First PC
- Best Software for New PC Builds
- Most Demanding Games of ALL Time
Search the Site
About the author.
Indie game dev currently working on my first public release after years of hobby projects, a story-driven VR FPS built with Unreal Engine (to be announced soon here for anyone into VR FPS's). Also likes writing about tech, which also helps fund development of the game.
My favs of all time are OOT, Perfect Dark, MGS1, MGS2, GE007, DKC2, THPS3, HL1, and HL2, with the most recent addition to my list of immortals being the VR masterpiece Alyx . If you want help with a new build feel free to ask on the main PC builds guide . If you found the site extra helpful and wish to support the work I do here, sharing an article with a friend helps a lot and is much appreciated. - Julz

Intro | Best PC Builds | PC Assembly | Prebuilt PCs | VR Headsets | Privacy | Contact | Sitemap

Copyright (C) 2023 Build-Gaming-Computers dot com All Rights Reserved
As an Amazon Associate we earn from qualifying purchases
For the Love of Gaming + Flawless Frames
- PRO Courses Guides New Tech Help Pro Expert Videos About wikiHow Pro Upgrade Sign In
- EDIT Edit this Article
- EXPLORE Tech Help Pro About Us Random Article Quizzes Request a New Article Community Dashboard This Or That Game Popular Categories Arts and Entertainment Artwork Books Movies Computers and Electronics Computers Phone Skills Technology Hacks Health Men's Health Mental Health Women's Health Relationships Dating Love Relationship Issues Hobbies and Crafts Crafts Drawing Games Education & Communication Communication Skills Personal Development Studying Personal Care and Style Fashion Hair Care Personal Hygiene Youth Personal Care School Stuff Dating All Categories Arts and Entertainment Finance and Business Home and Garden Relationship Quizzes Cars & Other Vehicles Food and Entertaining Personal Care and Style Sports and Fitness Computers and Electronics Health Pets and Animals Travel Education & Communication Hobbies and Crafts Philosophy and Religion Work World Family Life Holidays and Traditions Relationships Youth
- Browse Articles
- Learn Something New
- Quizzes Hot
- This Or That Game New
- Train Your Brain
- Explore More
- Support wikiHow
- About wikiHow
- Log in / Sign up
- Computers and Electronics
- Maintenance and Repair
- System Maintenance and Repair
How to Change Computer BIOS Settings on a Windows PC: Guide
Last Updated: June 6, 2023 Fact Checked

Entering the BIOS on Startup
Entering the bios with settings, adjusting bios settings.
This article was co-authored by wikiHow staff writer, Rain Kengly . Rain Kengly is a wikiHow Technology Writer. As a storytelling enthusiast with a penchant for technology, they hope to create long-lasting connections with readers from all around the globe. Rain graduated from San Francisco State University with a BA in Cinema. This article has been fact-checked, ensuring the accuracy of any cited facts and confirming the authority of its sources. This article has been viewed 1,393,946 times. Learn more...
Do you need to change or set up your computer's BIOS settings? The BIOS (Basic Input/Output System) boots up your computer and manages the data flow between the operating system (OS) and attached devices. Since the BIOS is tied to a computer's motherboard, the appearance of each computer's BIOS will vary slightly depending on the manufacturer. You should only configure the BIOS settings if you're absolutely certain about the changes. This wikiHow will show you how to access and modify the BIOS page for your Windows 8, 10, or 11 computer.
Things You Should Know
- To enter the BIOS, turn on your PC and press the startup key.
- Navigate BIOS menus using the arrow keys and press "Enter" to make selections.
- Never make changes to the BIOS unless you know what you're doing.

- If your computer is already on, you'll need to restart your computer .

- Acer: F2 or DEL
- ASUS: F2 or Del
- Dell: F2 or F12
- HP: ESC or F10
- Lenovo: F2 or Fn + F2
- Lenovo Desktops: F1
- Lenovo ThinkPads: Enter + F1.
- MSI: DEL for motherboards and PCs
- Microsoft Surface Tablets: Press and hold the volume-up button.
- Origin PC: F2
- Samsung: F2
- Sony: F1, F2, or F3
- Toshiba: F2
- It's best to start pressing the setup key as soon as the computer begins to restart.
- If you see "Press [key] to enter setup" or something similar flash across the bottom of the screen and then disappear, you'll need to restart your computer and try again.
- Look at your computer model's manual or online support page to confirm your computer's BIOS key.

- You can now update your computer's BIOS .
- This is the quickest way to enter the BIOS , but you can also access the BIOS through the Windows Settings.

- Use this method to enter the BIOS from your Windows Settings rather than a setup key.

- Your computer will restart, then load a special menu.

- If you don't know what you want to change coming into the BIOS, you probably shouldn't change anything.

- You'll typically use the arrow keys to go over to the Boot tab to start this process.

- You can always reset your BIOS password later.

- Check the BIOS key legend to see which key is the "Save and Exit" key.
Community Q&A

- Your computer's BIOS settings may be significantly more limited than another computer's BIOS settings. Thanks Helpful 0 Not Helpful 0
- Windows 8, 10, and 11 computers tend to have motherboards that make accessing the BIOS incredibly difficult. You'll likely have to restart and try again several times before you reach the BIOS. Thanks Helpful 0 Not Helpful 0
- A useful task is to check the boot order. If you have the OS on the hard drive, make sure that the hard drive is the first in the boot order. This can save a few seconds off boot time. Thanks Helpful 0 Not Helpful 0

- Don't change any settings that you aren't sure about. Thanks Helpful 9 Not Helpful 2
- If you are going to flash the BIOS after, do not attempt this. If you have already changed settings, you must reset your BIOS . Thanks Helpful 0 Not Helpful 0
You Might Also Like

- ↑ https://www.hp.com/us-en/shop/tech-takes/how-to-enter-bios-setup-windows-pcs
About This Article

- Send fan mail to authors
Is this article up to date?

Featured Articles

Trending Articles

Watch Articles

- Terms of Use
- Privacy Policy
- Do Not Sell or Share My Info
- Not Selling Info
wikiHow Tech Help Pro:
Level up your tech skills and stay ahead of the curve
How to Enter the BIOS on Any PC: Access Keys by Manufacturer
Get into the UEFI / BIOS setup menu and make changes.

Windows or Linux may be your operating system of choice, but no matter which platform you choose, your computer's BIOS (Basic Input / Output System) is calling all the shots behind the scenes.
The BIOS, sometimes referred to as UEFI firmware on newer computers, tells your PC what storage drives you have and which one to boot from, what processor you have, how much RAM, and much more. You'll likely need to access the BIOS menus to overclock your CPU , enable virtualization, set your memory speed or enable TPM encryption.
There are a few different ways to access the BIOS menus on a PC whether it involves hitting a hotkey at POST time, using Windows' Advanced Startup menu or issuing a Linux command. We'll detail all these methods below and, if you need to get a new version of your firmware, see our tutorial on how to update your BIOS .
Method 1: Use a BIOS Key
When you first power-on a computer, it goes through a very quick POST (power on self test). If you can hit the correct key before the POST is completed (or hold it down as you hit the power button), you will get into the BIOS menu. However, some computers go through POST so fast that they don't recognize input from the keyboard in time for you to a hit key. For those, skip to method #2 below.
Annoyingly, different PC brands use different BIOS keys. Most modern motherboards use the DEL key, but ultrabooks , gaming laptops and gaming PCs are less consistent. For example, hitting F2 might work on an Asus, but you'll need F10 on an Acer computer.
If you don't know the hotkey for your computer, you can look and see if a message comes up during POST, telling you what key to press or you can try hitting one of the 12 function keys, the DEL key, the Enter key or the ESC key since it is always one of those. You may have to try a few times to determine which one it is. In our research, DEL and F2 were, by far, the most common.
BIOS Keys by Manufacturer
Here's a list of common BIOS keys by brand. Depending on the age of your model, the key may be different.
- ASRock: F2 or DEL
- ASUS: F2 for all PCs, F2 or DEL for Motherboards
- Acer: F2 or DEL
- Dell: F2 or F12
- Gigabyte / Aorus: F2 or DEL
- Lenovo (Consumer Laptops): F2 or Fn + F2
- Lenovo (Desktops): F1
- Lenovo (ThinkPads): Enter then F1.
- MSI: DEL for motherboards and PCs
- Microsoft Surface Tablets: Press and hold volume up button.
- Origin PC: F2
- Samsung: F2
- Toshiba: F2
Method 2: Use Windows 11 or 10's Advanced Start Menu
Unfortunately, some computers go through POST so quickly that there's no time to hit a key. Some desktops won't even recognize input from a USB keyboard until after POST is completed (though they will see input from an old PS2-style keyboard). If you can't use a BIOS key and you have Windows 11 or 10, you can use the "Advanced startup" feature to get there.
Note that the screen shots below are from Windows 11, but the same steps apply to Windows 10.
1. Navigate to the Advanced Startup section of Settings. The easiest way to get there is by searching for "advanced startup" in Windows search and clicking the top result.
2. Click Restart now under the Advanced startup header.
Your computer will reboot and a new menu eventually appears.
3. Click Troubleshoot.
4. Click Advanced options.
5. Click UEFI Firmware Settings.
6. Click Restart to confirm.
Method 3: Use a Linux Command
If you're running a modern version of Linux such as Ubuntu, you may be able to get to the BIOS by typing "sudo systemctl reboot --firmware" at the command prompt.
What if you can't boot your OS or hit a BIOS key?
If your computer can't load an operating system, because it doesn't detect a bootable drive, it will usually pause, beep and give you the option to enter the BIOS, which it will often call "setup."
However, the biggest problems occur when the system POSTs too fast for you to hit a key and then Windows or Linux tries to boot and fails. I've had this problem when I had a missing or corrupted bootloader, I got the Windows splash screen and then a blue screen of death .
To force the BIOS to appear under these circumstances, you can try using an emergency boot disk, provided that you can either select a boot device at startup or your computer has set an external USB drive as a higher boot priority than its internal storage drive(s).
You can use a Windows install disk as an emergency boot disk. Once the USB boots, you need to click "Repair your computer" instead of install and then click Troubleshoot -> UEFI Firmware Settings -> Restart .
Finally, if you can't boot off of an emergency disk, you can try to cause a system halting error that would prevent your computer from attempting to boot off of its internal drives. Then, you'll be given the option to enter the BIOS menu.
Many desktop computers will give an error message if there's no keyboard plugged in (if you need help finding one, check our out Best Gaming Keyboards list) or if the keyboard buffer is overloaded from holding down too many keys at start. Pulling out your primary internal storage drive would also cause an error that would let you into the BIOS, but if that drive has a non-booting OS on it, your problems might resume once you plug it back in.
Bottom Line
Whatever method you use to access your BIOS, be careful when making changes to your settings there. You could end up disabling key components.
Stay on the Cutting Edge
Join the experts who read Tom's Hardware for the inside track on enthusiast PC tech news — and have for over 25 years. We'll send breaking news and in-depth reviews of CPUs, GPUs, AI, maker hardware and more straight to your inbox.

Asus Plans to Offer Premium Priced AI PCs in 2024
Newegg's AMD Combo Bundle Starts Your Gaming Rig Build for $333: Real Deals
WD's 18TB external hard drive is on sale for an incredible $199 — only 1 penny per GB — and it's shuckable
- jimmysmitty A slight correction, Asus is normally DEL or F2 for their motherboards currently. Reply
- funguseater Oh man, you forgot my all time favorite: CTRL ALT + Turbo XT button, Blazing 8 MHz speed. Reply
- Martell1977 I've encountered some older HP's that used F1 for BIOS. This is a handy list, though dangerous. Should add the caveat that it can be dangerous to change things in the BIOS if your not familiar with what the settings are for. Might want to make an article about resetting BIOS, for the amateurs that use this list and mess their computers up. Otherwise, we might see a flood of threads asking why their computers wont start, even to the BIOS. This could get real ugly, real fast. Reply
- islandwalker @martell1977, that's a very valid point. We tried to cover it in the last sentence. But the story could use a mention of how to reset to fail-safe defaults. Thanks. Reply
- Simon Anderson Method 1B: if post too quick, start hitting bios key over and over again as soon as you restart :P Reply
- termathor Good article. Also, on SteamOS, there is a grub boot entry called "Setup" that reboots in UEFI mode. Very handy as my PC indeed posts very fast ... There are also tools to force reboot in UEFI, depending on mobos OEM ... Reply
- thebigt42 HP Servers are ESC not F10 Reply
21235491 said: Method 1B: if post too quick, start hitting bios key over and over again as soon as you restart :P
- tazmo8448 Well if resetting things in the BIOS makes it go belly up then all should know about taking the CMOS battery out for 30 seconds or more (this resets the BIOS to Default) then all you have to do is set the correct time & date an you're back in business...removing the battery is to me easier than pulling the CMOS pin out an going thru that option as the battery is a lot more obvious. Reply
- daddywalter My HP Pavilion laptop (2013-14 vintage) uses the ESC key. Reply
- View All 11 Comments
Most Popular
By Sammy Ekaran September 30, 2023
By Sammy Ekaran September 25, 2023
By Sammy Ekaran September 24, 2023
By Paul Alcorn September 12, 2023
By Les Pounder September 11, 2023
By Sammy Ekaran September 04, 2023
By Les Pounder August 27, 2023
By Les Pounder August 21, 2023
By Sammy Ekaran August 20, 2023
By Sammy Ekaran August 19, 2023
By Sydney Butler August 18, 2023
Configure Powerful BIOS In PC

Configuring BIOS On A Brand New PC
If you are going to set a new PC then managing BIOS setting will be your last task. But this is a very crucial task as it handles input and output functionalities of your computer. BIOS, the input output system developed under motherboard of computer controls hardware we connect and eject to the system. Hard drive , CMOS, keyboard, and other devices whether those are internal or external are first recognized by BIOS then, other actions take place.
Why Strong BIOS Settings?
The importance of BIOS is not avoidable because a proper BIOS setting or a little change in BIOS may help you to resolve hardware malfunctions or conflicts. Whenever hardware (video card, memory chip etc) of your system gets upgraded then you may have requirement to update the BIOS. The Process to change the boot order is called as flashing of BIOS.
Getting Started With Boot Order Configuration
The first boot of your system if it is new will explore an error as BIOS for this system is not configured. Under BIOS that comes with name Phoenix BIOS, you can see many options, but two features are crucial:

Standard And Advanced BIOS Features
- Standard CMOS Features : It is to keep the time and date in a proper manner as well it will enlist all connected drives (optical and hard drives). For finding info about missing drive then this utility will assist you. It also performs RAM check for finding whether RAM is properly seated on Computer’s motherboard.
- Advanced BIOS Features: It is to pick out the order in which all connected devices are checked on computer start-up. Users can alter the boot order according to their personal convenience as well as when you are going to set the boot option first time then, it is suggested to keep the CD-ROM at first number. Keeping CD-ROM on the primary number to boot is necessary when you are going to install Windows OS afterwards you can set back the boot order by keeping hard drive at first number.
- Other Categories: Other options within BIOS will help you to manage more procedures like RAM time management, Processor voltage for over-clocking. All settings cannot be discussed here because configuration for these options will be done in different manner.
Once you are done with BIOS Settings, insert system setup disc for saving settings and at the end quit from BIOS. Restart the computer with a secure and managed BIOS options for enjoying functionality of your brand new system!
Blog Topics
- Alternative (2)
- Backup Solution (17)
- Cyber Security (1)
- Data Recovery (81)
- Difference (7)
- Email Migration (6)
- Exchange Server (10)
- Fix Errors (16)
- How To (110)
- Office 365 (6)
- Office 365 (13)
- Outlook (12)
- PDF Error (1)
- PDF Toolbox (2)
- Security (35)
- SQL Server (10)
- Technology (141)
Your Choices Regarding Cookies on this Site
Cookies are important to the proper functioning of a site. To improve your experience, we use cookies to remember log-in details and provide secure log-in, collect statistics to optimize site functionality, and deliver content tailored to your interests. Click Agree and Proceed to accept cookies and go directly to the site or click on More Information to see detailed descriptions of the types of cookies and choose whether to accept certain cookies while on the site.
agree and proceed OK

IMAGES
VIDEO
COMMENTS
The main function of the BIOS (Basic Input Output System) is to boot up an operating system on a PC. It does this by first identifying and testing all hardware components (including the hard disk and floppy drives), and then by locating a v...
According to PC Mag, ROM BIOS refers to the memory chip used on early PCs to store the software necessary to boot the computer. Newer PCs use flash memory for this purpose. ROM is short for Read Only Memory. The data on this type of memory ...
In today’s digital age, personal branding has become more important than ever. Whether you’re a freelancer, entrepreneur, or job seeker, having a strong personal brand can set you apart from the competition and open doors to new opportuniti...
Just built out a new desktop PC, or upgraded some key components? Getting to know these four key UEFI BIOS features will help you make sure
Get MAX FPS How to Set Up PC After Build | Bios, Windows, Drivers | Best PC Setup 2023 ... How to Set Up a New Gaming PC - How To Build a PC
Your new computer has booted. What to do next? Time for BIOS/UEFI setup, memory checks, software installations, fan checks, and driver
So you've finished building a PC, but what to do now? How actually get it to work and start using it? Sponsored Message: Mid-Year Sale
How do you set up your Gaming PC BIOS? What should you do after you have finished building your Gaming PC? Do WATCH TILL THE END of this
When you save and restart, your computer will reboot with the new settings. Check the BIOS key legend to see which key is the "Save and Exit"
We'll detail all these methods below and, if you need to get a new ... If you can't use a BIOS key and you have Windows 11 or 10, you can
Learn how to enter BIOS setup on Windows, Mac, and Linux computers and what settings you can change to optimize your computer's performance
You can enter BIOS by repeatedly hitting the F2 or DEL key on your keyboard. Make sure your Keyboard is hooked up to a USB 2.0 port, as USB 3 or
Configure the BIOS Settings · Install the Operating System · Install and Update Drivers · Secure Your Computer · Install Programs and Games · Back Up! · Personalize
Configuring BIOS On A Brand New PC. If you are going to set a new PC then managing BIOS setting will be your last task. But this is a very