
If BIOS detects any problems, an error screen will appear or a series of beep codes will sound, effectively indicating to you that something has gone wrong.īIOS software has existed within computers since the 1980s and has made plenty of leaps and strides when it comes to efficiency and improvement. Once all attachments are allocated and given the OK, your computer startup continues as usual and takes you to your load screen in a matter of seconds. The BIOS system is also responsible for managing data flow between your computer’s operating system and any attached devices including a hard drive, keyboard, video adapter, printer, or mouse.Įach time you power your PC on, BIOS runs through a process called Power-On Self Test, or POST, that determines whether your attached devices are operating correctly and are in their proper place. When the PC is powered back on, BIOS retrieves that same stored data. Programmed on an erasable, programmable, read-only memory (EPROM) chip, BIOS is stored on this memory chip which retains data when the power source is switched off. Typically embedded into your computer as a motherboard chip, the BIOS functions as a catalyst for PC functionality action. One thing PC users love most about Windows is how many options you can configure directly within your selected system.Įven before your computer has completed a full startup, you can venture into your BIOS software to modify the boot order, enable hardware components, or change the system time and date.ĭepending on your computer’s age, entering BIOS may require a few more keystrokes on older PCs than newer ones.īefore pressing any keys or modifying any settings, we’ll walk you through everything you need to know about your PC’s BIOS and how to enter BIOS on your laptop or desktop PC.Īs your PC’s most important startup program, BIOS, or Basic Input/Output System, is the built-in core processor software responsible for booting up your system.


If your PC goes through its power on self-test startup too quickly, you can also enter BIOS through Windows 10’s advanced start menu recovery settings. In order to access BIOS on a Windows PC, you must press your BIOS key set by your manufacturer which could be F10, F2, F12, F1, or DEL. Whether you need to update your BIOS or sweep it clean of systematic bugs, knowing how to enter BIOS is essential for PC users.

In an age where our technology gets smarter and smarter by the month, we often overlook the integral machinery that makes our computers so intuitive.Įach and every time you press your PC’s power button, the BIOS is the first operation to load your operating system and all of the personal settings that make your computer your own.
