How to force the way into BIOS/UEFI

biosbootuefi

I am trying to fix a computer whose Windows 10 will not boot any more because it gets stuck in the automatic system repair loop.

I am trying to boot that computer from a USB storage – however, for that I need to modify the boot order, which can be done from within BIOS/UEFI. Unlike it used to be the case on that particular computer before, pressing Del or F11 when the respective message is shown does not work. The computer will continue booting into Windows 10 right away, where it will get stuck in the automatical repair.

UPDATE: I have replaced the hard disk of the respective computer and started installing Windows 7. Due to various other issues, I have reinstalled Windows 7 several times in a row now, and I used one of the aforementioned keys to enter the UEFI settings or the UEFI boot menu almost every time. Now, the computer has stopped reacting to those keys once again and boots right into the installed Windows 7 after showing the message about pressing Del or F11. Hence, this does not seem to be specific to the state where Windows 10 is installed.

The message displayed when booting reads:

Press <del> to BIOS, <F11> to boot devices menu

How can I get into BIOS?

The computer in question is an ARLT Mr. Whisper XII desktop computer; its original specs as indicated on the linked page are:

  • AMD A6-5400K (2x 3,6GHz)
  • 4GB RAM
  • 2000GB HDD
  • AMD Radeon HD7540D

Meanwhile, Windows 7 had been upgraded to Windows 10 (which is being reverted now by reinstalling Windows 7 on a new HDD), and the HDD has been replaced with a new 4 TB HDD.

Best Answer

When everything works correctly, but you cannot enter Setup, you may have “Fast Boot” enabled.

UEFI was originally supposed to speed up the boot process by doing away with legacy stuff. By disabling the Compatibility Support Module (CSM, BIOS emulation) and enabling Fast Boot, you can finally have that. There’s even another level, Ultra Fast Boot. In both modes, fewer devices are initialized. However, prompts for the user to enter setup or select an alternate boot medium are also disabled.

Fast Boot only applies to UEFI booting (because the CSM has to be disabled).

Windows 8 and newer offer better support for UEFI and Fast Boot. While clicking any Reboot button, hold down Shift to go the Advanced Reboot menu. From there, you can also enter the Firmware Setup.

Because Fast Boot will not work if the boot configuration is incorrect, simply remove/disconnect all drives. No operating systems will be present and you can enter Setup normally. From there, disable Fast Boot until you’re done setting up whatever.

Related Question