The BIOS (Basic Input/Output System) is firmware that controls your computer’s hardware and software. One of its most important functions is to determine which device your computer boots from first. By default, this is usually the hard drive where your operating system is installed. However, it’s sometimes necessary to change the boot order to boot from a different device, such as a USB drive or CD/DVD.
If you need to change the BIOS boot order on your computer, follow these simple steps:
Step 1: Restart the computer and enter the BIOS setup
To enter the BIOS setup, restart your computer and press a specific key during startup. The exact key may vary depending on your computer’s manufacturer and model, but it’s usually F2, F10 or Delete. Look for instructions on the screen during startup that indicate the correct key to press.
Step 2: Navigate to the boot menu
Once in the BIOS setup, navigate to the Boot menu using the arrow keys. This menu contains options related to booting up your computer.
Step 3: Identify and move the preferred boot device
In this menu, identify which device you want to boot from first and move it to the top of the list using the + or – keys. For example, if you want to boot from a USB drive first instead of your hard drive, select it from the list of devices and move it up.
Step 4: Save changes and exit
After making changes in the Boot menu, save them by selecting “Save and Exit” or pressing F10. This will exit the BIOS setup and reboot the computer with new settings.
Step 5: Verify the new boot order
Once the computer restarts after saving changes in BIOS setup, verify that it boots up from the preferred device by checking if it loads up properly.
Conclusion
Changing the BIOS boot order can be useful when troubleshooting problems with an operating system or installing a new one altogether. By following these steps carefully, you can easily change what device your computer boots from first without having any issues.