What is boot-menu
Probably everyone knows that in order to boot from a floppy drive or flash drive, you need to set the order of devices to boot into BIOS. For example, to install Windows XP from a disc on a computer, you need to boot from that disc first. To do this, you need to put the floppy drive in the BIOS as the first device to boot.
However, you can not go into the BIOS and change nothing there. It is enough to press the boot menu button immediately after turning on the computer and select the one from which to boot from the list of devices that appears. Selecting a boot device from the boot menu does not affect BIOS settings in any way. That is, this menu affects exactly a specific boot, and if you do not call it afterwards, then the computer or laptop will boot as configured in the BIOS.
How to call the boot menu - BIOS boot menu keys
So, we figured out what a boot menu is in BIOS. Now I will tell you with the help of which hotkeys it is called. There is no standard here. It all depends on the manufacturer of the motherboard of the PC or laptop and on the version of the BIOS installed there. For example, calling the boot menu asus differs from how to call the boot menu on a laptop an acer or sony vaio.
In most cases, the key to open the boot device selection menu is F12 , but some manufacturers use their own keyboard shortcuts. Particular attention can be focused on the boot menu samsung and HP. To get to the boot menu of a Samsung laptop, press Esc (just one time!). If you click on Esc at least twice, the boot menu will close before it opens. Therefore, you need to calculate and clearly get in time by pressing the boot menu hotkey. This can be quite difficult to do without some skill.
The boot menu call on HP notebooks is also specific. To do this, you first need to press Esc , after which the laptop service menu will appear. In it, we already select the desired item (by pressing the hotkey). To call the HP boot menu, press F9 .
For some manufacturers, the device for loading in the menu is selected with the cursor keys, for others, you must press a key with a number indicating the serial number of the device in the list.
Below is a table that is easy to understand. This is a table of correspondence of hot keys for calling the menu for selecting the boot device, the manufacturer of the motherboard and BIOS.
Yes, and a final clarification. In some cases, the hotkeys for calling the boot menu are disabled by default in BIOS. To be able to use the boot menu, you must enable it in the BIOS settings. This function is usually called F12 Boot Menu ... To enable this function, you need to set its value to Enabled .
In addition to the boot menu call keys, the table contains the keys for entering the BIOS.
Manufacturer / device | BIOS version | Boot menu key | BIOS key |
Mat. MSI boards | AMI | F11 | Del |
Mat. Gigabyte boards | Award | F12 | Del |
Mat. Asus boards | AMI | F8 | Del |
Mat. Intel boards | Phoenix-Award | Esc | Del |
Mat. AsRock boards | AMI | F11 | Del |
asus laptops | Esc | F2 | |
acer laptops | Inside H2O | F12 | F2 |
acer laptops | Phoenix | F12 | F2 |
dell laptops | Dell | F12 | F2 |
hP laptops | Esc -\u003e F9 | Esc -\u003e F10 | |
lenovo laptops | AMI | F12 | F2 |
packard Bell laptops | Phoenix Secure Core | F12 | F2 |
samsung laptops | Phoenix Secure Core | Esc (once, pressing again exits the menu) |
F2 |
sony Vaio laptops | Inside H2O | F11 | F2 |
toshiba laptops | Phoenix | F12 | F2 |
toshiba laptops | Inside H2O | F12 | F2 |
What happens at the moment the computer is turned on, he checks it for the operability of the components, determines the priority of the source of loading the operating system.
BIOS contains settings related to the main program files and drivers
You can enter the boot menu when you turn on the computer equipment by pressing one key at that moment or a certain combination of them, which in most cases the system warns about when the table appears on the screen.
However, few users can grasp the information that appears on the screen due to the high-speed loading of pages, which creates a flickering effect. The necessary data can be found in the instructions for the motherboard or hardware. On laptops, the F 12 key is mainly used. And, in the absence of technical documentation for the equipment, you must try to enter the program from it. In some cases, simultaneous or phased activation of keyboard buttons is used. For example, to enter the boot menu in an hp laptop, as in many modifications of such equipment, you need to press the ESC key, and after F9.
Key combination from BIOS manufacturersThey enter the BIOS to select a boot disk or change program settings.
Boot menu is a specific section built into the Bios with which you can easily select the bootable media for installing Windows of the desired version. One of the objects on the flash media can be assigned a priority status, which will be accessed by the boot programs first. If the request is not confirmed, the applications will be redirected to additional objects, according to the installation in the BIOS.
How to enter the Boot Menu technology 8, 8.1 and 10 versions of Windows
When purchasing laptops with Windows 8, 8.1 or 10 already installed, you will not be able to enter the boot menu by pressing a key. The reason is that in these versions of operating systems, shutting down computer equipment implies a hibernation process. In order to get to the Boot menu by pressing a key combination, you must ensure the complete shutdown of the operating system. This can be achieved in several ways:
- To fully shutdown computer equipment, hold down the "Shift" key at the same time when selecting the "Shutdown" function in the "Start" menu.
- Instead of the "Turn off" functions of the laptop, start the restart mode, during which the keys are activated.
fig. 2. After carrying out all the operations, the section for adjusting the settings becomes available to the user.
Calling the boot menu on Asus laptops and motherboards
On computers with Asus components, to open the boot menu, press the F8 or ESC button when turning on the equipment.
ESC is able to bring up the boot menu in modern laptop models. On other models, the menu can be called by pressing the F8 key.
The principle of working with such laptops is simple. To enter the boot menu in an asus laptop of previous production releases, you first need to boot it by pressing the ESC key. Reloading with the F8 key is necessary if the first attempt was unsuccessful.
Technology for working with the boot menu on Lenovo laptops
Before starting operations with computer equipment, connect the power cable. If, while working in the boot menu, the Lenovo laptop runs out of charge and it suddenly stops performing the assigned tasks, this will negatively affect its technical condition.
If you hold down the F12 button while turning on the technique, the user enters the QuickBoot section, which is responsible for determining the boot priority. In the device table, you can configure the sections of the sources of installation information that the laptop will access during the recovery or reinstallation of windows.
You can enter the menu boot in lenovo using the F2 button. In the main menu, settings are available for the parameters of various devices.
The BIOS of a Lenovo laptop, unlike computers, allows additional functions, including:
- Configuring security system functions;
- Battery Calibration
- Obtaining information regarding the serial number of computer equipment, motherboard and all connected equipment;
- Changing the characteristics of the touch screen;
- Corrects the appearance of the image on the screen.
Features of entering the Boot menu in computer equipment of Acer products
In Acer equipment, the f12 key to enter the boot menu is disabled initially. The specificity of the configuration lies in the specifics of the settings.
The boot menu button is activated in BIOS, where in the "Main" menu of the "System time" section, opposite the corresponding function, you need to set the "Enable" stateIt is possible to enter the boot menu in the usual way after making the settings, saving them and exiting the BIOS.
Login to the Boot service on models of computer equipment from different manufacturers
Entering the Boot function of computer equipment is possible in several ways:
- as part of bios;
- separately.
The advantage of logging in using the BIOS is the ability to select the download source. Without using the BIOS service, loading occurs only from a specific bootable media.
To enter the Boot service on a stationary computer, use the F8 or F 8 keys. Manufacturers use the Esc, Del, Аlt, F2, F8, F11 functions and their combinations in different models of computer equipment.
Each manufacturer releases computer hardware with parameters to enter the windows boot menu.
WATCH THE VIDEO
Good day everyone.
When installing Windows (for example), it is very often necessary to select a bootable media other than the hard drive. This can be done in two ways:
1) Go to BIOS and change the boot queue (i.e. put the USB flash drive in the boot queue in front of the HDD - this way the PC will first check the USB flash drive for boot records, and only then the hard drive);
2) Call the Boot Menu and select a specific media to boot at the moment. In my opinion, this option is even better than the first one: it's faster and you don't need to go back and forth in the BIOS to change the boot queue.
To enter BIOS (call Boot Menu) in most cases, the keys are used: F2, Del, Esc, F12 (depending on the device manufacturer). You need to press the button immediately after turning on the computer (you can several times so as not to miss the right moment.
By the way, if you look closely at the first screen, which is visible immediately after turning on the computer, then a button is often written on it to enter the desired settings (call the menu). An example is shown below.
Figure: 1. Dual Bios. DEL button - enter BIOS settings, F12 button - Call Boot Menu.
Table 1: hotkeys for computers
To use the table - you need to know which motherboard you have, BIOS version. You can find out this in several ways, I will give the fastest:
A simple free program that will tell you a lot about your hardware. For example, you can find out information about: processor (CPU), RAM (Ram), motherboard (Motherboard), video card (Graphics), HDD drives, SSD (Storage), etc. In addition, you can find out and monitor online temperature main components: hard drive, video card, processor.
A screenshot of the operation of this utility is shown in Fig. 2.
Figure: 2. Speccy - getting information about the motherboard
Table # 1
Motherboard | BIOS version | Hotkey | Which menu will be open |
---|---|---|---|
Acer | Del | Enter Setup | |
F12 | Boot Menu | ||
ASRock | AMI | F2 or DEL | run Setup |
F6 | Instant Flash | ||
F11 | Boot Menu | ||
TAB | switch Screen | ||
Asus | Phoenix-Award | DEL | BIOS Setup |
TAB | Display BIOS POST Message | ||
F8 | Boot Menu | ||
Alt + F2 | Asus EZ Flash 2 | ||
F4 | Asus Core Unlocker | ||
BioStar | Phoenix-Award | F8 | Enable System Configuration |
F9 | Select Booting Device after POST | ||
DEL | Enter SETUP | ||
ChainTech | Award | DEL | Enter SETUP |
ALT + F2 | Enter AWDFLASH | ||
ECS (EliteGrour) | AMI | DEL | Enter SETUP |
F11 | BBS POPUP | ||
FoxConn (WinFast) | TAB | POST Screen | |
DEL | SETUP | ||
ESC | Boot Menu | ||
GigaByte | Award | ESC | Skip memory test |
DEL | Enter SETUP / Q-Flash | ||
F9 | Xpress Recovery Xpress Recovery 2 | ||
F12 | Boot Menu | ||
Intel | AMI | F2 | Enter SETUP |
Table number 2: hot keys (Bios / Boot Menu, etc.) for laptops
Note: on modern laptops, the key combination in Windows also works: hold down the SHIFT button + select the restart button with the mouse.
Boot Menu is a small window in which using the mouse (arrows on the keyboard) you can select the device from which to boot. An example of such a menu is shown in Fig. 3.
Depending on the manufacturer of your device - the menu may differ slightly, but the principle of operation is the same everywhere.
Table 2
Laptop manufacturer | BIOS version | Hotkey | Function / menu call |
---|---|---|---|
Acer | Phoenix | F2 | Enter Setup |
F12 | Boot Menu (Change Boot Device, Multi Boot Selection Menu) | ||
Alt + F10 | D2D Recovery (disk-to-disk system recovery) | ||
Asus | AMI | F2 | Enter Setup |
ESC | Popup Menu | ||
F4 | Easy Flash | ||
Phoenix-Award | DEL | BIOS Setup | |
F8 | Boot Menu | ||
Benq | Phoenix | F2 | BIOS Setup |
Dell | Phoenix, Aptio | F2 | Setup |
F12 | Boot Menu | ||
eMachines (Acer) | Phoenix | F12 | Boot Menu |
Fujitsu Siemens | AMI | F2 | BIOS Setup |
F12 | Boot Menu | ||
Gateway (Acer) | Phoenix | Click mouse or Enter | Menu |
F2 | BIOS Settings | ||
F10 | Boot Menu | ||
F12 | PXE Boot | ||
HP (Hewlett-Packard) / Compaq | Insyde | ESC | Startup Menu |
F1 | System Information | ||
F2 | System Diagnostics | ||
F9 | Boot Device Options | ||
F10 | BIOS Setup | ||
F11 | System Recovery | ||
Enter | Continue Startup | ||
Next | F1 | Boot-Menu Call | |
F2 | BIOS setup | ||
Lenovo (IBM) | Phoenix SecureCore Tiano | F2 | Setup |
F12 | MultiBoot Menu | ||
MSI (Micro Star) | *** | DEL | Setup |
F11 | Boot Menu | ||
TAB | Show POST screen | ||
F3 | Recovery | ||
Packard Bell (Acer) | Phoenix | F2 | Setup |
F12 | Boot Menu | ||
Toshiba | Phoenix | Esc, F1, F2 | Enter Setup |
Toshiba Satellite A300 | F12 | Bios |
Table 3: recovery from a hidden partition (for laptops)
Most modern laptops have a built-in special hidden partition with the ability to restore Windows using a "pair" of keys (no need to prepare a bootable USB flash drive, download ISO images from Windows, etc.).
As a rule, to start the recovery function - after turning on the laptop, just press one key (F9, for example, on Asus laptops). Next, a window will appear in which you need to follow the instructions of the recovery wizard.
Note: When restoring information, the system drive "C: \\" is often formatted and all information from it is deleted. Make a copy of important data from it in advance.
Figure: 4. ACER Laptop - Recovery Service Utility
Table 3
Laptop manufacturer | Button combination | Note |
---|---|---|
Acer | Alt + F10 | First, you need to enter the laptop Bios, and enable the D2D Recovery function. In the recovery system, by default, the password is set to 000000 or AIM1R8. |
Asus | F9 | |
Dell Inspiron | Ctrl + F11 | |
Fujitsu Siemens | F8 | |
HP | F10, F11 | |
Lg | F11 | |
Lenovo ThinkPad | F11 | |
MSI | F3 | |
Packard bell | F10 | |
RoverBook | Alt | |
Samsung | F4 | |
Sony VAIO | F10 | |
Toshiba | F8, F11 |
PS
The tables will be updated (over time). For additions on the topic of the article - a big merci in advance. Good luck to all!
Good day everyone!
Why memorize something you don't need every day? It is enough to open and read the information when you need it - the main thing is to be able to use it! I usually do this myself, and these hotkey labels are no exception ...
This article is a reference, it contains buttons to enter the BIOS, to call the boot menu (also called the Boot Menu). Often they are simply "vital" when reinstalling Windows, restoring the computer, configuring the BIOS, etc. I hope the information will be relevant and you will find the coveted key to call the desired menu.
Note:
- The information on the page will be updated and expanded from time to time;
- You can see the buttons for entering the BIOS in this article (as well as on how to enter the BIOS in general :)):
- At the end of the article there are examples and explanations of abbreviations in the table, and a description of functions.
LAPTOPS
Manufacturer | BIOS (model) | Hotkey | Function |
Acer | Phoenix | F2 | Enter Setup |
F12 | Boot Menu (Change Boot Device, Multi Boot Selection Menu) |
||
Alt + F10 | D2D Recovery (disk-to-disk system recovery) |
||
Asus | AMI | F2 | Enter Setup |
ESC | Popup Menu | ||
F4 | Easy Flash | ||
Phoenix-Award | DEL | BIOS Setup | |
F8 | Boot Menu | ||
F9 | D2D Recovery | ||
Benq | Phoenix | F2 | BIOS Setup |
Dell | Phoenix, Aptio | F2 | Setup |
F12 | Boot Menu | ||
Ctrl + F11 | D2D Recovery | ||
eMachines (Acer) | Phoenix | F12 | Boot Menu |
Fujitsu Siemens | AMI | F2 | BIOS Setup |
F12 | Boot Menu | ||
Gateway (Acer) | Phoenix | Click mouse or Enter | Menu |
F2 | BIOS Settings | ||
F10 | Boot Menu | ||
F12 | PXE Boot | ||
HP (Hewlett-Packard) / Compaq | Insyde | ESC | Startup Menu |
F1 | System Information | ||
F2 | System Diagnostics | ||
F9 | Boot Device Options | ||
F10 | BIOS Setup | ||
F11 | System Recovery | ||
Enter | Continue Startup | ||
Lenovo (IBM) | Phoenix SecureCore Tiano | F2 | Setup |
F12 | MultiBoot Menu | ||
MSI (Micro Star) | * | DEL | Setup |
F11 | Boot Menu | ||
TAB | Show POST screen | ||
F3 | Recovery | ||
Packard Bell (Acer) | Phoenix | F2 | Setup |
F12 | Boot Menu | ||
Samsung | * | ESC | Boot Menu |
Toshiba | Phoenix | Esc, F1, F2 | Enter Setup |
Toshiba Satellite A300 | F12 | Bios |
PERSONAL COMPUTERS
Motherboard | BIOS | Hotkey | Function |
Acer | Del | Enter Setup | |
F12 | Boot Menu | ||
ASRock | AMI | F2 or DEL | Run Setup |
F6 | Instant Flash | ||
F11 | Boot Menu | ||
TAB | Switch screen | ||
Asus | Phoenix-Award | DEL | BIOS Setup |
TAB | Display BIOS POST Message | ||
F8 | Boot Menu | ||
Alt + F2 | Asus EZ Flash 2 | ||
F4 | Asus Core Unlocker | ||
BioStar | Phoenix-Award | F8 | Enable System Configuration |
F9 | Select Booting Device after POST | ||
DEL | Enter SETUP | ||
ChainTech | Award | DEL | Enter SETUP |
ALT + F2 | Enter AWDFLASH | ||
ECS (EliteGrour) | AMI | DEL | Enter SETUP |
F11 | BBS POPUP | ||
FoxConn (WinFast) | TAB | POST Screen | |
DEL | SETUP | ||
ESC | Boot Menu | ||
GigaByte | Award | ESC | Skip memory test |
DEL | Enter SETUP / Q-Flash | ||
F9 | Xpress Recovery Xpress Recovery 2 |
||
F12 | Boot Menu | ||
Intel | AMI | F2 | Enter SETUP |
MSI (MicroStar) | Enter SETUP |
REFERENCE (according to the above tables)
BIOS Setup (also Enter Setup, BIOS Settings, or just BIOS) - this is the button for entering the BIOS settings. You need to press it after turning on the computer (laptop), moreover, it is better several times until the screen appears. Depending on the manufacturer of the equipment, the name may vary slightly.
Boot Menu (also Change Boot Device, Popup Menu) - a very useful menu that allows you to select the device from which the device will boot. Moreover, to select a device, you do not need to enter the BIOS and change the boot queue. That is, for example, you need to install Windows OS - pressed the Boot Menu entry button, selected the installation flash drive, and after rebooting, the computer will automatically boot from the hard disk (and no unnecessary BIOS settings).
An example of a Boot Menu is an HP laptop (Boot Option Menu).
D2D Recovery (also Recovery) - Windows recovery function on laptops. Allows you to quickly restore the device from a hidden partition on the hard drive. To be honest, I personally don't like to use this function, because recovery in laptops, often, "crooked", works clumsy and not always there is a choice of detailed settings "how and what" ... I prefer installing and restoring Windows from a bootable USB flash drive.
Easy Flash - used to update the BIOS (not recommended for beginners ...).
System Information - system information about the laptop and its components (for example, this option is available on HP laptops).
PS
For additions on the topic of the article - thanks in advance. Your information (for example, buttons for entering BIOS on your laptop model) will be added to the article. All the best!
All more or less experienced computer users know that when installing an OS, or using a tool from a disk drive or flash drive, it is necessary to prioritize these devices in the BIOS, in simple words - what will be loaded in the first place when the PC starts.
Boot MenuAlso called the boot menu, it is intended to simplify the selection of devices from which it is possible to boot. You turn on the computer, go to the boot menu using special keys, and then select the boot device with the arrows, for example, a USB flash drive or floppy drive. This makes it easier for inexperienced users to do many things.
Now we will learn how to enter the Boot Menu using the usual keyboard shortcuts. And also how to do it on laptops.
How to enter Boot Menu - BIOS boot menu
When we enter the BIOS, we press a certain combination on the keyboard. In the case of the Boot Menu, the same is true. In many cases, the following methods are relevant for laptops and motherboards: Esc, F11, F12, although there are other options to go to Boot.
It makes sense to use this feature if you do not need to change any parameters in the BIOS, except for setting the boot order.
So, if you have a laptop with Windows 8, and now with Windows 10, the keys above will not necessarily work. In some models, when the laptop is turned off, the device can be considered to enter hibernation mode, and not turn off, as usual, so the attempt to enter the Boot Menu fails.
To get rid of this problem, you can use the following methods:
![](https://i1.wp.com/computerinfo.ru/wp-content/uploads/2017/05/otkljuchit-bystryj-zapusk.png)
How to enter the Boot Menu from an Asus laptop
The most possible entry options for Asus are the following keys:
- ESC - for many brands;
- F8 - for devices where names can start with the letters X and K, if it didn't work, then use Esc.
Entering the Boot Menu from a Lenovo laptop
In these models it is even easier, you press the F12 key and get into Boot. Also, many laptops of this brand have a special button with an arrow that allows you to select the type of boot, for example, BIOS, Boot Menu, or recovery mode.
Here, entering the boot menu is possible using the F12 key.
If it does not work, then you need to translate the option there. F12 Boot Menu to the on position - Enabled. Then we save the applied actions, reboot and again try to enter using the F12 key.
Go to the Boot Menu on HP laptops
I have a laptop of this brand, so I know a lot about it. You can enter the boot menu from this device as follows:
- Esc is a fairly common option;
- F9 - when you press the Esc key.
Entering the Boot Menu on other laptop models and motherboards
In the options described by me below, it is practically the same as described above, that is, the same keys:- Dell devices - F12 key;
- Toshiba devices - F12 key;
- Samsung devices - Esc key;
- Intel board - Esc key;
- Gigabyte motherboard - F12 key;
- Motherboard from Asus - F8 key, just like on laptops;
- MSI board - F11 key.
Here, I have described most of the models. If you are unhappy that your laptop or motherboard model is not listed, then please leave your comments and I will try to help you.