How to go into BIOS and use its capabilities correctly

Few of the users of personal computers know that the first program to start when the PC is turned on is the BIOS. In this basic input / output system (this is what this name stands for), there are a number of software modules through which the computer conducts self-diagnostics and initialization of installed equipment, and then transfers control of the device to the operating system. With the help of a simple interface called BIOS Setup, the user can independently configure these basic program modules. But for this, he first needs to know how to go to the BIOS.

If in almost all stationary computers manufacturers have reached some kind of consent and the BIOS interface is called by the same key (usually by pressing the "Del" button or much less often "F2"), then in laptops the situation looks much more complicated. Each manufacturing company often develops the simplest software for its devices. Therefore, the answer to the question of how to enter the BIOS in a laptop, most often depends on the brand of the laptop itself. Each manufacturer provides similar information to the user in a variety of ways. Most often, a hint about how to go into BIOS, will appear on the screen when you turn on the laptop. If this does not happen, then you can use the table below.

This tip helps the user to figure out how to go into the BIOS on a laptop of a particular manufacturer:

"Esc" - almost all Toshiba laptops (to exit the menu that appears, you will need to press "F1");

"F1" - the majority of notebooks manufactured by Lenovo and IBM, as well as some models of Dell, HP, Gateway and Packard-Bell;

"F2" - the vast majority of laptops produced by "Asus", "Acer" and "RoverBook";

"F3" - sometimes runs the BIOS from laptops "Sony" and "Dell";

"F8" - allows you to go to the BIOS on some laptops brands "Dell" and "iRu";

"F10" - used in notebooks "Compaq" and "Toshiba" if you press the button when the flashing cursor appears in the upper right corner of the display;

"F12" - some models of "Lenovo", as well as other manufacturers;

"Ctrl + F2" - many models of the company "Asus", issued more than five years ago;

"Ctrl + Alt + Esc" - sometimes found in notebooks brand "Acer";

"Ctrl + Alt + S" - can often be found in laptops of little-known firms.

All self-respecting manufacturers find out how to go into the BIOS of a particular model of the laptop can be very simple - just go to the official website and see the detailed instructions. For laptops of little-known companies (if none of the above options helped), you can also try combinations Ctrl + Alt + Enter, Fn + F1, Ctrl + Alt + Ins, or Ctrl + Alt + Del. "

Unlike a stationary PC, the BIOS of the notebook offers the user several additional options:

- management of the developed password infrastructure;

- Work with touch panel TouchPad / TrackPoint;

- Several options for expanding the screen - if the display resolution is lower than the physical matrix resolution, you can slightly stretch or reduce the picture displayed on the screen;

- calibration and fine tuning of the battery;

- From the BIOS Setup of your laptop user can see the serial number of the device itself, the motherboard and the hard drive.

But do not hurry to change something in the settings right after you learned how to go into BIOS. Despite the more modest possibilities in comparison with stationary PCs in terms of "fine tuning" ("dispersal" of some parts of the device, supply of voltage, etc.), such an intervention can lead to a permanent reboot of the laptop or even the failure of some parts. First, you need to pay attention to the study of each item of BIOS and its impact on the entire device.

To begin with, you can change BIOS values one at a time and see how this affects the power. When performance drops or laptop hangs, it is recommended that you immediately restore all the default items.