When you turn on the computer, the BIOS constantly starts. The laptop enters the BIOS when turned on. Bios appears when the computer is turned on.
Today we will look at:
Owners of any version of the Windows operating system may experience a situation where, when starting the computer, it starts instead of Windows. Such uncharacteristic behavior of the system is not normal, but you can combat it at home without the help of specialists. In this topic you will find out why your BIOS starts instead of Windows and what you can do about it.
Causes of the problem
There may be several possible factors why your PC encountered this error:
- The BIOS shell launch key is stuck.
- The operating system media is missing.
- BIOS settings failure.
- CMOS battery failure.
Let's look at each of the points described above and try to figure out what to do when the BIOS loads instead of Windows when you turn on the PC.
Sticky keys
First of all, you need to make sure that everything is fine with your keyboard: check if the BIOS shell launch button is jammed. To check this option more thoroughly, you can completely disable the keyboard while you turn on the computer.
Lack of OS media
When the PC you are using is broken or missing a Windows drive, then when loading, the computer has no choice but to open the BIOS.
In the Boot menu of your BIOS, check whether the hard drive with the system is displayed and whether it is in first place in the boot priority.
BIOS settings failure
For certain reasons, especially if custom settings were previously made in the BIOS, that, in turn, may be configured incorrectly. For such situations, use resetting the settings to the default ones. After these steps, restart your PC and check the system for the error again.
Battery fault
The CMOS battery is the main hardware component responsible for the stable operation of the BIOS. The failure of this part means that, with a high probability, you will not be able to save the BIOS settings or it will not work correctly at all.
Replacing such a battery will increase several times your chances that you will encounter a situation where the BIOS loads instead of Windows.
To gain access to control all the computer system hardware, you need to know how to enter the system menu, or BIOS. Most often, this is necessary to install a new OS from external media.
BIOS is a whole set of system programs that create the basic data input and output system on a computer. All these programs are located on the motherboard of your PC.
The main task of the BIOS menu is to manage the boot process of the operating system and indicate the startup queue of devices.
Using the system menu functions, you can increase the efficiency of the processor, change the bus frequency, etc., view the factory characteristics of the PC, set the time, change the language, etc.
Standard way to enter BIOS
This method is the most common and is suitable for most personal computers and laptops running Windows.
The essence of the method is that you need to get into the menu when the computer is already turned on, but before the operating system starts loading.
For this turn off your computer and start it again. In the first 3-5 seconds after pressing the power key, click on the F2 button. After a few seconds, the BIOS system menu will appear on the monitor screen.
F2 is the most common key to open the system menu. However, depending on the computer manufacturer and the brand of motherboard, the call key may differ. Below we bring to your attention tables of correspondence between BIOS hotkeys, device manufacturer and BIOS manufacturer, widely distributed on the Internet.
The button to enable the settings window is indicated in the start window for starting the personal computer. If you do not see any information, try entering the menu using the Del, F10, F1 or Esc keys alternately. As a result of correct execution of all actions, the I/O system window should appear:
The appearance of the system menu and the arrangement of tabs may differ on different computers. It all depends on the BIOS firmware version and its manufacturer.
If for some reason you were unable to enter the BIOS using the standard boot method, use one of the methods described below.
Using special boot options
This method is relevant for Windows operating systems versions eight and ten. This method is also suitable for starting the installation of a new OS from a flash drive or disk.
Follow the instructions:
- open a search for files and directories on your computer;
- Enter the word “Recovery” in the text field and open the specified object in the search results;
- then, on the right side of the window that opens, find the item for special download options;
- Click on the “Reboot” button. The computer will restart and then the following window will appear:
- select the “Diagnostics” tile;
Important! If you want to go into the BIOS to boot from a flash drive or disk, select “Use device” and then select the location from which the boot will be made.
- in the new window, click on “Advanced options”;
- now select the “UEFI Firmware” tile;
- In the window that appears, click on the reboot button. A few seconds after performing this action, the BIOS menu will appear on the screen.
You can enable the I/O menu using the regular command line on your computer. This method is very simple and does not require many steps. You only need to launch the command line and enter one single command.
To open the Command Line, press the Win + R keys simultaneously and type “cmd” (without quotes, as in Fig. 7) in the text field of the window that appears.
After a second you will see the Command Line window:
Now type the command shutdown.exe /r /o(Fig.9) and press Enter:
Command Shift+Restart
The next way to open the BIOS window is to use operating system hotkeys. Open the Start menu and select the Shutdown PC icon. Then hover over Reboot and, while holding down the Shift key, click on it. This method allows you to open a menu of special options for starting the operating system.
Using third party software
You can also enter the BIOS through third-party applications. Let's look at a few of the most popular:
- TweakBIOS– the utility allows you to enter the BIOS and change the system bus parameters. The peculiarity of the program is that it allows you to work with the BIOS without turning off the operating system. However, for all changes to be saved and take effect, you need to restart the computer. TweakBIOS can also optimize the performance of components such as the PC motherboard or CPU. The utility is compatible with all versions of the Windows operating system;
Sometimes after some laptop models stop loading the operating system. Instead, when turned on, they immediately automatically enter the BIOS. There, if you look at the boot list (), you will notice that it is empty. That is, it does not have a hard drive, DVD drive, or bootable flash drive that you could insert into a USB port. Although they are all connected and can even be displayed in the BIOS among the connected devices.
What to do in this situation and how to return the laptop to working condition yourself at home?
Why is this happening?
In most cases, this situation occurs, as mentioned above, after resetting the BIOS settings. Moreover, it is not necessary to do this through the corresponding menu. It is enough to remove the battery from the laptop for a few minutes and disconnect it from the electrical network. Updating the BIOS and removing dust also often leads to its reset.
In some versions of laptops, especially after 2016, the BIOS contains various options, the incorrect installation of which will prohibit booting from a hard drive or flash drive. Therefore, when turned on, the laptop itself enters the BIOS, since it does not see a single device from which it could continue booting.
How to fix this situation?
To do this, in the BIOS settings that appear on the screen immediately after turning on the laptop, you need to find the option and disable it, that is, set it to Disabled. It may have a slightly different name, such as Fast Boot, and is usually located on the Advanced or Boot tab. On Asus laptops with UEFI, you need to press F7 in the main window to activate advanced mode.
Fast Boot Option
As soon as you have disabled Fast Boot, immediately save the settings with the F10 button, then restart the laptop and go into the BIOS again.
Next, on the Boot or Security tab (possibly in our case on other tabs), you need to find the option and also disable it by moving it to the Disabled state, and the UEFI and Legacy OS (CSM - Compatibility Support Module) (OS Mode Selection) parameter should be set to CMS OS or Other OS or Legacy.
Secure Boot Option
OS Mode Selection Option
Now we save the settings using the same F10 button, reboot and check. The laptop should start loading Windows.
If this does not happen, then try to find the Legacy Support option in the BIOS and set it to Enabled. Also, if there is a parameter
Question from a user
Hello.
Tell me about one problem: I just can’t get into the BIOS, I’ve already tried all the buttons (DEL, F2, ESC, F12, etc.) - the computer does not respond to them. The motherboard is GIGABYTE GA-H11 (as it is written in the PC specification). What can be done?
Hello.
It is difficult to name a definite reason (by the way, you indicated the motherboard model incorrectly). Most often, it is not possible to enter the BIOS due to a “not working” keyboard or an incorrectly selected key. Below is a list of everything you need to pay attention to...
Note: if you need to go into the BIOS to install a new OS, then this can be done differently (see points 4, 5 below) ...
What to do if the computer does not enter BIOS/UEFI
Key and time it was pressed
And so, the first thing you should start to deal with this problem is to clarify the key to enter the BIOS. In the vast majority of cases, the key is used for this DEL(for boards from GIGABYTE as well). Slightly less common are the F2, ESC, F10, F12 keys. See the instructions below for buttons for different manufacturers.
Help! Hot keys to enter the BIOS menu, Boot Menu -
Also important one moment: BIOS/UEFI loading can happen so quickly that you may simply not have time to press the desired key. Therefore, try another option: when the PC/laptop is still turned off, hold down the enter key (ESC, for example), and then turn on the device (do not press the key before entering the BIOS!).
Press and hold the key to enter the BIOS (for example, ESC) and turn on the device (laptop)
There is an option to "get" into the BIOS without pressing keys at the boot stage...
If you have a relatively modern computer/laptop with Windows 8/10 installed, then you can enter the BIOS through the OS interface.
First you need to open the section "Recoveries" in the system parameters. Next, restart the computer through special boot options (see screenshot below).
Then open the section and click on "EFI Built-in Options" (see photo below). The computer will then restart and the BIOS window will automatically open...
Help!
How to enter UEFI (BIOS) from the Windows 8, 10 interface (without using special keys F2, Del, etc.) -
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Keyboard model and port used
Wireless keyboards have become very popular now. Everything would be fine, but a number of models simply do not work until Windows boots (the same can be said about some USB keyboards connected via various adapters...).
The advice here is simple: Have an emergency PS/2 keyboard (it should definitely work). If you have a USB keyboard, then there are small adapters for it (USB to PS/2). It is also worth trying to connect the keyboard directly to the USB ports located on the back wall of the system unit (if connected to USB 3.0, try USB 2.0 ports).
Resetting BIOS Settings
In some cases, default helps fix the problem. To do this, you can use two methods:
By the way! After such a procedure (even if you still can't get into the BIOS) Most likely its settings have been reset. And this can, for example, allow you to run Windows installation from a bootable USB flash drive/DVD (because by default, in many BIOS versions, the first boot device is a CD/flash drive, and then the hard drive).
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Disabling the hard drive
In some cases, due to a failed hard drive, its initialization is delayed (sometimes it even leads to the PC freezing). Of course, this point may also be the cause of the problem in question...
What can you do: try disconnecting all drives from SATA, USB, M2 ports of the PC (flash drives, hard drives, solid-state drives, etc.). Ideally, leave one keyboard and monitor, then reboot the device and try to enter the BIOS.
By the way! If you need to go into the BIOS to install the OS, you can try formatting the hard drive on another PC and then connecting it to the current one. Thus, Windows will not start from it and the PC will automatically try to boot from the connected installation flash drive (CD). At least this is true for the default BIOS settings...
Help!
How to connect a second hard drive to a computer, laptop -
How to format a hard drive: methods -
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BIOS update
If all the previous steps were unsuccessful, it may be worth updating the BIOS. Moreover, it is not at all necessary to upgrade the version - you can install something older (note: the new version does not always work more stable than the current one).
Modern devices allow you to run BIOS/UEFI updates directly from Windows. The entire update usually comes down to downloading and running the EXE file (like any other program), and after that the PC/laptop will reboot and update the BIOS on its own (automatically, without your participation).
Of course, this method is relevant for those who already have Windows on disk. More detailed instructions below.
Help!
How to update the BIOS of a laptop (using HP as an example) -
Good luck!
What to do if the system automatically loads the BIOS upon startup. I launch it and immediately goes into the BIOS. The keyboard doesn't jam. and got the best answer
Answer from Stala rato[guru]
It's quite possible there's a bug in the BIOS. Try resetting it (as already advised). In addition, the battery could stupidly run out, the settings get lost, so he swears. Change the CR1232, I think. It costs 15 rubles in a computer
Well, to the extreme. My parents had a similar story. Every boot I swore at something and went into the BIOS. I tormented it for 1.5 years, then I came to the conclusion that the BIOS version needed to be flashed. I dug up the latest one and installed it.
It was terribly scary, but nothing. It worked out. But now at least he squeaked once... .
PS About removing the battery (answer above) is not entirely correct. More precisely, it has not been correct for a long time.
1. There is Load default values in the BIOS itself
2. Removing the battery helps only in old mothers.
3. In newer mothers, next to the battery there is a jumper and 3 pins. Closed 2. Now you need to close the middle and free ones for 5 seconds. Then put it in place. This is a reset.
Reply from Vladimir[guru]
try resetting the bios
Reply from Igor Sokolov (RA2FCZ)[guru]
Apparently in the BIOS there are such settings, reset to default. Just take the battery out of the motherboard for 5 minutes and put it back in
Reply from Valery[master]
The best option is to change the battery
Reply from Nazgul[guru]
I met one like that. Look carefully at the POST messages (can fly by quickly, pause can help), as options: dead battery (date will be reset, replace), screwed up with the settings (reset to default), error of some device.
