Change the Boot Order in the BIOS

The BIOS boot order is simply the order in which devices are listed in the BIOS. After the POST, the BIOS tries to boot from the first device on the list. If a device is not bootable, the BIOS will try to boot from the second device. It continues that way to the third and so on.

The ability to use the keyboard and the boot process of your computer are all coordinated from one powerhouse – the BIOS. The BIOS is an acronym for Basic Input Output System. The BIOS is a piece of software that is stored on a memory chip located on the motherboard of your computer.

Let's look at how we can change the boot order of bootable devices such as a CD, a hard drive, and others in the BIOS:

Step 1 - To change the boot order, go to the BIOS setup utility. First, press the power button to turn off the computer. Boot it up and try to enter setup by waiting for Del or F2 during POST to come up. Press the key as soon as the message is displayed on the screen. This will be early in the boot process, before any Windows logos show up.

Step 2 - Now, you should be in the BIOS setup utility. At the top of the screen, look for the boot tab. The boot order menu option, depending on your computer, can be located by following the Advanced Options -> Advanced BIOS Features.

Step 3 - Change the boot order by using the + and - keys. Click on exit, and selecting "Yes" when prompted to save your BIOS configuration changes. That is it. You should now be able to more easily boot from different devices such as a CD, floppy disk, flash drive, or hard drive.

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-By Dominic

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