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CompTIA A+ Core 1: How Can You Access the BIOS on a Windows 10 Laptop That Boots Too Quickly to Press a Key?

Learn how to access the BIOS on a Windows 10 laptop when the system boots too quickly to use a function key. Use the Windows Advanced Startup menu to enter UEFI firmware settings and manage BIOS options efficiently.

Table of Contents

Question

A user needs to access the BIOS on their Windows 10 laptop, but it boots too quickly to press a key. What is another way to access the BIOS?

A. Unplug the power cord while booting
B. Press Ctrl + Alt + Del repeatedly
C. Use the Windows Advanced Startup menu
D. Uninstall and reinstall Windows
E. Run chkdsk in the command prompt

Answer

C. Use the Windows Advanced Startup menu

Explanation

The Advanced Startup menu allows access to UEFI firmware settings when the boot process is too fast.

If your Windows 10 laptop boots too quickly for you to press the BIOS access key (such as F2, F12, or Delete), you can use the Windows Advanced Startup menu to access the BIOS (UEFI firmware settings) directly from within Windows. This method is reliable and works regardless of how fast your system boots.

Steps:

  1. Go to Start > Settings > Update & Security > Recovery.
  2. Under “Advanced startup,” click Restart now.
  3. After your PC restarts, select Troubleshoot > Advanced options > UEFI Firmware Settings.
  4. Click Restart. Your system will reboot directly into the BIOS/UEFI menu.

Alternatively, you can hold the Shift key while clicking Restart from the Start menu or login screen, then follow the same path to UEFI Firmware Settings.

This approach is recommended by Microsoft and widely used by technicians when traditional key presses are ineffective due to rapid boot times.

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