admin_hub

sysop@hub:~/tools/bios-settings-explained$

bios-settings-explained

The firmware setup of a PC is a few hundred switches with names that differ on every board. These are the ones that matter, under the names they usually have, with what to set and what goes wrong when you touch them. Type the name as it appears on your screen.

before you change anything

  1. Take photos of the screens you are about to change. It is the only undo there is.
  2. With BitLocker: have the recovery key, or suspend BitLocker first. Changes to Secure Boot, the TPM and the boot mode trigger the prompt.
  3. One change, then test. Five changes and a PC that does not start is a long evening.
  4. Know the way back: "Load defaults" in the setup, or the CMOS jumper on the board when you cannot get in at all.

Names and menus differ between vendors and change with firmware versions, and not every board has every setting. The advice is for ordinary office PCs, notebooks and small servers. Getting into the setup: the keys by vendor. Related: beep code lookup, BitLocker cheat sheet, wizard: the PC does not start.