Can't access BIOS on laptop, help pls.

pc_monkey · 2 May 2015 at 04:25

Hi guys, I have never bought a laptop for more than 8 years until today. My last laptop was a HP running Windows XP, and my PC's are all running Windows 7.

I bought this Toshiba E45-B4100 (I am currently in USA) and it has Winbloat 8.1 preinstalled.

I can't seem to access BIOS no matter what key I press during boot up. Now I have spent the whole day searching the web, and just found out it is Windows 8, etc, etc.

Since this is a new laptop and I don't want to mess the hdd with Winbloat 8.1, I am thinking of buying a new HDD and put it on the lappy and install Windows 7.

My question is, once I change the HDD with a fresh one, will I be able to access the BIOS by pressing F2 or other keys ? Or there is NO way to access bios with the new laptops?

Thanks and sorry for my stupidity, I just have not touched a laptop for almost a decade.

lude1962 · 2 May 2015 at 06:22

just remove current hdd and see if you can access the bios

pc_monkey · 2 May 2015 at 06:52

yup, I got fed up and butchered the *****n laptop. Even if I remove the HDD, there is no choice to invoke BIOS setup, but I discovered, by removing the battery and putting it back, then switching the power on, it will automatically go to BIOS.... then I have to go to disable UEFI and other stuff so I may be able to boot using USB. The laptop does not have a DVD drive.

I ordered a 1TB HDD and will be installing W7...

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I can sleep now, good night everyone...

PDW · 2 May 2015 at 12:45

Looks like your model has a Secure Boot mode that stops F2 working.

These are part of the instructions for updating the Bios showing how to disable the Secure Boot mode...

For CD-ROM BIOS updates in Windows 8 models: (1) Shut down the system while pressing the SHIFT key to completely power off. (2) Power on while pressing F2 to enter the BIOS Setup menu. (3) Go to the Security tab and set the "Secure Boot" setting to "Disabled". (4) Go to the Advanced tab, enter "System Configuration" and set the Boot Mode to "CSM Boot" if the option is available. (5) Press F10 to save and exit. (6) Boot from the BIOS CD-ROM. (7) Type BIOS at the C:\ prompt then press Enter. (7) After the BIOS update has completed, restore the Boot Mode setting to "UEFI Boot" and the Secure Boot setting to Enabled.

...would expect turning it off would then give F2 access as normal but I don't know for sure !

pc_monkey · 2 May 2015 at 20:22

I have read that on the Toshiba website yesterday but somehow it does not work. But removing the battery then putting it back and pushing the power button will automatically put the laptop in BIOS setting... I did a dry run last night....

https://flic.kr/p/s98cqJ

Meaker · 2 May 2015 at 21:01

Why not just run an advanced restart and go to change firmware settings and have it auto restart to your bios?

PDW · 2 May 2015 at 21:09

They should re-write their manual with the correct procedure because you shouldn't have to do that each time to get into it. They should also make it clearer that you press F2 before you press the power button as most people expect to just tap F2 as it's booting.

At least it has the option in the Bios to boot from USB which is what you wanted

pc_monkey · 2 May 2015 at 23:47

PDW said:
They should re-write their manual with the correct procedure because you shouldn't have to do that each time to get into it. They should also make it clearer that you press F2 before you press the power button as most people expect to just tap F2 as it's booting.

At least it has the option in the Bios to boot from USB which is what you wanted

I tried it again, and it worked... I just had to press the Shift key continuously while shutting down, then pressing F2 continuously while pushing the power button... I don't understand why they try to keep BIOS settings with key combinations. People will always find out if they really want to go to bios setup anyway.

At least there are two alternatives now, one is a simple solution while mine is a "stupid" solution