Thread: BIOS feature

Device advice The USB memory key should now be ready for use. Before you can boot up with it, though, it's necessary to tweak the PC's BIOS - the group of settings the motherboard uses to control the PC's hardware. To access it, you need to restart the PC and press a specific key as soon as the monitor flicks into life. On most PCs, the required key is Del or F2 - it helps to press the key repeatedly between switching on the PC and the Windows logo appearing. If neither
of those keys work, look for onscreen instructions or inspect the PC's manual.
In the Bios, use the arrow keys to navigate to the menu called Advanced BIOS Features (or similar - the appearance of the Bios changes depending on its manufacturer). Here you can specify which devices the PC can use to boot from - and, crucially, the order. Look for an entry called First Boot Device (or similar).



Typically, this will be set to CD-ROM or Hard Disk (or, for short, HDD). Use the arrow and Enter to CD-ROM and the Third Boot Device to Hard Disk. Finally, save the new settings and exit. When you have done this, give the toolkit a test-drive. If all has gone to plan, when the PC next starts it will boot from the USB memory key and not from the hard disk. Nearly every PC manufactured in the last three or four years will have a Bios that allows booting from USB, but if you encounter a PC that doesn't, you'll need to make a bootable CD instead (as outlined earlier). In this case ensure the First Boot Device entry in the Bios is set to CD-ROM.