How To Change Boot Order In Computer BIOS [For Beginners]

This tutorial demonstrates how to launch the built-in BIOS utility to change the boot order of your devices on your computer. If you are looking to set the primary boot device to a usb flash drive/stick or CD/DVD follow these steps. If you ever want to change these settings back, you can do so following the keyboard shortcuts located in the BIOS. Remember to always save your changes before closing out of the utility.

To boot from a CD, DVD or USB device, make sure that the device has boot sequence priority over the hard drive.

BIOS (Basic Input Output Subsystem) is a programmable chip that controls how information is passed to various devices in the computer system. A typical method to access the BIOS settings screen is to press ESC, F1, F2, F8 or F10 during the boot sequence.

BIOS settings allow you to run a boot sequence from a floppy drive, a hard drive, a CD-ROM drive or an external device. You may configure the order that your computer searches these physical devices for the boot sequence.

The first device in the order list has the first boot priority. For example, to boot from a CD-ROM drive instead of a hard drive, place the CD-ROM drive ahead of the hard drive in priority.

Before you set boot priority for a USB device, plug the device into a USB port.

To specify the boot sequence:

1. Start the computer and press ESC, F1, F2, F8 or F10 during the initial startup screen. Depending on the BIOS manufacturer, a menu may appear.

2. Choose to enter BIOS setup. The BIOS setup utility page appears.

3. Use the arrow keys to select the BOOT tab. System devices appear in order of priority.

4. To give a CD or DVD drive boot sequence priority over the hard drive, move it to the first position in the list.

5. To give a USB device boot sequence priority over the hard drive, do the following:

Move the hard drive device to the top of the boot sequence list.

Expand the hard drive device to display all hard drives.

Move the USB device to the top of the list of hard drives.

Save and exit the BIOS setup utility.

6. The computer will restart with the changed settings.

7. Boot Priority Options

Some computer manufacturers allow you to select the device that contains the boot sequence from a special device selection menu. The example below uses a Dell system board.

To set boot priority using a device selection menu:

1.When the computer starts to boot up, after the manufacturer's ID screen, press F12 several times. The device selection menu appears.

2. Use the up and down arrows to select CD-ROM or an USB Flash Drive.

3. To boot from the selected device, press ENTER.

Note: Using an incorrect BIOS setting can cause a system malfunction. Please follow the BIOS guide provided with your computer motherboard. If you read these instructions and you are not sure how to change a setting, it is better to leave it as the default setting.

This tutorial will apply for computers, laptops, desktops,and tablets running the Windows 10, Windows 8/8.1, Windows 7 operating systems.Works for all major computer manufactures (Dell, HP, Acer, Asus, Toshiba, Lenovo, Samsung).