Accessing BIOS On Old Laptop

User avatar
hlewton
PlatinumLounger
Posts: 3974
Joined: 24 Oct 2010, 23:39
Location: Canton, Ohio USA

Accessing BIOS On Old Laptop

Post by hlewton »

On an old Laptop that was originally Windows 7 and ended up as a Windows 10 machine, I am trying to access the BIOS. I have tried these: “While the computer isn't powered on yet, press and hold the [F2] button of the keyboard, and then press the [Power button] (Do not release F2 button until the BIOS configuration display.)


More specifically, it depends on the motherboard the BIOS is located on. Common keys to enter the BIOS are F1, F2, F10, Delete, Esc, as well as key combinations like Ctrl + Alt + Esc or Ctrl + Alt + Delete, although those are more common on older machines.”


None of them allow me to access the BIOS. It is an ASUS Model# K50IJ computer.
Does anyone have any other suggestions on how I can get into the BIOS?
Regards,
hlewton

User avatar
HansV
Administrator
Posts: 79520
Joined: 16 Jan 2010, 00:14
Status: Microsoft MVP
Location: Wageningen, The Netherlands

Re: Accessing BIOS On Old Laptop

Post by HansV »

Try pressing and releasing F2 in quick succession while you turn on the laptop.
If that doesn't work either:
Do you happen to have an external keyboard that you can connect to the laptop? If so, try pressing and holding F2 on that keyboard while you turn the laptop on.
Best wishes,
Hans

User avatar
hlewton
PlatinumLounger
Posts: 3974
Joined: 24 Oct 2010, 23:39
Location: Canton, Ohio USA

Re: Accessing BIOS On Old Laptop

Post by hlewton »

HansV wrote:
24 Mar 2024, 15:04
Try pressing and releasing F2 in quick succession while you turn on the laptop.
If that doesn't work either:
Do you happen to have an external keyboard that you can connect to the laptop? If so, try pressing and holding F2 on that keyboard while you turn the laptop on.
I tried the first one already.

I do have an external keyboard but nothing to adapt it to the ports on the laptop.

Thanks
Regards,
hlewton

User avatar
HansV
Administrator
Posts: 79520
Joined: 16 Jan 2010, 00:14
Status: Microsoft MVP
Location: Wageningen, The Netherlands

Re: Accessing BIOS On Old Laptop

Post by HansV »

Some troubleshooting tips:
PC Won't Boot to BIOS - 4 Ways Included
Best wishes,
Hans

User avatar
hlewton
PlatinumLounger
Posts: 3974
Joined: 24 Oct 2010, 23:39
Location: Canton, Ohio USA

Re: Accessing BIOS On Old Laptop

Post by hlewton »

HansV wrote:
24 Mar 2024, 15:15
Some troubleshooting tips:
PC Won't Boot to BIOS - 4 Ways Included
Thanks for the link. I'm looking into it now.
Regards,
hlewton

User avatar
hlewton
PlatinumLounger
Posts: 3974
Joined: 24 Oct 2010, 23:39
Location: Canton, Ohio USA

Re: Accessing BIOS On Old Laptop

Post by hlewton »

I thought I had posted this. I hooked up an USB wireless keyboard and tried all the combinations above. It still didn't work.

It's strange, and I looked closely during boot up, it does not mention how to access the BIOS.
Regards,
hlewton

User avatar
stuck
Panoramic Lounger
Posts: 8487
Joined: 25 Jan 2010, 09:09
Location: retirement

Re: Accessing BIOS On Old Laptop

Post by stuck »

The F key you need to tap as you power up won't necessarily be F2, it depends on the brand of the laptop. So who manufactured this machine?

Ken

User avatar
HansV
Administrator
Posts: 79520
Joined: 16 Jan 2010, 00:14
Status: Microsoft MVP
Location: Wageningen, The Netherlands

Re: Accessing BIOS On Old Laptop

Post by HansV »

Harold mentioned ASUS Model# K50IJ. F2 should activate the BIOS settings for that model.
Best wishes,
Hans

User avatar
hlewton
PlatinumLounger
Posts: 3974
Joined: 24 Oct 2010, 23:39
Location: Canton, Ohio USA

Re: Accessing BIOS On Old Laptop

Post by hlewton »

I read the link's suggestions above and tried what I could. I then gave up and reset my computer. With the help of my computer builder, I got Windows 10 reloaded without any mention of me or an Internet connection. I'm doing all this to clean any reference to me from the computer then to donate it to a local charity. I don't feel completely comfortable yet to do that.

Any suggestions on what I can use to wipe the disk on this machine clean and still leave Windows 10 intact?
Regards,
hlewton

User avatar
HansV
Administrator
Posts: 79520
Joined: 16 Jan 2010, 00:14
Status: Microsoft MVP
Location: Wageningen, The Netherlands

Re: Accessing BIOS On Old Laptop

Post by HansV »

If you wipe the disk clean, Windows will be gone.
Since you already reset the laptop and reloaded Windows 10 without using your own account, the laptop should be all set to be donated.
Best wishes,
Hans

User avatar
stuck
Panoramic Lounger
Posts: 8487
Joined: 25 Jan 2010, 09:09
Location: retirement

Re: Accessing BIOS On Old Laptop

Post by stuck »

HansV wrote:
24 Mar 2024, 18:22
...mentioned ASUS Model# K50IJ...
Oops, yes, so he did. Sorry I missed that.

Ken

User avatar
hlewton
PlatinumLounger
Posts: 3974
Joined: 24 Oct 2010, 23:39
Location: Canton, Ohio USA

Re: Accessing BIOS On Old Laptop

Post by hlewton »

HansV wrote:
24 Mar 2024, 18:49
If you wipe the disk clean, Windows will be gone.
Since you already reset the laptop and reloaded Windows 10 without using your own account, the laptop should be all set to be donated.
OK, thanks. I was hoping that was the case. I save everything and I just finished packing it up in its original box with all the discs, manuals, and everything else it came with. It looks new but it is very slow by today's standards.
Regards,
hlewton

User avatar
hlewton
PlatinumLounger
Posts: 3974
Joined: 24 Oct 2010, 23:39
Location: Canton, Ohio USA

Re: Accessing BIOS On Old Laptop

Post by hlewton »

I had a couple old 500 GB drives I wanted to scrap. Not sure where I read it, but somewhere someone said to drill holes through the drives so data couldn't be retrieved. Not sure if that person ever tried drilling holes through hard drives, but I did today. I had to end up using a hammer drill to get through them. Busted one carbide drill in the process. Not sure what material the drives are made of, but my hammer drill can drill through brick and concrete easier than drilling through those hard drives. Got it done, but it was a chore.
Regards,
hlewton

User avatar
HansV
Administrator
Posts: 79520
Joined: 16 Jan 2010, 00:14
Status: Microsoft MVP
Location: Wageningen, The Netherlands

Re: Accessing BIOS On Old Laptop

Post by HansV »

The data on the disk must have been very hard... :innocent:
Best wishes,
Hans

User avatar
hlewton
PlatinumLounger
Posts: 3974
Joined: 24 Oct 2010, 23:39
Location: Canton, Ohio USA

Re: Accessing BIOS On Old Laptop

Post by hlewton »

HansV wrote:
25 Mar 2024, 19:48
The data on the disk must have been very hard... :innocent:
:clapping: :clapping: :cheers:
Regards,
hlewton