Practical Lab: Entering BIOS/UEFI

Objective

Open the firmware setup screen of your own PC, find your motherboard model, check the boot order and look at the hardware information. You only look. Nothing in this lab asks you to change a setting. Windows tools are used first, so you know what to expect before you enter the setup.

Time: 25–30 minutes
You need: A Windows PC (desktop or laptop) and a keyboard. No extra software.

Before you start: Save your work and close your programs. If your drive uses BitLocker, make sure you know where your recovery key is (see "Safe settings to check" at the end). Just looking in setup does not trigger it, but it is a good habit.

What to Open

Part 1: What Does Windows Say? (Before You Enter Setup)

In msinfo32 on the System Summary page, write down:

1. BIOS Version/Date: ________________
2. BIOS Mode (Legacy or UEFI): ________________
3. Secure Boot State (On, Off, Unsupported): ________________
4. BaseBoard Manufacturer / Product: ________________

In PowerShell:

Get-Disk | Select-Object Number, FriendlyName, PartitionStyle
Get-CimInstance Win32_BIOS | Select-Object Manufacturer, SMBIOSBIOSVersion, ReleaseDate

5. PartitionStyle of your system disk (GPT or MBR): ________________

If BIOS Mode says UEFI, the disk should be GPT. If it says Legacy, it should be MBR. They go together.

Part 2: How to Enter BIOS (Del, F2, F12 Keys)

The key to press differs by maker. It must be pressed during the first seconds of power-on, while the logo shows.

(These are common, not guaranteed. Your screen may show a hint such as "Press DEL to enter setup". Your manual is the best source.)

Method A: The safe Windows way (works even with Fast Startup)

On modern PCs, Windows Fast Startup and very fast firmware can make the key hard to catch. Use this instead:

1. Open Settings ► System ► Recovery (Windows 11) or Update & Security ► Recovery (Windows 10).
2. Next to Advanced startup, click Restart now.
3. When the blue menu appears: Troubleshoot ► Advanced options ► UEFI Firmware Settings ► Restart.

(Shortcut: hold Shift while clicking Restart in the Start menu.)

Method B: A command

In Command Prompt or PowerShell:

shutdown /r /fw /t 0

This restarts the PC straight into the firmware setup. (/fw = go to firmware, /t 0 = restart now.) It works only on UEFI PCs. Save your work first, because it restarts immediately.

Method C: Press the key at power-on

1. Shut down fully (hold Shift and click Shut down).
2. Press power, then tap the key (for example Del) about once per second until the setup appears. Do not hold it down.

If it does not work: Try the other key from the table, unplug extra USB devices, or use Method A.

Part 3: UEFI Interface Navigation

Every maker looks different, but they share ideas. Look at the old Award screen in Chapter 5, Section 1 (Figure 5.2): a menu on the screen, an on-screen key guide at the bottom (Esc to quit, F10 to save and exit, arrows to select). Modern screens do the same, but with graphics and a mouse.

Keys you can trust in almost any setup screen:

Part 4: Identify the Motherboard Model

Inside the setup, look at the Main page or System Information page. Write down:

6. Board / product name: ________________
7. BIOS / UEFI version: ________________
8. BIOS build date: ________________
9. CPU name and speed: ________________
10. Total memory: ________________

Compare these with your answers in Part 1. They should match.

Part 5: Check the Boot Order

Go to the Boot tab (or Boot Priority area).

11. What is Boot Option #1? ________________
12. Is "Windows Boot Manager" in the list? ________________
13. Is the Boot Mode set to UEFI or Legacy/CSM? ________________
14. Is Secure Boot shown as enabled? ________________

Do not change anything. Just read. If you accidentally changed something, use Discard changes and exit (not Save).

You can also look at the same entries in Windows (admin Command Prompt):

bcdedit /enum firmware

Find the line description Windows Boot Manager.

Part 6: View Hardware Info in BIOS

Look for pages such as Hardware Monitor, PC Health Status, System Information, Advanced ► CPU Configuration or Storage Configuration. Write down:

15. CPU temperature: ________________
16. CPU fan speed (RPM): ________________
17. Memory speed: ________________ (compare with the speed Windows shows in Task Manager)
18. Drives detected: ________________

Part 7: Leave Safely

1. Choose Exit ► Discard Changes and Exit (or press Esc and pick the "do not save" option).
2. The PC restarts into Windows.

Never use "Load Defaults" or "Reset" in this lab unless you know that you want it.

What Should Happen

• Part 1 gives you BIOS and disk facts from inside Windows.
• Part 2 opens the setup screen with one of the three methods.
• Parts 4–6 show the same facts again, directly from the firmware.
• Part 7 returns you to Windows with nothing changed.

Interpretation Guide

Safe Settings to Check (Look Only)

BitLocker note: If your drive is BitLocker-encrypted, changing Secure Boot, TPM or boot settings can ask for your recovery key at the next start. Check yours at account.microsoft.com/devices/recoverykey (if it is linked to your Microsoft account) before you ever change those.

Follow-Up Questions

1. Why did Part 1 tell you the BIOS Mode before you entered setup? What two things should match?
2. Which of the three entry methods would you use on a PC with Fast Startup on? Why?
3. Why is it safer to use a one-time boot menu than to change the boot order for installing from USB?
4. What did you see in setup that you could not see from outside the case?
5. Name two settings you must not change casually, and say why.