One of the most panic-inducing computer problems occurs when your PC won't boot. It's terrifying because you know something is wrong, but can't properly troubleshoot it since you don't have a computer to research with.
You might find the root of your problem lies in BIOS corruption. Maybe a power outage screwed it up, or you tried to update the BIOS and ran into a problem. Whatever the case, entering the BIOS and resetting it is a good way to clear these problems and start fresh. Here's the basic outline for doing so.
First, turn on your computer and look for a Press [X] to enter BIOS or [X] for Setup key. Usually, this key is F2, F12, Delete, or similar. Keep tapping this key as soon as you start your computer to access the BIOS or UEFI. If you didn't know, UEFI is the modern successor to a BIOS. It allows you to use your mouse for navigation and offers many more options than an older BIOS.
Once you're in, you might see a key at the bottom that says Setup Defaults -- F9 on many PCs. Press this key and confirm with Yes to restore the default BIOS settings. On some machines, you may find this under the Security tab. Look for an option like Restore Factory Defaults or Reset All Settings.
This will vary depending on your computer, so be sure to have a look around to find the right place. Somewhere under Security, Initialize, or Reset will likely contain it. Clearing BIOS settings will remove any changes you've made, such as adjusting the boot order. But it won't affect Windows, so don't sweat that. Once you're done, make sure to hit the Save and Exit command so your changes take effect.
Using a Windows 8 PC? Before you can reset the BIOS to its default settings, you need to access it and there's a slightly different method for that process than the one outlined above. Here's how to access the BIOS on a Windows 8 computer.
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