You have an HP laptop and wanna know everything about HP Boot Menu like what is Booting?, what is boot menu?, what is boot order?, HP boot menu key, How to Access HP Laptop Boot Menu?, How to change Boot Order in an HP Laptop? all these queries are answered in this HP laptop Boot Menu Complete Guide.
Contents hide
1. What is Booting
2. What is Boot Menu?
3. What is Boot Order?
4. Types of HP Boot Order
5. Legacy vs UEFI Boot Order – Which is Best for HP Laptops
6. What is the default boot order?
7. HP Boot Menu Key
8. What are HP Boot Options
8.1. HP Desktop Startup Menu
8.2. HP Laptop Startup Menu
9. How to Access HP Laptop Boot Menu
10. How to change Boot Order in an HP Laptop
10.1. Method 1: Hold the Shift key and restart.
10.2. Method 2: Use Windows 10 setting application
10.3. Method 3: Open Command Prompt
10.4. Method 4: Force Windows to start in advanced boot options.
What is Booting
Booting is a procedure for establishing the computer. It can be started by hardware such as a button press or by software command. After a computer is turned on, the device’s Central Processing Unit has no software in its main memory, so some process must be installed so that it can be loaded. This is done by hardware in the CPU or by a separate processor in the system.
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What is Boot Menu?
The boot menu is a menu in which you have an approach before entering the operating system. Every single time you turn on your computer, you can choose to have an access boot menu or not. You can load up another operating system like Windows 10 physically by having access to the boot menu and making changes.
What is Boot Order?
In the very beginning, when the computer is turned on, the Basic Input and Output System starts to scan a pre-determined list of drives and devices that may contain an operating system such as Windows. The computer can boot an operating system with the help of a floppy drive, hard drive, CD or DVD, USB storage, or a network. The procedure in which the devices are checked is arranged by the Basic Input and Output System (BIOS).
Types of HP Boot Order
There are two types of boot order and they are as follows:
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Legacy Boot Order: Legacy Boot is the BIOS firmware’s boot process, and it contains a list of bootable storage devices such as SSD, Hard Disk Drives, and Floppy Disk Drives. You can set the priority order. The BIOS performs Power On Self-Test when the computer is turned on. To indicate normal booting, the internal speaker emits a single beep. The code is used to identify the problem and provide further assistance.
The firmware loads the first section of each storage target into memory after it has completed the POST procedure. It then scans the file for a valid MBR (Master Boot Record). The firmware executes the bootloader to choose a partition to boot from if it finds a valid MBR. If it doesn’t find one, the firmware proceeds to the next device.
UEFI Boot Order: Unified Extensible Firmware Interface (UEFI) is used in most new motherboards. UEFI has many advantages over BIOS. It is user-friendly and has the most crucial benefit of all. Graphical User Interface (GUI) BIOS offers a blue screen with many options. The standard BIOS cannot recognize large storage drives. UEFI is an excellent alternative and can recognize large storage drives.
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Regular BIOS uses the keyboard to select options. UEFI allows you to control the interface with the mouse. Secure boot is also available in UEFI. It prevents unsigned drivers from being loaded and protects against malicious software. Some computers equipped with UEFI allow the user to activate legacy BIOS compatibility mode also.
UEFI boot uses UEFI firmware. It keeps a list of boot volumes, called EFI service partitions. The UEFI firmware scans every bootable storage device connected to the system during Power-On Self-Test, verifying that all hardware functions correctly. To find a EFI partition to start after the firmware checks the GPT.
Legacy vs UEFI Boot Order – Which is Best for HP Laptops
UEFI uses URFI firmware, which maintains a list of valid boot volumes called EFI Service Partitions. This is used for the boot process.
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The legacy boot uses BIOS firmware to initiate the boot process. Another difference between UEFI & legacy boot is that UEFI is more secure and efficient than legacy boot.
The main difference between UEFI (or legacy boot) is that UEFI, the most recent method of booting a computer, is intended to replace BIOS. The legacy boot is the process used to boot the laptop with BIOS firmware. UEFI, in short, is the successor of BIOS.
What is the default boot order?
The default boot order settings for the computer is pre-built in the factory. The default boot order determines what the system will be booting first.
1. UEFI boot order
2. OS Boot Manager
3. USB Diskette on Key/USB Hard Disk
4. USB CD/DVD ROM Drive
5. Network Adapter
6. Legacy boot order
7. OS Boot Manager
8. Notebook Hard Drive
9. USB Diskette on Key/USB Hard Disk
10. USB CD/DVD ROM Drive
11.USB Network Adapter
12. Network adapter
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To boot to a USB Device, DVD, CD-ROM, there must be bootable files installed on the PC, or the system might be detoured and will load on what is already on the PC.
An operating system not found error message may appear if a USB Flash Drive, floppy disk, or an optical disk is Plugged into a laptop or computer that does not carry an operating system. If this error occurs, remove the disk and restart the computer.
HP Boot Menu Key
It is mandatory to access the HP boot menu when the user is installing a new operating system like Windows 10 or recovering data from a corrupted internal hard disk. It helps the user choose which device to use for booting: CD, DVD, USB, flash drive, hard drive, or network.
Note:Basic Input and Output System (BIOS) and Unified Extensible Firmware Interface (UEFI) are two conventional firmware types used to execute hardware configuration in the process of the computer booting.
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- The general HP boot menu keys are Esc and F9. The key to access HP Laptop Boot Menu on most of the model is the Esckey.
- The HP BIOS keys that are used everywhere are Esc, F10, and F1.
What are HP Boot Options
The boot menu of a HP Laptop and a HP Desktop is a little different.
HP Desktop Startup Menu
1. System Information (F1) – It will tell you the very fundamental information of your system, including Manufacturer, Product Name, SKU Number, Serial Number, BIOS Revision and Date, Processor Type, and many more.
2. System Diagnostics (F2) – This will include many tests that that will check for hardware collapse. These HP Hardware Diagnostics tools help you test the system’s main components even when you don’t have access to the operating system.
3. Boot Device Option (F9) – This menu will provide UEFI Boot Source and Legacy Boot Sources. This will give you the option to choose from.
4. BIOS Setup – You can exit UEFI and enter BIOS setup by choosing this option. There are five options through which you can change the system’s BIOS setup.
5. System recovery (F11) – You can reset all your system settings and bring it to factory mode by using this. This can help you find the solution to some difficult problems such as the inaccessible boot menu.
6. Network Boot (F12) – This option will allow you to boot straight from the network drive available.
If you wish to continue HP desktop startup, press ENTER.
HP Laptop Startup Menu
The start menu options that are available on HP Laptop are-
1. System Information (F1)
2. System Diagnostics (F2)
3. Boot Device Options (F9)
4. BIOS Setup (F10)
5. System Recovery (F11)
The only difference between HP Desktop Startup Menu and HP Laptop Startup Menu is NETWORK BOOT.
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How to Access HP Laptop Boot Menu
The Boot Device order (Boot Menu Order) is available.You can configure it inside the Advanced Tab in the BIOS setting menu. The steps differ from model to model.
Following are the steps to configure the boor order on most of the system-
- Power on or restart the computer.
- While the screen is blank, press the F10 key (it may show a message on the bottom “Press F10 to Enter BIOS” ) to go to the BIOS settings menu.
Note: The BIOS settings are accessible by pressing the f6 or the f2 key on some Laptops/computers. - After entering the BIOS, go to the Boot Menu Options or Boot settings.
- For Laptops: Navigate to the Storage tab, and select Boot Options.
- For Desktop Computers: Navigate to the System Configuration tab, and then select Boot Order.
Note: It depends upon the Model of the Laptop or the Motherboard where Boot option is located. Generally, you can find it in the System Configuration tab, or Boot options as a tab can also be available there. If you are having trouble finding Boot Option try searching on Google for “laptop or Motherboard Model name + Open Boot Options in BIOS” for example, “HP 15s-fq2535TU Open Boot Options in BIOS,” and you will get some help from Google. - Follow the on-screen steps to change the Boot Device order.
How to change Boot Order in an HP Laptop
You need to change the boot sequence (Boot Device Order) in the BIOS setup settings in order to boot from another drive/system. Changing Boot order is very important specially if you want to install Windows 10 on HP laptop from USB Flash Drive but you have to create a Windows 10 Bootable USB flash drive first, then only you can install it after changing the Boot order to USB Flash Drive as 1st Boot, below you will find all the method to change the Boot Order in an HP Laptop.
Method 1: Hold the Shift key and restart.
1. Press the Shift key and hold it.
2. Click on Start -> click Power -> click Restart.
3. This will open the Advanced Boot Option. Click on Troubleshoot -> Advanced Option -> UEFI Firmware settings -> Restart.
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Method 2: Use Windows 10 setting application
1. Click Windows Key+I to open Windows Settings.
2. Select Update and Security (If you do not find go back to settings home there you will fund it in bottom).
3. Shift to Recovery in the left sidebar.
4. Click on the Restart now button under the advanced startup.
Method 3: Open Command Prompt
1. Click Windows+S to open Windows Search.
2. Type cmd, right-click on the command prompt, then select run as administrator.
3. Type shutdown.exe/r/o and then Enter.
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Method 4: Force Windows to start in advanced boot options.
1. Restart your system.
2. Press & hold the power button till you see the Windows logo.
3. Repeat the same steps 2-4 times.
Thank you so much for reading. I hope I could help you, and for any kind of queries, do mention them in the comment section.
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FAQs
What is the F12 boot menu? ›
BIOS Update Information
If a Dell computer is unable to boot into the Operating System (OS), the BIOS update can be initiated using the F12 One Time Boot menu. Most Dell computers manufactured after 2012 have this function and you can confirm by booting the computer to the F12 One Time Boot menu.
Restart your computer and you may see a screen that says, “Press F12 Boot for boot Menu” or “Press Del for Setup”. Once you have entered the boot menu, you can use the up and down arrows to select the device you want to boot from.
How do I manually boot my HP laptop? ›- Restart HP computer.
- Press the Esc key to enter Boot Menu.
- Press F12 to enter the Network Boot Menu.
- Select a network drive to boot your computer from.
- Save the changes and restart the PC.
Turn on the laptop and immediately press the F11 key repeatedly until System Recovery starts. On the Choose an option screen, click "Troubleshoot." Click "Reset this PC."
What does F10 do at boot? ›On many PCs, as the computer is booting, you see an option to press F10 to enter setup. Pressing F10 when this message is displayed enters the BIOS or CMOS setup. How to enter and exit the BIOS or CMOS setup.
What does F5 do on boot? ›The F5 hotkey was introduced in Windows 95, where the boot sequence hotkeys were as follows: ESC – Boot in text mode. F5 – Boot in Safe Mode. Shift + F5 – Boot to Safe Mode MS-DOS.
What is F11 boot menu? ›When this option is enabled, you can boot directly into the One-Time Boot Menu in the System Utilities by pressing F11 in the POST screen after a server reboot. From the System Utilities screen, select System Configuration > BIOS/Platform Configuration (RBSU) > Server Security > One-Time Boot Menu (F11 Prompt).
How do I change the UEFI boot order on my HP laptop? ›- From the System Utilities screen, select System Configuration > BIOS/Platform Configuration (RBSU) > Boot Options > UEFI Boot Order and press Enter.
- Use the arrow keys to navigate within the boot order list.
- Press the + key to move an entry higher in the boot list.
The function key is used to enter the Windows startup menu. It is commonly used to access the Windows Safe Mode. Used by some of the computers to access the Windows recovery system, but may require a Windows installation CD.
How do I change the boot override order? ›- Step 1: Enter your Computer's BIOS set up utility. ...
- Step 2: Navigate to the boot order menu in BIOS. ...
- Step 3: Change the Boot Order. ...
- Step 4: Save your Changes.
What is my boot menu key? ›
The Advanced Boot Options screen lets you start Windows in advanced troubleshooting modes. You can access the menu by turning on your computer and pressing the F8 key before Windows starts.
What is the UEFI boot order? ›Windows Boot Manager, UEFI PXE – the boot order is Windows Boot Manager, followed by UEFI PXE. All other UEFI devices such as optical drives are disabled. On machines where you cannot disable UEFI devices, they are ordered at the bottom of the list.
How do I reset my HP laptop to factory settings from BIOS? ›Turn on the computer, and then click F10, until the BIOS opens. Under the Main tab, use the up and down arrow keys to select Restore Defaults. Select Yes. Under the Main tab, use the up and down arrow keys to select Save Changes and Exit.
What does the F12 key do on HP laptop? ›F12: Prints the file in the active window. F3: Cancels the previous undo action. F7: Replies to the e-mail in the active window. F11: Saves the file in the active window.
How do I press F11 on my HP laptop? ›1) Press the power button and then immediately begin tapping the Esc key. The startup menu will appear. F11 is listed in the menu.
How do I get my HP laptop to boot from USB? ›Turn on the computer. Immediately press the Escape key repeatedly, about once every second, until the Startup Menu opens. Press F9 to open the Boot Device Options menu. Use the up or down arrow key to select the recovery USB device, and then press Enter.
What is F12 on HP? ›On Hewlett-Packard laptop keyboards with an airplane on the F12 key, the secondary F12 function enables and disables airplane mode.
What is F1 F2 F3 F4 F5 F6 F7 F8 F9 f10? ›The function keys or F-keys on a computer keyboard, labeled F1 through F12, are keys that have a special function defined by the operating system, or by a currently running program. They may be combined with the Alt or Ctrl keys.
What does the F6 key do? ›F6 – Moves the cursor to the address bar in most Internet browsers. F7 – Used to spell check and grammar check a document in Microsoft Apps (e.g. Word). F8 – Used to access the boot menu in Windows when turning on the computer. F9 – Refreshes a document in Microsoft Word and sends and receives emails in Outlook.
What does shift F6 do? ›Shift+F6 switches between the worksheet, Zoom controls, task pane, and ribbon. Ctrl+F6 switches to the next workbook window when more than one workbook window is open. F7 Displays the Spelling dialog box to check spelling in the active worksheet or selected range.
What do the F1 to F12 keys do? ›
The function keys or F keys are lined across the top of the keyboard and labeled F1 through F12. These keys act as shortcuts, performing certain functions, like saving files, printing data, or refreshing a page. For example, the F1 key is often used as the default help key in many programs.
What is f8 key used for? ›Function key used to enter the Windows startup menu, commonly used to access Windows Safe Mode. Some earlier computers may also use this key at boot to access the Windows recovery system, but may require a Windows installation CD.
How do I factory reset my HP laptop that won't boot? ›- Choose a method to open Windows Recovery Environment. ...
- On the Choose an option screen, select Troubleshoot.
- On the Troubleshoot screen, select Reset this PC.
- Follow the instructions to reset your computer.