Accessing BIOS of 5920G to change Boot Order

Hello

I am a "silver surfer" with limited computer knowledge and would greatly appreciate some help.

I recently purchased an Acer Aspire 5920G and am delighted with my purchase.

The laptop is presently working well (touch wood !!) but in case of future computer catastrophe I used the eRecovery facility to create a full back up and also create recovery DVDs.

Being a "belt and braces" person I have also bought, downloaded and installed a copy of Acronis True Image Home 11 which I saw recommended in a computer magazine.

As part of the Acronis process, I created a rescue dvd using its standard tool.

I am now required to check that this rescue DVD boots correctly.

This involves entering the 5920G's BIOS and temporarily amending the boot order.

I understand I can do this by tapping the F2 key repeatedly before Windows starts. Is this correct ?

Is there any kind of password required to enter and/or amend the BIOS ?

Are there any risks in this process, what are they and how can they be avoided/minimised ?

Sorry for the long post but I have never done anything like this before and I am a bit worried about it.

Many thanks in advance for any help on the above queries and other relevant tips/hints !!

 

Changing the Boot Order doesn't harm the system in anyway.

Entering the BIOS requires no password, unless a password was applied by the retailer or the previous owner.

- Go into the BIOS by pressing F2 at POST.
- Go into the MAIN window.
- You'll see "F12 Boot Menu: ........[Disabled]"
- Enable it.
- Then Save Changes, Exit and the system will Restart.
- Now, during POST tap F12, and a boot menu will come up. Here you can choose the Boot Device without entering the -.BIOS, and it will not change the original Boot Order as well. This menu will allow you to just choose the Boot Device.

 

Andy, many thanks for your very prompt and most helpful reply.

Just to be sure I understand the procedure:

1) Please confirm that POST means the short interval when the screen is black before the Windows logo appears.

If the logo appears, I have been too slow and have to try again. Yes ??

2) For booting with a dvd, what will be the wording of the item in the boot menu be ?
CD -ROM drive perhaps ?

2) I assume that, after I have tested that the Acronis rescue dvd boots successfully, I can switch the Boot device back to Hard Drive by using the same F12 key.

3) When everything is finished in this task and I am operating normally, should I leave the Boot menu accessible by the F12 key ? This would be convenient in event of computer catastrophe but is it prudent in case of carelessness on my part ?

Your further kind guidance on these points would be much appreciated.

 

1. I think for your laptop, when the Acer logo shows up that is POST. Basically the POST is hidden by the logo. I think you can actually see POST by disabling "Quiet Boot" in the BIOS. In other words, start tapping the F2/F12 keys softly, as soon as you switch on the notebook.

2. The wording will be the model no. of your Optical Disc Drive.

2. Actually, using F12 won't alter the Boot Order. It shows up the Boot Order menu, so that you can choose the device you want to boot from. The Boot Order will not be changed, and the HDD will remain #1.

3. Yes, its best you leave the F12 functionality ON. I never mess up my Boot Order. I choose the device from which I want to boot from by pressing F12. It is off by default from the manufacturer. It is a default setting of the BIOS.

Edited by ATG, reason: not allowed

 

Hello again Andy

Thanks again for your quick response, Andy.

I have downloaded the BIOS file from the link you gave me and saved it.

When you say the model number of my "optical disk drive" will this be

DVD RW Drive
Acronis Media

which I see as a Device with Removable Storage under Computer ?

While I think I now understand all that you say, the whole concept of trying to change the boot order worries me considerably.

I am very concerned that I will succeed in altering the HDD not to be the #1 but then leave myself in limbo with an unbootable computer by not correctly identifying the rescue dvd as its replacement or managing to get back to the initial boot order.

If I make mistakes can I simply keep choosing alternatives until I make the correct selection ?

It is getting quite late (10.20pm) across here in the UK so perhaps my mind is now working more slowly than normal and perhaps a night's sleep will help clarify matters.

Please forgive me for being somewhat uncertain - lack of knowledge and a general tendency towards caution makes me very nervous about venturing into unknown areas of my 5920's innards (especially as it is presently working perfectly and I do not have convenient access to another pc with which to seek assistance in event of leaving myself in limbo as envisaged above !!)

 

The DVD-RW Drive Model No. (See the images in the pdf)

You can just enable the F12 functionality and not worry about anything. Choosing the Boot Device in the F12 Menu will not alter any settings in the BIOS.

Even if you do change the Boot Order, to say ODD #1, and HDD #2, the BIOS will scan for any media in the ODD first, and if it doesn't find anything, it will go to the next Boot Device, HDD and load the OS.

If you do screw up anything in the BIOS, just restore the factory defaults in the BIOS.

 

Wow - managed to change boot order successfully - what a relief !!

Took several attempts to get my timing right during POST.

Many thanks for all your kind help !!