ASUS X202E - Can't get in to change BIOS settings

I have a new ASUS X202E and need to get into the BIOS settings so I can modify the boot order. I want to be able to boot from a USB device so I can use a recovery DVD or bootable flash drive for Acronis True Image or Macrium Reflect.

The manual that comes on disk says to press F2 while booting. Unfortunately, it does not work for me. I tried tapping when the ASUS logo is on-screen, tried holding it down right after powering on, holding it down before even hitting the power button, etc. Nothing interrupts the normal Windows 8 boot. According to the manual F9 during boot-up is supposed to take me to the Windows trouble-shooting screen. It doesn't. I tried using Del, Ins, Esc. None of those keys interrupts the boot into Windows.

All the keys work normally once in Windows, so it is not like the keyboard is faulty.

I also tried just attaching the USB-based DVD drive to see if it would automatically boot from it. It doesn't.

I opened an email support with ASUS and they just keep insisting F2 should work. They also said that, to boot from a USB DVD drive, I could attach the drive and hit Esc while starting the computer and it should present me with an option to boot from the DVD. It doesn't (Esc keys does not seem to do anything different)

The only option they have given me now is to get an RMA number and return the computer.

I bought it on-line at Amazon.ca, so it is not like I can just march down to the store and swap it for another or something.

I really like the X202E. But I don't like the idea of having a computer that will not permit me to do a recovery in the event of problems.

Anyone out there have an X202E that can tell me if hitting F2 during boot-up works for them?

Thanks

Chris

 

I just went to a local Best Buy. They have the X202E with the Pentium 987 processor. The keys to get into the BIOS (F2) and the Windows 8 Trouble-shooting screens (F9) work fine on their machine.

I have the X202E with the Core-i3.

I don't know if that is the difference.

Anyhow, if anyone knows a solution for my problem of not being able to get into the BIOS settings, I would appreciate it.

Chris

 

Try pressing the "Pause Break" key at the splash screen during POST. That should pause it, allowing you to try different keys to get into BIOS. F9 typically accesses the recovery for Asus, I think. You can also try the Del key to get into BIOS.

And your keyboard works fine otherwise, right?

 

Thanks much. Unfortunately, hitting the "pause break" key does not work. I tried tapping it, holding it down, waiting for the black/grey screen to appear, waiting for the ASUS logo to come up (just after the black/grey screen). All no good. It is almost as if the keyboard is disabled until the main Windows 8 screen comes up.

Yes, all the keys work normally once I am in Windows 8.

Very frustrating...

Other than this problem, the computer works great and is a nice little unit.

Chris

 

You just need to press it once. Pressing any key after you've hit it once - including the same key - causes it to progress. It's all a matter of timing (as is hitting the right key for the BIOS setup). Maybe it's a firmware problem. Sorry my first suggestion didn't help much!

You can also just spam a bunch of F keys and the delete key as well during startup/POST. Eventually you'll hit the right one, haha (assuming the keys are registering at all).

Feel free to plug in a USB keyboard and try it from that, too.

 

Thanks again. I tried hitting keys just once (F2, F9, Esc, Pause/break, Delete, insert. Tried it quite a few times with different timing and nothing worked.

I thought a USB keyboard might make a difference. If I only needed to plug in a keyboard when I wanted to change BIOS setting or boot from a USB device, I could live with that. But unfortunately, it doesn't help. Still no keys seem to do anything until the Windows splash screen appears.

Chris

 

Probably faulty firmware, then. My ASRock motherboard would disable my keyboard whenever I came to the "Press any key to boot from disc..." screen, haha; I would get so frustrated. Eventually, I think either a BIOS reset or reverting to defaults fixed it.

You can try removing the CMOS battery for 1 minute to refresh it, and then reinsert it and try again to access your BIOS. But that would require you to open up the laptop and void your warranty, so... it might be better for you to contact Asus for technical support.

My last recommendation are:

1. Firmware update, if applicable, or
2. Remove battery and AC adapter, and anything else connected; leave for at least 30 seconds (press power button a couple of times during this wait), then plug battery and/or adapter back in and try to access your BIOS again.

Those and removing the CMOS battery, but again - removing the CMOS battery will void your warranty! Good luck!

 

Thanks again for all your assistance. Truly appreciated.

Unfortunately, the X202E comes with a non-removable battery!

I guess I will send it back to ASUS.

Chris

 

I also ran into this problem. A workaround I found was that a restart with F2 works, but a cold boot with F2 does not work. I think this has something to do with the new UEFI secure boot. Preventing getting into the BIOS on a cold boot makes it more secure.

Jim

 

Btw classic "boot menu" can be viewed by hitting "ESC" key (escape key) - next to F1.

 

Thanks!

Never thought of trying that!

Unfortunately, as I type this message, FedEx has just delivered my computer to ASUS in Markham Ontario, so I can't see if it would work for me. On the plus side, ASUS folks were very helpful and friendly, it was picked up from my home in Ottawa just 21 hours ago, and ASUS is paying shipping both ways. Also, from what I have read here, the Markham, Canada repair facility has one of the fastest turn-around times in the world. Fingers crossed.

But even if it works to press F2 on a restart, I wonder if that would be a good solution. If I think ahead to the possibility of a failure, there could be a circumstance (I would think) where a "restart" would not be possible?

It is interesting that the X202E that is Pentium 987 based (that I tried in Best Buy) has no problem from a cold boot. F2 worked. F9 worked.

I will see what ASUS has to say about things.

If they come back and tell me the only option is a restart, I will probably live with it and keep my fingers crossed that I never have a problem doing a "restart" rather than a cold boot. I really do like the X202E.

Thanks again.

Chris

Unfortunately, Esc did not work for me. Perhaps, as noted by Jim, it will work from a restart rather than a cold boot, but I can't test because it has been returned to ASUS for fixing.

I will report back here as to what ASUS says or does!

Thanks again

Chris

 

*keeping fingers crossed*

Turnaround service time is usually 2-3 days for items within warranty, I think. Hopefully they let you know soon!

 

I write from Spain and had the same problem with a X202E with i3 CPU.

The answer to the problem of ASUS technician was:

It really works!!!

 

Thanks martinezf

I think I might have the final piece of the puzzle. I was told the following by an ASUS support person by email;

1. Enter the BIOS setup menu by pressing and holding F2 key when powering on.
2. Switch to “Boot” and set “Lunch CSM” to Enabled.
3. Switch to “Security” and set “Secure Boot Control” to Disabled.
4. Press F10 to save and exit.
5. Press and hold ESC key to lunch boot menu when the notebook restarts.

Of course, the trouble was - I couldn't get into the BIOS to set this option. Now you have given me the way to get into the BIOS settings, I think I should be able to get in and turn off the "Secure Boot Control". I am then hoping that I will be able to press F2 when doing a cold boot and have it go into the BIOS settings. Or at least the Esc key and select an alternate boot device so I can restore my system.

I was still concerned that, in the event of a failure, I would not be able to get into Windows 8 and do the Shift-Restart to be able to get back to BIOS settings or Esc for an alternate boot device.

I have not heard back from ASUS as to when my computer will be coming back. I will try the above when I get it and let everyone know if it works.

Can you try it on yours to see if you can disable the "Secure Boot Control" and then use F2 or Esc on a cold boot?

Thanks again. People here are better than ASUS tech support!!!!

You would think this would be a "known issue" and ASUS could have saved itself the cost of shipping a computer back and forth and all the other costs associated with this incident.

Chris

 

Hi, i have a x202e and its stuck on bios i cant go any futher, what do i need to download to reload windows 8 or download drivers to get it back up
support told me to send it in but i dont want to what drivers can i load on a flash drive help please

 

im having trouble getting out of bios what drivers do i need to downlaod to flash drive or to reinstall the system please help

 

Stuck in BIOS or stuck during POST? Does your hard drive show up under boot devices/options?

Hey Chris,

All this does is disable UEFI and enables emulated legacy BIOS (as well as disabling Secure Boot). It's not a fix, and is really only necessary when installing another OS in lieu of Windows 8.

I nearly forgot that you're able to access UEFI via Windows (thank you for reminding me, martinezf). Here is a guide for future reference!

 

Hello Friend, follow these steps :

1. hit Win+F on your keyboard , it will bring search bar
2. change filter option from files to setting
3. type "boot"
4. select "advanced startup options" . it will open - PC settings >> General .
5. scroll down till end and you will find "advanced startup" and click "restart now"
6. your laptop will reboot into blue screen where you can find 3 options
7. select "Troubleshooting"
8. select " Advanced options"
9. now click on "UEFI Firmware settings" and click restart
10. you will be directed to BIOS. now go to "security" and disable "secure boot control" and Enjoy !!!

PS: you can also increase VRAM (graphics card memory) under "advanced>>graphics configuration" in BIOS setting.

 

Hi, my name is Tom,
I finnaly understand why this happens: (this may apply to any pc with windows 8 or later (eventually...))
restarting the comptuter will make the f2 key work beacuse the computer is deactivated COMPLETELY.
However, when you press shutdown you are not actually shutting down the computer. What you are doing is putting it in a hibernation mode, so, naturally, the bios key will not work. (I expect this is what Asus support doesn't understand) An example of a command in the cmd that will shutdown the comptuter is [ shutdown /s /t 0 ], thus making the f2 key work. This hibernation mode exists to make the windows 8 startup faster, I, personally, haven't turned off this feature yet, but I imagine that it will definitely work. This site: http://superuser.com/questions/3958...tallation-i-cant-access-bios-settings-anymore will probably be helpfull to solve this problem (or advantage, according to microsoft, that wants there computers to start faster).

Good luck with your problem,
Tom