How Do I Completely Change the BIOS on My Computer?

By Stephen Lilley

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The basic input/output system, BIOS, is the main setup program on any computer. When you turn your computer on, you're actually turning on the BIOS, which in turn loads the rest of your computer's hardware. You can completely change the BIOS on your computer, but be warned: Doing so without knowing exactly what you're doing could result in irreversible damage to your computer.

Step 1

Restart your computer and look for the keys--or combination of keys--you must press to access your computer's setup, or BIOS. If you don't see it, consult a BIOS chart on the Internet, write the key combination down and restart your computer again.

Step 2

Press the key or combination of keys to access your computer's BIOS.

Step 3

Use the "Main" tab to change the system date and time. You also can enable or disable disk drives and components integrated into your motherboard, including video, sound and network cards.

Step 4

Use the "Security" tab to create a password for your computer. This password will be required to gain access to the BIOS or load your operating system, depending on how you configure the password.

Step 5

Use the "Power" tab to adjust the power settings on your computer.

Step 6

Use the "Boot" tab to change which device your computer boots from. By default, your computer will boot from your main hard drive. However, you can set it to boot from a CD-ROM or DVD-ROM drive.

Step 7

Select "Save Changes and Exit" when you are through configuring the BIOS. Your computer will restart and your new BIOS changes will immediately take effect.

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