How to Enter the BIOS in Windows XP Professional
By Christopher Hanson
The BIOS (basic input/output system) is a piece of firmware below the operating system. The BIOS is the firmware used to monitor and edit the CMOS (Complementary metal-oxide-semiconductor) settings. Depending on the make and model of the computer, the BIOS will have a different access key.
Step 1
Turn on your computer.
Step 2
Watch the bottom of the screen. There will be a message that says "Press a button to enter setup." On most systems capable of operating Windows XP Professional, the access key will be F1, F2, F10, DEL or ESC.
Step 3
Press the access key.
Step 4
Enter the password if one is set. By default, there will be no password.
References
Writer Bio
Chris Hanson started writing music, lyrics, and poetry in 2001 and began writing fiction and nonfiction professionally in 2006. Hanson was first published in the "Grand Forks Herald" in 2004. Hanson is an experienced Web programmer with experience with several operating systems and Web protocols. He completed his Bachelor of Arts in anthropology at the University of Minnesota in just three years.