Technical Questions

How to setup BIOS boot priority to boot LiveCD

To setup a boot priority for CD/DVD or USB disk you need to:

  • Enter BIOS right after you turned on your PC, typically press: Del, Esc, F2 or F10 keys (use table below for specific manufacturers)
  • Find Boot Priority section (tab, menu, etc.) and select a device you want to boot from (CD/DVD, Removable Disk or HDD)
  • Move a device you want to boot from to the top of the bootable devices list (typically using plus/minus signs on a keyboard)
  • Exit the BIOS, saving changes and re-boot the PC

Here is an example how to make CD-ROM bootable under PhoenixBIOS:

Different PC manufacturers use different BIOS platforms and suggest different ways to enter the BIOS and change a primary bootable media.

Below is a list of PC brands with their corresponding hot-keys.

Manufacturer Type Models Boot Menu Boot Once BIOS Key Change Priority
ACER     Esc, F12, F9   Del, F2  
ACER netbook AspireOne, Aspire Timeline F12   F2  
ACER netbook Aspire v3, v5, v7 F12 The "F12 Boot Menu" must be enabled in BIOS. It is disabled by default. F2  
APPLE   After 2006 Option      
ASUS desktop   F8   F9  
ASUS laptop   Esc   F9  
ASUS laptop R503C F8   DEL  
ASUS netbook Eee PC 1025c Esc   F2 Boot Tab, Boot Device Priority, 1st Boot Device, Removable Device, F10
COMPAQ   Presario Esc, F9   F10 BIOS "Advanced Tab", Boot Order
DELL desktop Dimension, Inspiron, Latitude F12 Select "USB Flash Drive" F2  
DELL desktop Inspiron One 2020, 2305, 2320, 2330 All-In-One F12 Select "USB Flash Drive" F2  
DELL laptop Inspiron F12 Select "USB Storage Device" F2 Settings->General->Boot Sequence->"USB Storage Device", then up arrow, [Apply]--[Exit]
DELL laptop Precision F12 Select "USB Storage Device" from boot menu F12  
EMACHINES     F12   Tab, Del  
HP generic   Esc, F9   Esc, F10, F1  
HP desktop Media Center Esc   F10 BIOS "Advanced" tab, Boot Order, Move "USB Device" before "Hard Drive"
HP desktop Pavilion 23 All In One Esc Select boot media from the menu F10 BIOS "Advanced" tab, Boot Order, Move "USB Device" before "Hard Drive". For non-UEFI media, disable secure boot and enable legacy support
HP desktop Pavilion g6 and g7 Esc   F10 BIOS "Advanced" tab, Boot Order, Move "USB Device" before "Hard Drive"
HP desktop Pavilion HPE PC, h8-1287c Esc Then F9 for "Boot Menu" Esc F10 Storage tab, Boot Order, Legacy Boot Sources
HP desktop Pavilion PC, p6 2317c Esc Then F9 for "Boot Menu" Esc F10 Storage tab, Boot Order, Legacy Boot Sources
HP desktop Pavilion PC, p7 1297cb Esc Then F9 for "Boot Menu" Esc F10 Storage tab, Boot Order, Legacy Boot Sources
HP desktop TouchSmart 520 PC Esc Then F9 for "Boot Menu" Esc F10 Storage tab, Boot Order, Legacy Boot Sources
HP laptop 2000 Esc Select "Patriot Memory" on the Boot Option Menu Esc  
HP notebook Pavilion Esc   F10 BIOS "Advanced" tab, Boot Order, Move "USB Device" before "Hard Drive"
HP notebook ENVY dv6 and dv7 PC Esc Then F9 for "Boot Menu" Esc F10 Storage tab, Boot Order, Legacy Boot Sources
INTEL     F10      
LENOVO desktop   F12, F8, F10   F1, F2  
LENOVO laptop   F12   F1, F2  
LENOVO laptop IdeaPad P500 F12 or Fn + F11   F2  
NEC     F5   F2  
PACKARD BELL     F8   F1, Del  
SAMSUNG     F12, Esc      
SAMSUNG netbook NC10 Esc   F2 Boot Tab, Select "Boot Device Priority", Press Return, Up/Down to Highlight, F6/F5 to change priority
SAMSUNG ultrabook Series 5 Ultra and Series 7 Chronos Esc   F2 Boot Tab, Select "Boot Device Priority", Press Return, Up/Down to Highlight, F6/F5 to change priority
SHARP         F2  
SONY   VAIO, PCG, VGN F11   F1, F2, F3  
SONY   VGN Esc F10   F2 BIOS "BOOT" section, "External Device Boot" enabled
TOSHIBA   Protege, Satellite, Tecra F12   F1, Esc  
TOSHIBA   Equium F12 F12   F12  

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