BIOS, diagnostics and other start-up notes

You can also run the built-in diagnostics in case of a hardware crash

Crashed computer

You can try the standard hard reset trick

More details in:

Dell:

How to recover from booting issues using the BIOS Recovery Tool video

No POST, No Power, No Video on a Dell Desktop Computer

How to Troubleshoot a No POST Issue on a Dell Notebook PC

HP:

HP PCs - Computer Does Not Start (Windows 10, 8)

Intel:

Troubleshooting - Why Won't My Computer Turn On?

BIOS

Determining the BIOS version

The BIOS version is usually displayed quickly when a computer is booting, and when you are in the BIOS options screen

You can also get the BIOS version when your operating system is running!

From Windows

Use the msinfo32 command and check the BIOS version line in the system summary screen

From Linux

Use the dmidecode command: dmidecode -s bios-version

Entering the BIOS

Power off the machine, then power it on again and press repeatedly the appropriate key several times while the computer is starting, until you see the BIOS options screen. This should take place before you have to type the Windows bitlocker password, or the Linux (de)crypting password

Dell	F2
HP	ESC

Enabling boot on a USB drive

Dell

Settings => General => Boot Sequence: USB Storage Device must be selected, and in the first place of the Boot Order

Updating the BIOS

Dell:

Healthy Windows computer: check the support page

Crashed Windows, or healthy (or crashed) Linux computer: use a USB key to update the BIOS, following the steps in the How to recover from booting issues using the BIOS Recovery Tool video

HP:

If the BIOS update does not seem to work (no update takes place), check this HP BIOS update section

HP Consumer Desktop PCs - Updating the BIOS (Basic Input Output System)

HP Consumer Notebook PCs - Updating the BIOS (Basic Input Output System)

Notes

There are lots of HP BIOS details in HP PC Commercial BIOS (UEFI) Setup - Administration Guide (pdf document)

Other start-up related notes

Choosing the boot media or the diagnostics

Dell	F12 (enter the One-time Boot Menu)
HP	ESC and then F2

Booting in safe mode

Safe mode <=> Mode sans échec

Windows 10

Read the Windows Recovery Environment (Windows RE) and the Safe Mode notes

Windows 7

Power off the machine, then power it and press the appropriate key at the same time

Dell	F8
HP

See also Performing a safe clean boot

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