Solved can't enter BIOS when booting (Win7 / Ubuntu Linux dual boot system)

[prb123]

Hello everyone!

I've made my Sony VAIO into a dual-boot machine (Win7 64-bit and Ubuntu Linux) and I'm having trouble getting into the BIOS.

When powering up, even though I repeatedly press and hold down the DEL key it always goes straight to the GRUB menu:



And then when I select to load Windows 7, I keep pressing DEL but it goes straight to Windows.

It doesn't seem to matter how fast I am on the keys - I can't get into the BIOS.

I have a should I be trying to enter the BIOS before getting to the GRUB menu, or after?

Also, (and this may be irrelevant) I've checked my registry to determine what kind of BIOS I have (HKEY_LOCAL_MACHINE / HARDWARE / DESCRIPTION / System ), where I found that the SystemBiosVersion variable = Sony - 20110905 BIOS Date: 09/05/11 11:20:58 Ver: 04.06.03

(I would have thought the BIOS would be something like American Megatrends!)

Anyways... is there any way I can get into the BIOS from Windows, i.e. after Windows has loaded? Do I have to remove Linux from my computer? I hope not!

Thanks so much for your help and have a great day.

 

[TVeblen]

Best to keep in mind that the BIOS is completely different from ANY operating system. There is no connection between the two things, other than the BIOS handing off control to an OS.

You press DEL (or whatever key enters the BIOS) before any operating system begins to start up.
You can start pressing the key repeatedly (once a second) just as soon as you hear the POST beep or see anything happen on the display screen.
Once you reach the Grub loader it is too late. Start over.

You can't get into the BIOS from an operating system. You can only shut down and/or restart.
Nothing in the operating system's registry has anything to do with your system's BIOS, other than communicating with it initially.

 

[prb123]

Thanks for your reply, TVeblen. I'll give it a go again and hopefully get through soon! Have a great week.

 

[TVeblen]

Let us know how you make out.

 

[prb123]

Well, it turns out that if I press F2 (not DEL, as I suspected earlier) on-off repeatedly starting as soon as I press the power-on button, then it takes me - after I give my BIOS password, as usual - directly into the BIOS, instead of going to the GRUB screen. So, problem solved!

Thank you again TVeblen for taking the time to go over some of the basics with me.

 

[TVeblen]

Glad to hear. Congrats!