F8 doesn't bring up advanced boot options

[ignatzatsonic]

I have tried F8 several times to bring up advanced boot options--just to make sure it comes up in case I ever need it. Well--it has no affect; my PC continues into Windows 7. What am I missing here?

 

[rsvr85]

Have you tried other keys?
Is your keyboard being detected?
Maybe try another keyboard if you have one, a PS/2 ideally

 

[ignatzatsonic]

Yeah, I could try another KB. It may be strictly a coincidence--I can't confirm my F8 key is operational. Can anyone confirm F8 is in fact the method and that it does in fact work on their installation?? My current KB is a PS 2 that is working well. Otherwise, my install seems to be OK.

 

[torrentg]

It works. Try holding it down instead of repeatedly pressing it.

 

[richc46]

On a Dell, it is f8. As soon as it began to boot, I tapped on the f8, quickly.

 

[rsvr85]

I think F2 F8 F12 & Del are the common ones.

EDIT
Sorry i'm wrong about that F8 is the one to do it

 

[ignatzatsonic]

This is getting curious. The Win 7 help file says to use F8, so that should work (I guess) on all PCs I am using an Intel board. Here is some new info: Original PS 2 KB will not bring up the menu with F8, regardless of whether I tap it or hold it down. Second PS 2 KB: same result. USB KB: if I hold the key down, I get an endless beep and the menu will not show up, nor will Windows 7 continue to load until I release the key. USB KB: If I tap F8, the menu comes up. What gives? Possible additional issue: my posts on this forum have not shown any paragraphs since I installed Win 7. If this post does not show several paragraphs, what gives with that?? I am using the USB KB to type this.

 

[bigmck]

This is getting curious. The Win 7 help file says to use F8, so that should work (I guess) on all PCs I am using an Intel board. Here is some new info: Original PS 2 KB will not bring up the menu with F8, regardless of whether I tap it or hold it down. Second PS 2 KB: same result. USB KB: if I hold the key down, I get an endless beep and the menu will not show up, nor will Windows 7 continue to load until I release the key. USB KB: If I tap F8, the menu comes up. What gives? Possible additional issue: my posts on this forum have not shown any paragraphs since I installed Win 7. If this post does not show several paragraphs, what gives with that?? I am using the USB KB to type this.

I have to use a PS/2 and hit Delete. I wasn't aware you could use a USB KB to access the menu.

 

[bobtran]

Look for the "F Lock" key to the right of the function keys and click it once, then test the F8 again (sometimes somewhere else on your keyboard). Your function keys may be locked out. I am using a Microsoft wireless USB keyboard.

 

[ignatzatsonic]

Update:

Currently back to using my original PS 2 KB which I could not get to accept F8 yesterday.

This KB does not have an "F Lock" key of any type. I see "scroll lock", but that is it.

Just tried to access the menu again. This time it worked. I tapped F8 once per second during a reboot process, got a beep, and the menu appeared.

I can only guess that access to the menu is quite sensitive to how you actuate the F8 key--holding it down may not work; tapping it randomly may not work, etc. You may have to tap it at a certain frequency--once per second.

Or it could be a totally unexplained temporary issue. I don't know.

Thanks for the comments.

 

[hippo]

if the usb keyboard takes longer to be initialized by your system, you can increase the "Time to display recovery options when needed".

instructions can be found here:
http://maximumpcguides.com/windows-7/set-how-long-windows-7-displays-the-recovery-options-menu/

 

[steaven]

i also hav same problem i have acer 4740G but but my F8 key doesnt work !!!
plz help i'm not able to figure out the problem

 

[fseal]

Actually, I bet that as computers boot faster and fater and faster the time window in which you need to hit F8 is shrinking drmatically Same with F2 or Del to bring up the BIOS. I generally tap whatever key I wasn about 4 times a second till it activates these days.

 

[gregrocker]

Does anyone know if Advanced Boot Tools can be reinstalled?

I have several cases where it simply won't work no matter how F8 is tried.

Repair Install?

 

[gregrocker]

Repair Install didn't work.

Reimaging from Win7 Backup Image did.

Theory is that it was bootsecting to remove Dual Boot that caused it. Repair Install held the BCD changes in place, while Reimaging got back before them.

 

[Shellipe]

Press f12 then esc and f8 at the same time

 

[CharlesKnell]

I've had this exact problem using a Dell Precision T3600. The solution was to switch from a USB keyboard to an PS/2 keyboard.

Alternatively, checking the box below also worked on a Dell Precision T1500.