I'm trying to access the BIOS directly during startup so I can change a few settings, but pressing Delete or F8 doesn't do anything. The computer boots Windows normally, and it can also boot Bazzite or Ubuntu from a USB drive. I can reach the BIOS through Windows' advanced recovery options, but I'd prefer to enter it without needing Windows. The motherboard appears to be an ASUS M5A97 R2.0 with an FX-6300 processor and 16 GB of RAM. I haven't knowingly changed any relevant settings, so I'm not sure why the startup keys aren't working.
3 Answers
The most reliable approach is to shut the computer down completely, turn it back on, and repeatedly press Delete as soon as the fans start. Try F2 as well, but F8 is generally not the normal BIOS key for this motherboard. Avoid pressing several keys together, since that can make it harder to tell whether the keyboard is being detected.
For that ASUS board, Delete is the usual BIOS key, with F2 sometimes working as an alternative. Start tapping the key repeatedly immediately after pressing the power button rather than holding it down. Also try a different keyboard port—preferably a rear USB 2.0 port—and, if possible, a basic wired keyboard. Some older boards don’t initialize certain USB keyboards early enough during startup.
If no keyboard works early in startup, connect one directly to the motherboard instead of using a hub or front-panel port. A PS/2 keyboard would be worth trying if you have access to one, since it is detected before USB devices on many older boards. As a last resort, you could clear the CMOS, but back up or note your current BIOS settings first because that resets them.
I’ll try a rear USB port and a different keyboard. Windows can open the BIOS, so the board itself seems to be working; it just isn’t recognizing the key during boot.