I'm having some issues with my new setup. I just bought a compact fanless PC (GMKtec) that boots up super quickly, and I also got a brand new Samsung wide monitor. It came pre-installed with Windows 11, and I'm trying to dual boot it with Mint Linux. The problem I'm facing is that the monitor takes a while to wake up when the PC starts or restarts. This means I can't see or access the BIOS settings or the boot menu because the monitor only turns on partway through the boot process. I can't boot from my external SSD to install Linux. I've heard that slow wake times are common with modern monitors. I could use a different monitor for the initial setup, but even then, I won't be able to choose which operating system to boot into since the Samsung monitor won't wake up in time. Any advice on how to handle this? Thanks!
2 Answers
You can try holding the Shift key while clicking Restart in Windows. This should take you to a troubleshooting menu where you can select Boot to UEFI under Advanced Options. This might help you access the BIOS directly without needing to see it on the screen at startup.
Another thing you can do is to keep tapping the BIOS key (like Esc, F7, etc.) right after you turn on the PC. You should be able to access the BIOS and change the boot order without needing the monitor to wake up beforehand. It’s usually possible to get in even if the display doesn’t light up immediately.
I thought so too, but I've already tried all the recommended keys and the monitor just won’t wake up. It's really strange.
I haven't tried that yet. Thanks for the tip!