What is the Dell Boot Menu, and how do I access it?

Dell is a renowned global manufacturer of laptops, known for popular models like the Dell XPS 13 OLED, Dell XPS 13 Plus, Dell Alienware M16, and Dell Latitude 7320, among others. In this article from the tool website, we'll delve into the Dell Boot Menu and how to utilize it to address startup issues. Let's get started.

What is the Dell laptop boot menu?

The Dell Boot Menu is a menu responsible for booting up a computer; it pops up when a Dell PC is first started. It may contain various boot options, including CD, DVD, LAN, USB flash drive, or hard disk (network).

Figure 1: Boot Menu

The Dell Boot Menu comprises numerous options, such as System Information, Boot Device Options, BIOS Setup, Safe Mode, and more. These options come in handy when you have specific requirements or need to troubleshoot issues by altering settings within the boot menu. It enables you to access and repair a Dell computer running the Windows operating system.

How to Enter the Dell Boot Menu

As mentioned above, the Dell Boot Menu can help you solve boot issues and fix your computer, so you need to access the Dell Boot Menu first. But how do you get into the Dell Boot Menu?

The Dell boot menu key is either F2 or F12. Hence, you can access the boot menu on a Dell laptop or desktop by pressing the F2 or F12 key. However, on some older Dell computers, the boot menu key or BIOS key might be slightly different, such as the Del key, or a combination of Ctrl + Alt + Enter, Fn + Esc, or Fn + F1.

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How to Enter Dell BIOS

BIOS is part of the Dell boot menu. You can change your boot order and other BIOS-related settings from the BIOS setup menu. The most common Dell key to press to enter BIOS is `F2`. Here's how to get into the Dell BIOS:

Step 1: Turn on the Dell computer.

< strong > Step 2. < /strong> Press the F2 key repeatedly at the Dell logo to enter BIOS or System Setup.

Press the F2 key repeatedly at the Dell logo screen.

Step 3. Alternatively, press the F12 key repeatedly until the One-Time Boot Menu appears, and then select BIOS Setup or System Setup from the menu.

Press the F12 key repeatedly until the One-Time Boot Menu appears.

Here are some articles about BIOS that you can refer to. If you encounter similar issues, they might help you learn how to resolve them.

Using the Dell Startup Menu to Troubleshoot Boot Issues

The Dell Boot Menu can be used to help resolve some boot-related issues. If your system isn't initialized to skip the Dell startup screen, you can access the Dell Boot Menu by pressing either the F2 or F12 key. You can also try the steps outlined below to resolve this issue.

Note: You'll need a Windows boot media or Windows installation media.

Step 1: Insert the bootable or installable media into the USB port.

2. Turn on the computer and press the F12 key repeatedly when you see the Dell logo to display the One-Time Boot Menu.

Step 3. In the UEFI Boot section of the boot menu, select the USB device or DVD drive that best matches your media type.

Step 4: Click “Next” and then select “Repair your computer” when prompted to choose where you want to install Windows.

5. Under Troubleshoot, select Advanced options.

If one or more startup issues occur, Windows should open the Advanced Startup options menu the next time you start your device.

If you can see the login screen, click the power icon in the bottom-right corner of the screen. Hold down Shift while clicking Restart. Then click on “Troubleshoot.”

If you can access the System Desktop, type “Settings” in the search bar to launch the Settings app. Then, choose the “Update & Security” category. Next, select “Recovery” from the left menu. Under “Advanced startup” on the right-side pane, click the “Restart now” button.

Your computer will restart and enter the “Options” window. From there, click “Troubleshoot,” then “Advanced options.”

A Final Word

Do you now know what the Dell boot menu is? After reading this article, you will learn about the Dell boot menu on a laptop and how to access the Dell boot menu on a laptop. If you have any questions about the Dell boot menu, hopefully, you can find what you're looking for in this article brought to you by MiniTool.