Ultimate Guide to the 2024 Aptio Setup Utility: How to Access and Troubleshoot It

What is the Aptio Setup Utility? Do you know how to access and fix the error when your computer gets stuck in the Aptio Setup Utility? Follow this article to get an ultimate guide on how to effectively access, use, and fix Aptio Setup Utility issues.

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Note: If the Aptio Setup Utility fails or hangs, you may not be able to access files and data on your computer. A bootable data recovery software like the Data Recovery Wizard can come in handy.

What is the Aptio Setup Utility?

Aptio Setup Utility is a computer configuration tool developed by American Megatrends Inc., commonly referred to as AMI. It is also known as the AMI BIOS access tool and is typically pre-installed on desktop and laptop computers.

Currently, the Aptio Setup Utility is widely used by the following computer manufacturers:

• ASUS
• Dell
• Acer
• Samsung
• Alienware
• MSI
• Razer
• and other brands

With it, you can boot your PC into the Aptio Setup Utility and configure some boot settings instead of loading the Windows 10/8.1/8/7 operating system.

How to Enter the Aptio Setup Utility

Here's how you can enter and use the Aptio Setup Utility:

Step 1. Restart your computer and press F2, F9, F12, or Del repeatedly.

Step 2. Wait patiently until your computer boots into the Aptio Setup Utility.

In other words, your computer will enter the BIOS setup utility.

So, what's inside the Aptio Setup Utility? Let's take a look:

• Primary
• Advanced
• Startup
• Security
• Save and Exit

Note that different versions of the Aptio Setup Utility may have slightly different boot menus; some versions may include an Input/Output Settings section.

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Let's go over what each option in the Aptio Setup Utility or Aptio BIOS boot menu means:

#1 Main Content:

Aptio Setup Utility - The BIOS Main menu is the way to load system information, product information, CPU information, and other information about your computer's hardware.

How to Access:

Step 1. Restart your computer and press F2/F9/F12 or Del while it's booting up.

Step 2: Wait for the Aptio Setup Utility menu to appear.

The system will enter the main menu by default.

Step 3: Use the up and down arrow keys to navigate the options, and press Enter to select and load a specific item.

#2 Advanced: &

The Advanced menu in the Aptio Setup Utility is the primary window for loading settings for computer hardware, including the processor, USB ports, serial port console redirection, and network stack, among others.

How to Access:

Step 1. Restart your computer and press F2/F9/F12 or Del while it's booting up.

Step 2: Wait for the computer to enter the Aptio Boot Menu.

Step 3: Use the Right Arrow key to select the “Advanced” option and press Enter to open the menu.

Step 4: You can then use the up or down arrow keys to change settings for the hardware on your computer.

#3 Input/Output:

Some older versions of the Aptio Setup Utility may not include this option. It contains PCI subsystem settings, IO virtualization, IOAT configuration, onboard devices, card and PCIe slot hardware configurations.

How to Access:

Step 1. Restart your computer and press F2, F9, F12, or Del as it starts up.

Step 2. Wait for the computer to enter the Aptio Setup Utility.

Step 3 Press the Right Arrow key to highlight Options, and then press Enter to enter the I/O Configuration screen.

Step 4: Use the up or down arrow keys to select the item you wish to configure.

#4 Launch: &

This is the most common choice for configuring the boot order of your computer or switching between BIOS boot modes in the Aptio Setup Utility. The Boot Menu contains options for UEFI/BIOS boot modes, retrying the boot list, network boot retries, OSA configuration, and boot priority.

How to Access:

Step 1. Restart your computer and press F2, F9, F12, or Del as it starts up.

Step 2: Wait for the computer to enter the Aptio Setup Utility.

Step 3: Use the right arrow key to highlight options and enter the boot menu.

Step 4: Use the up or down arrow keys to select the item on your computer that you want to change.

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Point 5: Security

The items under "Security" pertain to computer security, such as administrator and user passwords, virus scanning of the boot sector, and so on.

How to access:

Step 1: Restart your computer and press F2, F9, F12, or Del as it starts up.

Step 2: Wait for the computer to enter the Aptio Setup Utility.

Step 3: Use the Right Arrow key to highlight Options, then press Enter to open the menu. Navigate to Security and press Enter again.

Step 4: Use the up or down arrow keys to load items and change settings to better protect your computer's security.

#6. Save and exit:

In the Aptio Setup Utility, after you make changes to your computer's settings, you can choose to save those changes by entering the Exit menu and selecting “Save Changes and Exit” to save all changes. Here, you can also choose to “Discard Changes and Exit,” “Discard Changes,” or even “Load Optimal Defaults.”

How to Access:

Step 1: Restart your computer and press F2/F9/F12 or Del while it's booting up.

Step 2. Wait for the computer to enter the Aptio Setup Utility.

Step 3: Use the arrow keys and Enter to configure your computer's settings.

4. Press the Right Arrow key to access the “Save and Exit” menu, use the Up/Down Arrow keys to select an option, then save your changes.

How to Use the Aptio Setup Utility and Make Changes to Your Computer

We've selected some of the most common and adjustable settings in the APTIO Setup Utility and provided detailed instructions on how to change them on your computer. Let's take a look:

#1. Changing the BIOS Boot Mode and Boot Order

Applies to fix: Cloned SSD won't boot, Windows won't install on GPT drive, Boot Windows from MBR

When your computer fails to boot successfully from an MBR or GPT disk, the issue might be related to the boot mode. You can resolve this issue by configuring the boot mode to match the disk type: MBR - BIOS Legacy Mode; GPT - UEFI mode.

Here's how to change the boot mode in the Aptio Setup Utility:

Step 1: Restart your computer and press F2, F9, F12, or Del while it's booting up.

Step 2: Wait for the computer to enter the Aptio Boot Menu.

Step 3: Use the Down Arrow key to select UEFI/BIOS Boot Mode, then press Enter to display the Boot Mode options.

Select “UEFI” or “Legacy,” then hit Enter.

Step 4. To change the boot drive, use the Down Arrow key to select Boot Configuration, and press Enter. Then select Change Boot Order again.

In the window that appears, select the target disk as your boot drive.

Step 5: Save the changes and exit the Aptio Setup Utility. Restart your computer and wait patiently.

#2. Factory Reset the Aptio Setup Utility

Applies to: Infinite loop in Aptio Setup Utility, where the computer enters Aptio Setup Utility instead of the operating system.

Note: If the computer boots directly to the “Aptio Setup Utility” (BIOS menu), it could be due to a misconfiguration. You can try to reset the “Aptio Setup Utility” to its factory settings to resolve this issue.

How to start:

Step 1. Restart your computer and press F2/F9/F12 or Del while it's booting up.

Step 2. Wait for your computer to enter the Aptio Setup Utility.

Step 3: Enter the “Security” menu, expand “IO Interface Security” > “Secure Boot Control,” and disable the “Secure Boot” option.

Alternatively, you can go into the “Settings” menu and select “Reset Config Data” or “Factory Reset.”

Step 4: Save and exit Aptio. Restart your computer.

#3. Set the computer to boot from USB in the Aptio Setup Utility

Step 1. Connect the bootable USB drive or a USB recovery drive to your computer.

Step 2. Restart your computer and press F2/F9/F12 or Del as it starts up.

Step 3. Wait for the computer to enter the Aptio Boot Menu.

Step 4. Disable Secure Boot Control and enable Load Legacy Option ROMs.

Step 5: Change the Boot Mode to Legacy.

Step 6: Change the first boot device to the USB drive.

How to Access Files from the Aptio Setup Utility

Applies to: Recover data from dead laptop/notebook hard drive, recover data from dead hard drive.

Sometimes, you might encounter an Aptio Setup Utility boot loop or freeze error that prevents your computer from accessing the operating system and the files on your PC.

In this case, how can you export the data from the computer? Yes, you can access the files and recover data from Aptio Setup Utility with a reliable bootable data recovery software.

The Data Recovery Wizard, when used with bootable media, can start your PC from the Aptio Setup Utility and easily retrieve all your data from the computer.

Here's how to access the file from the Aptio Setup Utility:

Step 1: Create a Bootable Disk

Launch the Data Recovery Wizard, select “Crashed PC Recovery” and click “Start Recovery”.

Select an empty USB drive to create the bootable drive, then click “Create.”

Warning: The Data Recovery Wizard will delete all data from the USB drive when creating a bootable disk. Back up important data beforehand.

Step 2. Boot your computer from the bootable USB device

Plug the bootable disk into the non-booting computer, and change your computer's boot order in the BIOS. For most users, this will work if you restart your computer and press F2 as it boots up.

Set the “Boot Order” to boot from “Removable Device” (the bootable USB disk) rather than the hard drive. Press “F10” to save and exit.

Restart from the bootable USB

Step 3: Recover data from the crashed system/computer

After booting from the Data Recovery Wizard bootable disk, select the drive you wish to scan for all lost files. Preview and recover desired files to a secure location.

Fix: Computer Boots to Aptio Setup Utility Instead of Operating System

There are some buddies who will encounter the computer directly entering the Aptio Setup Utility interface instead of the operating system when starting up.

There are three possible explanations:

• 1. The operating system disk is not connected correctly;
• 2. The operating system disk is not set as the boot drive;
• 3. Secure Boot is enabled, preventing the computer from detecting the HDD/SSD.

So, how to fix the error and set your computer to boot into the operating system instead of the Aptio Setup Utility? You may try the solutions below.

#1. Properly install a new hard drive or SSD

• Shut down your computer and open the case or lid of your desktop or laptop.
• Inspect the HDD or SSD data cable.
• Unplug it and reconnect it securely.
• Replace the cable with a new one if it appears damaged.

#2. Set the operating system disk as the boot drive

4. Restart your computer and press F2, F9, F12, or Del while it's booting up. 5. Wait for the Aptio Setup Utility menu to appear. 6. To change the boot drive, use the Down Arrow key to select "Boot Configuration," hit Enter, then choose "Set Boot Priority" again. 7. In the new window, select the target operating system disk as the boot drive. 8. Save the changes and exit the Aptio Setup Utility.

#3. Disable Secure Boot to allow Aptio to detect the boot disk

1. Restart your computer and press F2/F9/Del to enter the Aptio Setup menu. 2. Navigate to the "Security" tab, expand the "Secure Boot Menu," and disable it. 3. Save the changes and exit Aptio, then restart your computer. 4. If the issue persists, re-enter Aptio Setup, go to the "Boot" tab, and disable both "Secure Boot" and "Fast Boot." 5. Enable CSM (Compatibility Support Module) and save the changes. 6. Exit Aptio and restart your computer.

#4. Use Windows Repair Tools to Fix Boot Issues

If the above methods fail to resolve your PC startup issues, don't worry. You can still opt for a more efficient troubleshooting approach with professional manual Windows data recovery services. The expert technical team from Data Recovery Wizard Pro can assist you in fixing various system startup errors, including system crashes, blue screens, and unbootable devices.

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Ultimately

On this page, we explain what the Aptio Setup Utility is and what each menu contains. You'll also learn how to use each option and configure some basic settings for your computer.

We also provide instructions for using bootable data-recovery software to access your files if you can't start up your computer.

Lastly, we have 3 tips to help you fix the Aptio Setup Utility boot loop error. Follow these when your computer only boots to the Aptio menu and doesn't enter the OS.

Lastly, the Aptio Setup Utility is critical, and any incorrect operation might cause serious issues. Make sure you follow the instructions for setting up your computer.