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Checking drive in CMOS/BIOS screen

All well functioning data devices connected to computer’s motherboard directly or through SATA or IDE controllers (example – a PCI card with ATA interfaces) are immediately auto- detected in CMOS. The information about devices can be available on CMOS monitor, activated on computer reboot with simultaneous pressing on certain combination of keyboard buttons.

Because of the wide variety of computer and BIOS manufacturers over the evolution of computers, there are numerous ways to enter the BIOS or CMOS Setup. Below is a listing of the majority of these methods as well as other recommendations for entering the BIOS setup.

New computers allow entering the CMOS by pressing one of the following single key during the boot. F1 or F2 are the most used for CMOS entry, other are DEL, ESC, or F10.

CMOS-BIOS Screen Example

Older 20-century computers have numerous different methods of entering the BIOS setup, involving simultaneous pressing on two or even three keys, for example:
• CTRL + ALT + ESC
• CTRL + ALT + INS
• CTRL + ALT + ENTER

Best way to find out the exact combination of secret keys to enter hard-breaking CMOS is referring to original motherboard's manual from manufacturer.

Read more about why a hard drive may not be identifiable by BIOS »