How To Enter BIOS When Ubuntu Loads Too Fast

In today’s fast-paced world, speed is often an asset. However, when it comes to accessing the BIOS on your Ubuntu system, too much speed can be a hindrance. If your Ubuntu loads too quickly, you may find it challenging to enter the BIOS during startup. This article will guide you through several methods to resolve this issue.

Understanding BIOS

BIOS, or Basic Input/Output System, is a low-level software that initializes your computer’s hardware to make sure everything is working properly before your operating system starts. It’s essential for setting up hardware configurations and is the first software to run when powered on.

Changing GRUB Timeout

One way to slow down the startup process is by modifying the GRUB timeout setting. GRUB, or the GRand Unified Bootloader, is the default bootloader for Ubuntu and many other Linux distributions.

To change the GRUB timeout, follow these steps:

1. Open the terminal. You can do this by pressing Ctrl + Alt + T.
2. Run the following command: sudoedit /etc/default/grub. This command opens the GRUB configuration file in your default text editor.
3. Look for the line GRUB_TIMEOUT=0 and change it to GRUB_TIMEOUT=5. This will increase the timeout for the GRUB menu from 0 seconds to 5 seconds, giving you more time to enter the BIOS during startup.
4. Save the file and exit the text editor.
5. Run the command sudo update-grub to apply the changes.

Disabling Fast Boot in UEFI

UEFI, or Unified Extensible Firmware Interface, is a modern replacement for BIOS. If your system uses UEFI, you can disable the fast boot option to slow down the startup process.

To do this, you’ll need to access your UEFI settings by pressing the appropriate key during startup. This key varies depending on your system’s manufacturer, but it’s usually F2, Del, or Esc. Once in the UEFI settings, look for an option related to fast boot and disable it.

Using the systemctl Command

The systemctl command is a utility for controlling the systemd system and service manager. You can use it to reboot your system directly into the BIOS setup screen.

To do this, open the terminal and run the following command: systemctl reboot --firmware-setup.

Here, reboot is a command that instructs the system to reboot, and --firmware-setup is an option that tells the system to boot into the firmware setup utility, effectively entering the BIOS.

Performing a Total Cold Boot

If the above solutions don’t work, you may need to perform a total cold boot. This involves completely powering off your system and then turning it back on.

For desktop systems, unplug the power source. For laptops, remove the battery. Wait for a few seconds to ensure all power is drained, then power on your system and press the relevant key to enter the BIOS during startup.

Conclusion

Accessing the BIOS when Ubuntu loads too fast can be a challenge, but it’s not impossible. By changing the GRUB timeout, disabling fast boot in UEFI, using the systemctl command, or performing a total cold boot, you can slow down the startup process and enter the BIOS with ease. Remember to proceed with caution when making changes to your system’s settings.

For more information about BIOS and UEFI, you can visit the official Ubuntu documentation.