Solved What does <F12> Change Boot Order in Vista do?

sassofalco

sassofalco

What bad, bad,habit?
Vista Guru
When my Notebook first starts up, a note in the bar at the bottom of the opening 'Acer' screen graphic shows;

<F12> Change Boot Order in Vista

I don't have the confidence yet, just to hit the <F12> to discover where this leads to, and what it is all about. I fear that I may do something that will de-stabilise my perfectly operating system, or worse, get into a predicament that I have no knowledge off, nor the technical ability to escape from it.

I have searched through the Forum threads, but have been unable to find anything that discusses the <F12> boot order.

I would like to know the following:

1. In what situations is the <F12> boot key used, or when should it be used?

2. What system boot order does it change, and can this be beneficial to the performance of the Notebook? [my system in specs below....saves a lot of re-typing!].

3. Are the instructions clear and understandable to a 'non-geek'?

4. Is it easy to exit or escape from <F12> window, and can that be done without making any field or boot order changes?

5. Is there an ability to revert to, or restore to, former boot system settings, if incorrect or invalid changes are made, which later de-stabilise the system start-up?

Cheers, sassofalco :confused:
 

My Computer

System One

  • Manufacturer/Model
    Acer Aspire Notebook 5633WLMi.[5630 Series]
    CPU
    Intel Centrino Duo Processor - Intel Core 2 CPU.
    Memory
    4GB DDR2 [3.07GB maximum real available]
    Graphics card(s)
    nVidia GeForce Go 7300, 128MB
    Sound Card
    Realtek HD Audio, Ver. 6.0.1.5717, 2.08MB
    Monitor(s) Displays
    Acer Aspire Notebook - 15.4"; Acer LCD Monitor X223Wsd - 22".
    Screen Resolution
    1280x800x60Hertz [max.]
    Hard Drives
    Notebook - Samsung HM320JI 320GB HD installed 07 August 2009. External HDs [4];Maxtor One Touch4 - 500GB External HD [Drive M:\].Western Digital WDXMS1200TA - 120GB External HD [Drive G:\ - Windows Defender Backup Files only]. Two x LaCie 320GB Mobi
    Mouse
    Logitech Wireless V320 for Notebooks - Model M/N: M-RCD125
    Internet Speed
    Down 20000kb/sec / Up 1000kb/sec [Bigpond-Aus]
    Other Info
    Brother MFC-465CN; PC to Fax/Scan/Copy/Photo MFC. Epson Perfection V300 Photo Scanner. Siemens Speedstream 6520 Router. Wacom 'Bamboo Fun' CTE-650 PC Tablet, Stylus and Mouse. UAC - On;Activated. Browsers; [1] FireFox v3.6[2] IE8. Honorary R.S.M. to the 4th [Assault Pioneer] Troop Pune Sepoys , and 3rd Troop Jodhpur Bengali Lancers.
re: What does <F12> Change Boot Order in Vista do?

Hi sassofalco,

The boot order isn't a Vista thing, it's a bios thing.

One typically changes the boot order when you re-load the operating system. Right now your first boot device is your hard drive, but if you wanted to re-load Vista from a DVD you'd have to make the first boot device the DVD drive. Unless you changed the boot order you would continue to boot off your hard drive and never be able to boot from the DVD; essential if you're re-loading.

Escaping is easy; just save your changes, or not, and exit the bios.
 

My Computer

System One

  • Manufacturer/Model
    Fumz' Flux-Capacitor
    CPU
    E8400
    Motherboard
    DFI LP DK P35-T2RS
    Memory
    4GB G.Skill PC-1066
    Graphics card(s)
    eVGA 8800 GTS
    Sound Card
    X-Fi XtremeGamer
    Monitor(s) Displays
    Samsung 226BW
    Screen Resolution
    1680x1050
    Hard Drives
    500GB W.D. RE2 Primary 1TB W.D. Caviar GP WD10EACS
    PSU
    PC Power & Cooling Silencer 610
    Case
    Lian Li Lancool K62
    Cooling
    Thermalright Ultima-90/S-Flex 120mm
    Mouse
    Logitech G5
    Keyboard
    MS Natural Elite 4000 Ergonomic
    Internet Speed
    2.5MB/430
    Other Info
    D-Link DGL 4500
re: What does <F12> Change Boot Order in Vista do?

G'Day Fumz, and thank-you for that advice.

From my perspective with only 17 months of computer experience under my belt....
so much to learn.....so little time!

Cheers, sassofalco.:huh:
 

My Computer

System One

  • Manufacturer/Model
    Acer Aspire Notebook 5633WLMi.[5630 Series]
    CPU
    Intel Centrino Duo Processor - Intel Core 2 CPU.
    Memory
    4GB DDR2 [3.07GB maximum real available]
    Graphics card(s)
    nVidia GeForce Go 7300, 128MB
    Sound Card
    Realtek HD Audio, Ver. 6.0.1.5717, 2.08MB
    Monitor(s) Displays
    Acer Aspire Notebook - 15.4"; Acer LCD Monitor X223Wsd - 22".
    Screen Resolution
    1280x800x60Hertz [max.]
    Hard Drives
    Notebook - Samsung HM320JI 320GB HD installed 07 August 2009. External HDs [4];Maxtor One Touch4 - 500GB External HD [Drive M:\].Western Digital WDXMS1200TA - 120GB External HD [Drive G:\ - Windows Defender Backup Files only]. Two x LaCie 320GB Mobi
    Mouse
    Logitech Wireless V320 for Notebooks - Model M/N: M-RCD125
    Internet Speed
    Down 20000kb/sec / Up 1000kb/sec [Bigpond-Aus]
    Other Info
    Brother MFC-465CN; PC to Fax/Scan/Copy/Photo MFC. Epson Perfection V300 Photo Scanner. Siemens Speedstream 6520 Router. Wacom 'Bamboo Fun' CTE-650 PC Tablet, Stylus and Mouse. UAC - On;Activated. Browsers; [1] FireFox v3.6[2] IE8. Honorary R.S.M. to the 4th [Assault Pioneer] Troop Pune Sepoys , and 3rd Troop Jodhpur Bengali Lancers.
re: What does <F12> Change Boot Order in Vista do?

sassofalco said:
G'Day Fumz, and thank-you for that advice.

From my perspective with only 17 months of computer experience under my belt....
so much to learn.....so little time!

Cheers, sassofalco.:huh:
Click to expand...

And just when you think you've got it - BAM! It's all changed!
 

My Computer

System One

  • CPU
    Intel Core 2 Duo @ 2GHz
    Memory
    4GB DDR2 @ 667Mhz
    Graphics card(s)
    nVidia GeForce Go 7600
    Hard Drives
    1x 160GB 7200rpm 2.5" SATA
While everything written above is true, please note that F12 on an Acer does not take you into the BIOS, it brings you to a boot order screen where you change the boot order just for the current boot.

You use it when you want to boot from a cd/dvd just this once. I use it when I need to boot a cd with imaging or recovery software that runs outside of Windows, like Ghost or Acronis. Feel free to hit F12, you will see the choices from which device you'd like to boot from. Just select HDD hard drive and it will then boot normally.
 

My Computer

System One

YoVincenzo said:
While everything written above is true, please note that F12 on an Acer does not take you into the BIOS, it brings you to a boot order screen where you change the boot order just for the current boot.

You use it when you want to boot from a cd/dvd just this once. I use it when I need to boot a cd with imaging or recovery software that runs outside of Windows, like Ghost or Acronis. Feel free to hit F12, you will see the choices from which device you'd like to boot from. Just select HDD hard drive and it will then boot normally.
Click to expand...

Grazzi YoVincenzi,

At last I've learned something before an event. Check out my Specs, and you will see that I intend to install Acronis v11 Mirror Image, plus an extra HDD.

I take it then, that the <F12> key boot order access, would be appropriate for recovery using Acronis, in the event of a major blowout in my system?

Cheers.

sassofalco
 

My Computer

System One

  • Manufacturer/Model
    Acer Aspire Notebook 5633WLMi.[5630 Series]
    CPU
    Intel Centrino Duo Processor - Intel Core 2 CPU.
    Memory
    4GB DDR2 [3.07GB maximum real available]
    Graphics card(s)
    nVidia GeForce Go 7300, 128MB
    Sound Card
    Realtek HD Audio, Ver. 6.0.1.5717, 2.08MB
    Monitor(s) Displays
    Acer Aspire Notebook - 15.4"; Acer LCD Monitor X223Wsd - 22".
    Screen Resolution
    1280x800x60Hertz [max.]
    Hard Drives
    Notebook - Samsung HM320JI 320GB HD installed 07 August 2009. External HDs [4];Maxtor One Touch4 - 500GB External HD [Drive M:\].Western Digital WDXMS1200TA - 120GB External HD [Drive G:\ - Windows Defender Backup Files only]. Two x LaCie 320GB Mobi
    Mouse
    Logitech Wireless V320 for Notebooks - Model M/N: M-RCD125
    Internet Speed
    Down 20000kb/sec / Up 1000kb/sec [Bigpond-Aus]
    Other Info
    Brother MFC-465CN; PC to Fax/Scan/Copy/Photo MFC. Epson Perfection V300 Photo Scanner. Siemens Speedstream 6520 Router. Wacom 'Bamboo Fun' CTE-650 PC Tablet, Stylus and Mouse. UAC - On;Activated. Browsers; [1] FireFox v3.6[2] IE8. Honorary R.S.M. to the 4th [Assault Pioneer] Troop Pune Sepoys , and 3rd Troop Jodhpur Bengali Lancers.
Yes, that is correct.

Bear in mind that some computers will automatically boot from a cd/dvd if the disk that is inserted has booting capability.

When you press F12 and go to the boot order screen, if the CD/DVD drive is first in the list, then there actually is no need to press F12 to boot from the disk because it would boot from it automatically. If the first device in the list is not bootable (ie not a boot disk just a regular cd/dvd), then the computer will default to the next device, which is usually the hard disk.

By the way, when you are in the F12 Boot Screen, you choose the device you want to boot from using the up/down cursors on the keyboard.
 

My Computer

System One

It should be pointed out that, since this is a BIOS option, the key in question will vary. For example, on my system it is F11.
 

My Computer

System One

  • Manufacturer/Model
    Dwarf Dwf/11/2012 r09/2013
    CPU
    Intel Core-i5-3570K 4-core @ 3.4GHz (Ivy Bridge) (OC 4.2GHz)
    Motherboard
    ASRock Z77 Extreme4-M
    Memory
    4 x 4GB DDR3-1600 Corsair Vengeance CMZ8GX3M2A1600C9B (16GB)
    Graphics card(s)
    MSI GeForce GTX770 Gaming OC 2GB
    Sound Card
    Realtek High Definition on board solution (ALC 898)
    Monitor(s) Displays
    ViewSonic VA1912w Widescreen
    Screen Resolution
    1440x900
    Hard Drives
    OCZ Agility 3 120GB SATA III x2 (RAID 0) Samsung HD501LJ 500GB SATA II x2 Hitachi HDS721010CLA332 1TB SATA II Iomega 1.5TB Ext USB 2.0 WD 2.0TB Ext USB 3.0
    PSU
    XFX Pro Series 850W Semi-Modular
    Case
    Gigabyte IF233
    Cooling
    1 x 120mm Front Inlet 1 x 120mm Rear Exhaust
    Mouse
    Microsoft Comfort Mouse 3000 for Business (USB)
    Keyboard
    Microsoft Comfort Curve Keyboard 3000 (USB)
    Internet Speed
    NetGear DG834Gv3 ADSL Modem/Router (Ethernet) ~4.0 Mb/s (O2)
    Other Info
    Optical Drive: HL-DT-ST BD-RE BH10LS30 SATA Bluray Lexmark S305 Printer/Scanner/Copier (USB) WEI Score: 8.1/8.1/8.5/8.5/8.25 Asus Eee PC 1011PX Netbook (Windows 7 x86 Starter)
Hi,

It's F11 on mine too - I have an AMI (American Megatrends Inc. ) BIOS.

SIW2
 

My Computers

System One System Two

  • Operating System
    Vista
    CPU
    Intel E8400
    Motherboard
    ASRock1333-GLAN R2.0
    Memory
    4gb DDR2 800
    Graphics card(s)
    nvidia 9500GT 1gb
  • Operating System
    win7/vista
    CPU
    intel i5-8400
    Motherboard
    gigabyte b365m ds3h
    Memory
    ballistix 2x8gb 3200
It should also be noted that different BIOS manufacturer's will do it in different ways. For example:

Newer AMI BIOSs give you the option to limit the current boot drives to specific ones, and then also allow you to limit what is available via the boot menu as well - so, as a result, in one of the computer labs I am managing I have set the BIOS to disable USB and floppy at all times, and set the HD as the primary boot device, and set the boot menu to allow PXE and CD ROM as the only alternatives. Additionally, placing a system password on the BIOS also locks the Boot menu.

Now, on the newer Lenovos we got, you first hit [ENTER] to interrupt the quick POST to give you a mini menu that includes F11 for Boot menu, IIRC.
 

My Computers

System One System Two

  • Operating System
    Windows 10 Pro X64 Insider Preview (Skip Ahead) latest build
    Manufacturer/Model
    The Beast Model V (homebrew)
    CPU
    Intel Core i7 965 EE @ 3.6 GHz
    Motherboard
    eVGA X58 Classified 3 (141-GT-E770-A1)
    Memory
    3 * Mushkin 998981 Redline Enhanced triple channel DDR3 4 GB CL7 DDR3 1600 MHz (PC3-12800)
    Graphics card(s)
    eVGA GeForce GTX 970 SSC ACX 2.0 (04G-P4-3979-KB)
    Sound Card
    Realtek HD Audio (onboard)
    Monitor(s) Displays
    2 * Lenovo LT2323pwA Widescreeen
    Screen Resolution
    2 * 1920 x 1080
    Hard Drives
    SanDisk Ultra SDSSDHII-960G-G25 960 GB SATA III SSD (System) Crucial MX100 CT256MX100SSD1 256GB SATA III SSD (User Tree) 2 * Seagate Barracuda 7200.12 ST31000528AS 1TB 7200 RPM SATA II Mech. HD Seagate ST1500DL001-9VT15L Barracuda 7200.12 1.5 TB S
    PSU
    Thermaltake Black Widow TX TR2 850W 80+ Bronze Semi-Mod ATX
    Case
    ThermalTake Level 10 GT (Black)
    Cooling
    Corsair H100 (CPU, dual 140 mm fans on radiator) + Air (2 *
    Mouse
    Logitech MX Master (shared)
    Keyboard
    Logitech G15 (gen 2)
    Internet Speed
    AT&T Lightspeed Gigabit duplex
  • Operating System
    Sabayon Linux (current, weekly updates, 5.1.x kernel)
    Manufacturer/Model
    Lenovo ThinkPad E545
    CPU
    AMD A6-5350M APU
    Motherboard
    Lenovo
    Memory
    8 GB
    Sound Card
    Conextant 20671 SmartAudio HD
    Monitor(s) Displays
    Lenovo 15" Matte
    Screen Resolution
    1680 * 1050
    Hard Drives
    INTEL Cherryvill 520 Series SSDSC2CW180A 180 GB SSD
    PSU
    Lenovo
    Case
    Lenovo
    Cooling
    Lenovo
    Mouse
    Logitech MX Master (shared) | Synaptics TouchPad
    Keyboard
    Lenovo
    Internet Speed
    AT&T LightSpeed Gigabit Duplex
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