I have a laptop with Ubuntu installed as the only OS. I also have a USB stick with a Windows 7 installation on it. I want to install Windows from the USB stick on my laptop but when I try to restart the laptop to get access to BIOS, I can't seem to find the command for it, its like it skips everything and just says Ubuntu and then takes me to the login screen.
How do I change the boot priority to USB in Ubuntu?
The boot priority settings are often found under the Boot tab of the computer's BIOS/UEFI utility. The BIOS/UEFI utility can be accessed by pressing the key which is shown on the manufacturer's splash screen when booting. This is the F12 key on many computers. The keys to press, such as F12, F2, Del or Esc, differ on computers from different manufacturers. When grub bootloader is installed it does not change the key which is used to access the BIOS/UEFI utility.
When the power button is pressed to start the computer, it will try to boot first from whatever option is listed first in the boot priority section of the computer's BIOS/UEFI utility. If a USB flash drive is listed first in the boot priority list, it will try to boot from the USB flash drive first. If the internal hard drive where Ubuntu is installed is listed first in the boot priority list, the computer will boot to Ubuntu.
Manufacturer Models Boot Menu Key BIOS Key Acer Aspire One zg5, zg8, Aspire Timeline F12 F2 Acer Aspire v3, v5, v7 F12* F2 Acer Esc, F2, F12 Del, F2Manufacturer Models Boot Menu Key BIOS Key
Apple Post-2006 models OptionManufacturer Models Boot Menu Key BIOS Key
Asus Desktops F8 F9
Asus VivoBook f200ca, f202e, q200e, s200e, s400ca, s500ca, u38n, v500ca, v550ca, v551, x200ca, x202e, x550ca, z202e Esc Delete
Asus N550JV, N750JV, N550LF, Rog g750jh, Rog g750jw, Rog g750jx Zenbook Infinity ux301, Infinity ux301la, Prime ux31a, Prime ux32vd, R509C, Taichi 21, Touch u500vz, Transformer Book TX300 Esc (Disable "Fast Boot" and "Secure Boot Control") F2
Asus k25f, k35e, k34u, k35u, k43u, k46cb, k52f, k53e, k55a, k60ij, k70ab, k72f, k73e, k73s, k84l, k93sm, k93sv, k95vb, k501, k601, R503C, x32a, x35u, x54c, x61g, x64c, x64v, x75a, x83v, x83vb, x90, x93sv, x95gl, x101ch, x102ba, x200ca, x202e, x301a, x401a, x401u, x501a, x502c, x750ja F8 Delete
Asus Eee PC 1015, 1025c Esc F2Manufacturer Models Boot Menu Key BIOS Key
Compaq Presario Esc, F9 F10Manufacturer Models Boot Menu Key BIOS Key
Dell F12** F2Manufacturer Models Boot Menu Key BIOS Key
eMachines F12 Tab, Delete
GatewayManufacturer Models Boot Menu Key BIOS Key
Fujitsu F12 F2Manufacturer Models Boot Menu Key BIOS Key
Gigabyte F12 DelManufacturer Models Boot Menu Key BIOS Key HP Esc, F9 Esc, F10, F1
HP Pavilion Media Center a1477c Esc F10
HP Pavilion 23 All In One Esc (Select boot media from the menu) F10
HP Pavilion Elite e9000, e9120y, e9150t, e9220y, e9280t Esc, F9 F10
HP Pavilion g4, g6 and g7, Probook 4520s, 4525s, 4540s, 4545s, 5220m, 5310m, 5330m, 5660b, 5670b Esc F10
HP Pavilion HPE PC, h8-1287c, Pavilion PC, p6 2317c, Pavilion PC, p7 1297cb, TouchSmart 520 PC, ENVY x2, m4, m4-1015dx, m4-1115dx, sleekbook m6, m6-1105dx, m6-1205dx, m6-k015dx, m6-k025dx, touchsmart m7, Envy, dv6 and dv7 PC, dv9700, Spectre 14, Spectre 13, 2000 - 2a20nr, 2a53ca, 2b16nr, 2b89wm, 2c29wm, 2d29wm Esc (Then F9 for "Boot Menu") Esc
HP 2000 Esc (Then F9 for "Boot Menu". Select "Patriot Memory" on the Boot Option Menu) Esc HP Pavilion a410n Esc F1Manufacturer Models Boot Menu Key BIOS Key
Intel F10Manufacturer Models Boot Menu Key BIOS Key Lenovo IdeaPad s300, u110, u310 Touch, u410, u510, y500, y510, yoga 11, yoga 13, z500 Novo Button (in the left corner of the laptop), F12 Novo Button
Lenovo IdeaPad P500 F12 or Fn + F11 F2
Lenovo IdeaPad S10-3, g460, g470, g475, g480, g485 F12 F2Manufacturer Models Boot Menu Key BIOS Key
Microsoft Surface Pro 1-3 Volume-Down Button
Microsoft Surface Pro 4 & Book Volume-Up ButtonManufacturer Models Boot Menu Key BIOS Key
NEC F5 F2Manufacturer Models Boot Menu Key BIOS Key
Packard Bell F8 F1, DeleteManufacturer Models Boot Menu Key BIOS Key
Samsung F12, Esc F2, F10
Samsung NC10, np300e5c, np300e5e, np350v5c, np355v5c, np365e5c, np550p5c Esc F2 Samsung Series 5 Ultra, Series 7 Chronos, Series 9 Ultrabook Esc (Must disable "Fast Boot" in BIOS) F2
Samsung Ativ Book 2, 8, 9 F2 (Must disable "Fast Boot" in BIOS) F10Manufacturer Models Boot Menu Key BIOS Key
Sharp F2Manufacturer Models Boot Menu Key BIOS Key
Sony VAIO Duo, Pro, Flip, Tap, Fit Assist Button (Use the Assist Button when the computer is off, not when it is booting) Assist Button (Use the Assist Button when the computer is off, not when it is booting)
Sony VAIO, PCG, VGN F11 F1, F2, F3
Sony VGN Esc, F10 F2Manufacturer Models Boot Menu Key BIOS Key
Toshiba Kira, Kirabook 13, Ultrabook, Qosmio g30, g35, g40, g50, Qosmio x70, x75, x500, x505, x870, x875, x880 F12 F2
Toshiba Protege, Satellite, Tecra F12 F1, Esc
Toshiba Equium F12 F12Manufacturer Models Boot Menu Key BIOS Key
ASUS F8 DEL
Gigabyte F12 DEL
MSI F11 DEL
Intel F10 F2
Asrock F11 F2, DEL
EVGA F7 DEL
*F12 Boot Menu must be enabled in BIOS.
**Select USB Flash Drive.
If you can't get into the BIOS setup utility at all because it's password protected and you forgot the password you can remove the BIOS password by removing the CMOS battery for 5 minutes and then putting it back in. This will also reset all BIOS/UEFI settings back to their defaults.
On some systems you have to press F2, Del or Esc to access Bios settings. Less frequently it is CTRL+Alt+ESC.
Once in Bios settings, on some systems, while there is a boot order giving you "removable drives" and "primary hard disk" as options, you may have to set the boot order again in an item labelled "HDD's" where you find again the USB drive.
For gaining access to the BIOS to edit boot order, you usually need to press the F2 or F12 key during that brief splash screen right after hitting your power button (it usually only lasts a second or two so you have to think fast) Once in, you should be able to either choose to boot from USB or move it to the top of the Boot order. Google around for the correct key for your specific computer model and you should be able to find out how to get into the BIOS.
As for installing Windows along side your Ubuntu Installation, remember that Windows will write over the Master Boot Record (MBR) and you will not be able to boot into your Ubuntu installation until you re-install the Ubuntu's Grub boot loader.
Directions for how to do this are here: https://help.ubuntu.com/community/RecoveringUbuntuAfterInstallingWindows
You might then also wish to know how to change the boot order once you have the two OS's installed and running. You will have to edit the file /etc/default/grub directions for doing this are here: How do I change the GRUB boot order?
Hope this helps enough to get you started with your dual-boot system. There are some great guides on how to set up an ideal Windows 7 and Ubuntu dual boot set up if you Google around a bit.
| Device | Key Combination | Comment |
|---|---|---|
| Acer | Del or F2 | F2 key most likely |
| Asus | Delet or Del | |
| Compaq | F10 | |
| Dell | F2 | |
| eMachines | Tab or Del | |
| Fujitsu | F2 | |
| HP | Esc, F10, F11 | Other possibilities: on Pavilion - F1 |
| Lenovo | F1 or F2 | Other possibilities: small button next to the Power button (if laptop) |
| Samsung | F2 | For ultrabooks from Samsung if might be F10 |
| VAIO | F1, F2, F3 | Other possibilities: Assist button |
| Toshiba | F1, F2, F12 or Esc |
F2orEscto access Bios settings. On others it isCTRL + Alt + ESC. – To Do Oct 29 '12 at 23:51