How to Access HP Boot Menu with HP Boot Menu Key [Beginners' Guide] - Qiling  

How to Access HP Boot Menu with HP Boot Menu Key [Full Guide]


Computer users are familiar with booting up their devices, but fewer know about the boot menu and how to access it. This article will use the HP boot menu and HP boot menu key as an example to explain everything you need to know about it.

Workable Solutions Step-by-step Troubleshooting
What Is HP Boot Menu The Boot Menu is an interface that appears before the operating system (OS) loads, accessible by pressing specific keys during the boot process. This menu allows users to select the desired OS or boot option, often providing choices between different operating systems, boot modes (e.g., safe mode), or even external devices like USB drives.Full steps
How to Access HP Boot Menu To change the boot order on an HP laptop, enter the boot menu by pressing the designated key, usually F9, F10, or F11, depending on the model. This key will vary, so check the laptop's documentation or manufacturer's website for specific instructions. Once in the boot menu, users can select the order in which the laptop boots from available options, such as the internal hard drive, USB drives, or CD/DVD drives. This allows users to prioritize a specific boot device, troubleshoot boot issues, or run diagnostic tests.Full steps
What's in HP Boot Menu To access the HP Laptop Boot Menu, press the F1 key for System Information, F2 for System Diagnostics, or F9 for Boot Device Options. ...Full steps
How to Make Use of HP Boot Menu To access the HP boot menu, press the F9 key during boot-up to use each option, such as F9 Boot Device Options, which allows you to select a different boot device.Full steps
Data Recovery from HP Boot Menu To recover files from an HP computer, use bootable data recovery software to create a bootable media, such as a USB drive or CD/DVD, and boot the HP computer from it to restore files. This method bypasses the operating system and allows the recovery software to scan the hard drive for recoverable files.Full steps

Are you looking for a brief guide on accessing the HP boot menu and utilizing the HP boot menu key? This page will show you how to access your HP laptop or desktop boot menu and configure your computer successfully, applicable to all levels of HP computer or laptop users.

image of HP boot menu

What Is HP Boot Menu Windows 10

When you press the power button to turn on a computer, the boot menu typically doesn't appear. However, pressing the boot menu keys can display the Boot Menu, which shows up before the operating system loads. This allows you to select a different boot device or operating system.

The Boot Menu is a crucial feature in computers that allows users to select which operating system or device to boot from, especially when multiple operating systems or devices are installed on the same computer. This feature provides flexibility and convenience, enabling users to choose their preferred operating system or device to boot from, rather than being limited to a single default option. With the Boot Menu, users can easily switch between different operating systems, such as Windows and Linux, or select a different device, like a USB drive or an external hard drive, to boot from.

HP Boot Menu Key Windows 10

To enter and access the HP boot menu, HP users need to press the corresponding HP boot menu keys, which vary depending on the HP laptop or desktop model. This allows them to make changes to their computer's boot settings, such as selecting a different operating system or boot device.

So what is the HP Boot Menu key? Let's check out:

Computer Type HP Boot Menu Key HP BIOS Keys
HP Desktop Computer/Laptop Esc/F9 Esc/F10/F1

How to Access HP Boot Menu

To access the boot menu on your HP laptop, you can try the following methods: 1) Press the F9 key as soon as the HP logo appears on the screen. 2) Press the F2 key to enter the BIOS settings, then navigate to the Boot tab and change the boot order. 3) Press the Esc key to enter the Startup Menu, then select the Boot Order option.

To enter the boot menu on your HP computer, start by pressing the power button to turn it on. Next, immediately press the F9 key to open the Boot Options menu.

Step 1. Turn on or restart the HP computer.

Step 2. Press "Esc" or "F9" immediately to enter the Boot Menu.

Step 3. Wait for the HP boot menu to show up.

HP Boot Menu Key

What's in HP Boot Menu

HP Boot Menu contains the following options: Boot Order, Boot Mode, Secure Boot, UEFI Firmware Settings, and Restart. It also displays the current boot mode and firmware version. Additionally, the menu may show the Boot Order settings, which allow you to prioritize the order in which the system boots from different storage devices.

HP Laptop Boot Menu:

HP laptop boot menu

HP Desktop Boot Menu:

HP laptop boot menu

The Boot Menu keys are used to access the boot menu, which allows you to select the operating system or device to boot from. The specific keys used to access the boot menu vary by device, but common keys include F2, F12, Del, Esc, and Ctrl+Alt+Del. To use the boot menu, you would press the designated key during the device's boot process, and then select the desired operating system or device from the menu.

When and How to Make Use of HP Boot Menu

Here, you'll learn when to use each option on the HP boot menu and how to use each boot menu key. The boot menu allows you to choose which operating system to boot from, and each key has a specific purpose. The F9 key is used to access the boot menu, where you can select the operating system to boot from.

F1 System Information

The System Information key provides a detailed summary of the system's basic information, product details, and BIOS data, including the manufacturer, processor, serial number, and other essential details.

How to Use:

Here are the steps to check computer and system information in one paragraph:

Step 1.Restart PC and press "Esc" to enter Boot Menu.

Step 2. Press "F1" wait for the computer to load the system information.

Check System Information in HP boot menu

F2 System Diagnostics

The System Diagnostics key is a feature on HP computers used to check and test hardware failures.

How to Use:

Step 1.  Restart PC and Press "Esc" and enter Boot Menu.

Step 2. Press F2 and wait for the computer to check and load the diagnostic information. The computer will then display a menu of options, including the ability to run a diagnostic test, view system information, and access the BIOS settings.

Run System Diagnostics in HP Boot Menu

Step 3.To run further tests, you can use the up and down arrow keys to switch and select the items.

For example, the component tests.

Run test via system diagnostics in HP Boot Menu

F9 Boot Device Options 

The Boot Device Options, F9, is a BIOS boot resource that provides access to various boot sources, including both UEFI and Legacy Boot options. This includes Windows Boot Manager, Network Card, and other UEFI-based boot options, as well as Legacy Boot sources like DVD, hard drive, CD, and USB flash drive.

You can change the PC boot order in BIOS to prioritize the booting from a specific device, such as a USB drive or CD/DVD, over the default hard drive. This is often done when you need to install an operating system from a bootable media or troubleshoot a problem with the primary boot device.

How to Use:

#1. Change HP BIOS Boot Order

Step 1.  Restart PC and Press "Esc" and enter Boot Menu.

Step 2. Press F9 to enter BIOS Boot Options.

Step 3. To adjust or change the boot drive on your HP laptop, use the arrow keys to navigate to the desired drive in the Boot Order menu. This menu is usually accessible by pressing F9 or F2 during the boot process, depending on your laptop model.

Change boot order in HP boot menu

Step 4. Save the changes and restart the HP computer.

#2. Boot HP from USB

Step 1.  Connect a Windows recovery USB drive to your PC. 

Step 2. Restart PC and Press "Esc" and enter Boot Menu.

Step 3. Press F9 to enter BIOS Boot Options.

Step 4.You can use the BIOS settings to switch the boot drive to the USB drive. Typically, you can access the BIOS settings by pressing a key such as F2, F12, or Del during the computer's boot process.

Step 5. Save the changes and restart the computer.

F10 BIOS Setup

F10, the BIOS Setup option, allows you to quickly switch from UEFI boot mode to BIOS legacy mode.

F11 System Recovery

The option to reset your HP computer to its factory settings, effectively wiping it clean of all data and settings, is available.

How to Use:

 #1. Factory Reset HP from Startup:

When you're unable to factory reset Windows in settings, you can use the Boot Menu key to give it a try.

This operation will completely erase all files on your disk, so ensure a full backup of your computer data before proceeding.

Step 1.Remove any unnecessary external devices and restart the HP computer.

Step 2. Press the Esc key to enter Boot Menu.

Step 3. Press F11 and select "Troubleshoot" to enter the Recovery Manager.

Step 4. To reset your device to its factory settings, select the "Factory Reset" option and follow the on-screen instructions to complete the process.

Factory Reset HP from HP startup menu

If you've accidentally factory reset your laptop and lost access to your files, don't worry! You can recover them using a few simple steps. First, stop using your laptop immediately to prevent any new data from being written over the old data.

#2. Perform System Recovery on HP

If you're not happy with your current OS or want to revert to a previous system state, you can try this out. You can create a system image of your Windows OS, which allows you to restore your system to a previous state.

Please note that this operation may cause file loss on your system C drive, so ensure you've backed up all important files before proceeding.

Step 1.Remove any unnecessary external devices and restart the HP computer.

Step 2. Press the Esc key to enter Boot Menu.

Step 3. Press F11, click "Troubleshoot" to enter the Recovery Manager.

Step 4.To recover your system, select "System Recovery" and follow the prompts to choose a previous system image from which to recover.

Perform system recovery from HP Boot Menu

Step 5.Follow the onscreen guide to finish the process.

 If you're feeling regretful about a System Restore, you can undo it by following the steps outlined in the article "How to Undo System Restore".

Stop using your computer immediately after losing files using the HP boot menu key on Windows 10. Instead, use reliable data recovery software like Deep Data Recovery for help.

Qiling offers manual repair and repair services to perform system repair and recovery, with a professional technical team that can help solve system startup errors such as system failure, blue screen, and black screen issues.

Consult with Qiling data recovery experts for a one-on-one manual recovery service. After a free diagnosis, we offer a range of services, including manual data recovery.

  • Fix Windows boot issues, including BSOD
  • Fix Windows error and configure Windows environment
  • Restore the system when it fails to boot
  • Optimize Windows computer to make it run quickly

F12 Network Boot

To boot an HP computer from a network drive, you can follow a specific process. This involves setting up the network drive to support PXE booting, which allows the computer to boot from the network instead of a local drive. You'll need to configure the network drive to provide the necessary boot files and settings, and then configure the HP computer to boot from the network drive.

How to Use:

Step 1. Restart HP computer.

Step 2. Press the Esc key to enter Boot Menu.

Step 3. Press F12 to enter the Network Boot Menu.

Step 4. Select a network drive to boot your computer from.

Step 5. Save the changes and restart the PC.

Run PC from Network drive via HP boot menu

Data Recovery from HP Boot Menu

If your HP computer's OS crashes or becomes unbootable, you may need assistance to recover data from the HP boot menu.

If your computer is unbootable or dead, you can use bootable data recovery software to recover your files. Deep Data Recovery allows you to create a bootable media and boot your computer from it, enabling a full scan and recovery of all your hard disk files.

You can use this powerful data recovery software to recover data from a dead HP laptop hard drive.

Step 1. Create a bootable disk

To prepare for creating a bootable USB, start by copying any important data from the USB to another device. This will ensure that your data is safe and won't be erased during the process. Once you've backed up your data, you can use Deep Data Recovery WinPE Edition to create a bootable disk on the empty USB. This tool will help you create a bootable USB, erasing any existing data on the device in the process.

Connect the USB drive to your PC, then launch Deep Data Recovery WinPE Edition. Select the USB drive and click "Create" to create a bootable disk.

Step 2. Boot from the bootable USB

Connect a bootable disk to a PC that won't boot, and change the boot sequence in the BIOS to prioritize the disk. Restart the PC and press F2 (or the corresponding key for your BIOS) to enter the BIOS settings. From there, you can change the boot order to prioritize the external disk.

To change the boot order so that the PC boots from a removable device or CD/DVD instead of the hard drive, press F10 to save and exit the BIOS settings.

Step 3. Recover data from a hard drive that won't boot

When you boot from a USB, you can run Deep Data Recovery from the WinPE bootable disk, then select the drive you want to scan to find all your lost files.

Select file types that you want to recover

Click "Scan" to start the scanning process.

select a location and scan lost music, voice recording

After scanning your computer or laptop, you can preview and recover your data. Select the files you want to restore and click "Recover" to save them to a new location, avoiding data overwriting.

Preview found audio files

Conclusion: HP Boot Menu Is Complex, Use It Carefully

The HP boot menu is a utility that allows you to access various functions on your HP device, including checking device information, running a hardware diagnostic, changing the boot order, running HP from a USB, and even running HP from a network drive. To access the HP boot menu, you can refer to the HP boot menu keys, which vary depending on the device model, to effectively navigate and utilize its features.

The HP boot menu is intricate and should be used with caution. If you're unable to access files on an unbootable HP computer, Qiling bootable data recovery software can be a helpful solution.

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