this post was submitted on 21 May 2024
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Linux is a family of open source Unix-like operating systems based on the Linux kernel, an operating system kernel first released on September 17, 1991 by Linus Torvalds. Linux is typically packaged in a Linux distribution (or distro for short).
Distributions include the Linux kernel and supporting system software and libraries, many of which are provided by the GNU Project. Many Linux distributions use the word "Linux" in their name, but the Free Software Foundation uses the name GNU/Linux to emphasize the importance of GNU software, causing some controversy.
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I had the same problem on my laptop not being able to get into the bios. Turns out the reason is that the f-keys (f-1 to f-12) where not registered as such on boot.
They are also the keys for volume and brightness etc. So when I pressed f-11 on boot it registered it as "Brightness up" and not "f-11".
The solution was to press "fn" + "f-11". Then it registered as the correct key.
You have the option to toggle the default on that. So that you press f-11 and it registers it as such and "brightness up" is "fn" + "f-11).
For me that toggle was "fn" + "esc". There also was a lock symbol on ESC so if ESC doesn't work search for the key which has a lock on it.
That toggle was also an option in the bios.
So yeah, wasted an embarrassing amount of time figuring that out.
You've never used function keys? The dual function is annoying even inside the OS. I have to help several people with laptops and you can't tell what mode they're in, the user often doesn't know either.
On laptops, you never know if the F-key behavior is defined by the OS, BIOS or keyboard driver. I just mash F2, F8, Fn+F2, Fn+F8, Del as often as I can (these are the most common keys to do the trick). You can reduce the options with a USB keyboard with just normal F-keys.
Some laptops don't have a key you can hold to enter BIOS settings or boot menu (maybe to start booting before the keyboard is initialized?) and there is a reset button hole for that.
Of course I did. I just didn't made the connection that they where the reason for me not getting into bios.