🛠️ Win Error Decoder

BIOS keys

Lenovo ThinkPad and ThinkCentre

BIOS / setupF1
Boot menu (start from USB)F12

How to use it

  1. Shut the PC down completely (hold Shift while clicking Shut down, so Fast Startup does not skip the key).
  2. Press the power button.
  3. Immediately tap F1 about twice a second until the BIOS opens. For the boot menu, tap F12 instead.

Enter during the logo shows a Startup Interrupt Menu with all options.

Works on every Windows PC: start the BIOS from Windows

  1. In Windows, open Settings > System > Recovery.
  2. Next to Advanced startup, click Restart now.
  3. Choose Troubleshoot > Advanced options > UEFI Firmware Settings > Restart.
  4. The PC restarts straight into the BIOS.

Use this when the key does not work. Fast Startup often makes Windows boot too quickly to catch the key.