Cant change boot order

SpliceGold

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I'm finally getting around to installing linux. I just cant change my boot order. I go into the bios by pressing F2 and arrow right to boot order. Once in it I need to highlight the device and press F5 to move down and F6 to go up. Problem is it's not working. None of them will move. I'm not doing anything wrong as I have done this lots of times before.

Does any know why its doing this? Also is there another way to change the boot order without going into the bios? Computer is so painfully slow I just want Linux on it now. Decided on going with Linux Lite.
 
You don't mention the motherboard. Linux would be irrelevant here.
 
I'm not sure what you're trying to change exactly. Did you add any new drives as well? Why has it been necessary to do this often? Did you do a BIOS update recently?

It seems when people try to change devices the bios get's confused over what bootable devices there actually are. The recommendation is to remove all devices and save this setting. Then add the devices back in order getting it to boot first.
 
I just wanted to change the boot order so it can boot from my usb that has linux lite on it. I wanted to install only Linux on it and not windows. I haven't done anything to it and done no updates.

As I said my knowledge is very limited. I will just take it to work with me on Monday and let my colleague look at it. Because I dont really even know what you really even mean.
 
Using USB? Did you use a tool like magic iso to make a bootable drive?
 
Changing the temporary boot order is easy by pressing F12. You don't need to go into the bios to boot from a usb stick. Likely with all of the changing it got confused over which boot devices are available and is expecting one that isn't present. The only way to correct it is to get it to recognise that no boot devices exist and save that state. If that doesn't work a reset may be necessary.

After that don't save any devices that aren't permanent.
 
Changing the temporary boot order is easy by pressing F12. You don't need to go into the bios to boot from a usb stick. Likely with all of the changing it got confused over which boot devices are available and is expecting one that isn't present. The only way to correct it is to get it to recognise that no boot devices exist and save that state. If that doesn't work a reset may be necessary.

After that don't save any devices that aren't permanent.

I never changed anything. I pushed f12 and tried to change the boot order and it wouldn't work. I tired to push enter while highlighted on it and it still never worked.

I used UNetbootin. Look I have very basic knowledge and clearly not enough. I have only ever had windows 7 and then 10 on it and I have not messed around with any settings. I will just ask the guy at my work to check it out.
 
Have you had a look at the manual for the Acer Aspire 5336? Acer does not always stick to the normal meanings for the function keys and sometimes uses other keys for some functions such as up and down?
Have you set any passwords in Bios, or has someone else set passwords in Bios?

Why do you want to make the move to Linux?
 
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I have two 3.5" HDD drives in my one desktop PC - one is the original 160GB unit that came with the PC & the other is an additional 2TB I installed around 5 years ago.

I still have Windows XP & MS Flight Simulator 2004 on the 160GB drive, and the 2TB has 2 partitions - a 120GB one with Windows 10 Pro Insider Edition & the remaining 850GB or so with my standard Win 10 Pro 1903 installation.

When booting up my PC, it comes up with a boot options menu with these 3 choices:

1. Win 10 Pro OEM
2. Win 10 Pro Insider Ediiton
3. Win XP Pro OEM

It usually boots up into a Windows-style GUI where I can use a mouse to select which option I want, or after a feature update for Win 10, may also boot back into a command-line interface where I can use the up/down arrows to select what I want to boot into & then make my required choice and press ENTER.

If I do not make a selection within 15 seconds, I have used the EasyBCD utility to set the boot-up order to default to Win 10 Pro OEM, and then it automatically boots into that.

Whenever I do a regular major feature update on my Win 10 Pro Insider Edition partition, to download the latest version (I am currently on the Slow ring, so it's usually once or twice a month), it resets the boot order back to default to it instead of into my Win 10 Pro OEM partition, so I just use EasyBCD again to change the boot order back to my Win 10 Pro OEM partition instead once more.

Here's the link to EasyBCD - https://neosmart.net/EasyBCD/
 
Installing Linux alongside Windows on my Acer laptop was quite a pain. If you're happy to replace Windows, you can do these steps. Setting the boot order and booting from USB should then work the way you're used to.

1. 'Set Supervisor Password' under Security tab. (This is the password to let you access your BIOS. Write it down and DO NOT lose it. Probably better to make it simple, like 123.)
2. Under Boot tab, set 'Boot Mode' to Legacy and set 'Secure Boot' to Disabled.

If you want to keep Windows then try the steps in the first answer at this link.

Good on you for giving Linux a go! It's valuable to know these days.
 
I have two 3.5" HDD drives in my one desktop PC - one is the original 160GB unit that came with the PC & the other is an additional 2TB I installed around 5 years ago.

I still have Windows XP & MS Flight Simulator 2004 on the 160GB drive, and the 2TB has 2 partitions - a 120GB one with Windows 10 Pro Insider Edition & the remaining 850GB or so with my standard Win 10 Pro 1903 installation.

When booting up my PC, it comes up with a boot options menu with these 3 choices:

1. Win 10 Pro OEM
2. Win 10 Pro Insider Ediiton
3. Win XP Pro OEM

It usually boots up into a Windows-style GUI where I can use a mouse to select which option I want, or after a feature update for Win 10, may also boot back into a command-line interface where I can use the up/down arrows to select what I want to boot into & then make my required choice and press ENTER.

If I do not make a selection within 15 seconds, I have used the EasyBCD utility to set the boot-up order to default to Win 10 Pro OEM, and then it automatically boots into that.

Whenever I do a regular major feature update on my Win 10 Pro Insider Edition partition, to download the latest version (I am currently on the Slow ring, so it's usually once or twice a month), it resets the boot order back to default to it instead of into my Win 10 Pro OEM partition, so I just use EasyBCD again to change the boot order back to my Win 10 Pro OEM partition instead once more.

Here's the link to EasyBCD - https://neosmart.net/EasyBCD/
Very useful for those that play around with OSs on a regular basis.
 
Precisely why I asked the question. OP probably did not bother and just believed his prior knowledge or his local IT guru, who also does not bother to RTFM!
Acer defaults to an alternate set of functions for the Fn keys!
IF you want the standard set to be default, you have to set it like that in BIOS, or toggle the individual key when you want to use the standard meaning.
It is not nec to set a password in BIOS, but the default is set that way by Acer, presumably because they believe anyone who does this sort of thing wants some added protection.


Also check you may need to press the Function Key with the function key.
It apparantly is the magic wand that makes ALL PC's that "struggle" with the latest Windows OS, lightning fast again.
Installing Linux alongside Windows on my Acer laptop was quite a pain. If you're happy to replace Windows, you can do these steps. Setting the boot order and booting from USB should then work the way you're used to.

1. 'Set Supervisor Password' under Security tab. (This is the password to let you access your BIOS. Write it down and DO NOT lose it. Probably better to make it simple, like 123.)
2. Under Boot tab, set 'Boot Mode' to Legacy and set 'Secure Boot' to Disabled.

If you want to keep Windows then try the steps in the first answer at this link.

Good on you for giving Linux a go! It's valuable to know these days.
 
I got it working and installed linux. There was an option that every time you boot it asks you which device it wants to boot to.

Also turns out F4 to F8 keys do not work and a few others :X3:
 
Precisely why I asked the question. OP probably did not bother and just believed his prior knowledge or his local IT guru, who also does not bother to RTFM!
Acer defaults to an alternate set of functions for the Fn keys!
IF you want the standard set to be default, you have to set it like that in BIOS, or toggle the individual key when you want to use the standard meaning.
It is not nec to set a password in BIOS, but the default is set that way by Acer, presumably because they believe anyone who does this sort of thing wants some added protection.

Look dude it's not like I dont bother to find anything out or not listen. I'm not great with computers and have VERY LIMITED KNOWLEDGE. Problem sorted anyways. Next time I just wont ask anything on this forum.
 
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It apparantly is the magic wand that makes ALL PC's that "struggle" with the latest Windows OS, lightning fast again.

I wouldn't say that. My laptop does not run well with windows 10 and I dont want to go back to Windows home basic. I want to try something different and dont care whether I have windows or linux.

My laptop is lightning fast and I'm happy with it. I hardly use it anyways.
 
Look dude it's not like I dont bother to find anything out or not listen. I'm not great with computers and have VERY LIMITED KNOWLEDGE. Problem sorted anyways. Next time I just wont ask anything on this forum.

If you have limited knowledge and want to play around with your PC, then make an effort and read up on your PC first.
BTW the F4 and F8 keys do work ------- you just don't know how to use them.
 
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