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This article provides basic information about how to use the BIOS Setup Utility in your laptop. For additional information about what the BIOS is, please click here.  

The BIOS Setup Utility lets you configure certain aspects of your laptop’s hardware to your specifications. You can use the BIOS setup to define a boot password, to change the boot order, to add a device, etc.

Important: Be careful when changing any settings in the BIOS. Incorrect settings can cause your laptop to malfunction or crash. Please make sure all important data is backed up before changing anything in the BIOS.

To access the laptop’s BIOS, follow these steps.

1. Turn the laptop on.
2. At the Samsung Logo screen, press the F2 key.

3. The BIOS setup screen appears.

Note:  Not every BIOS screen will look the same. Certain screens may look different depending on the laptop.

The BIOS Menu

This table briefly describes the items in the Main BIOS Setup Menu and their functions:

Navigating in the BIOS

You can not use your mouse while in the BIOS. The table below lists the keys you can use to navigate in the BIOS and their functions.

Setting a supervisor password lets you restrict access to authorized users only.  After you’ve set a supervisor password, you must enter the password before the laptop boots into Windows. You must also enter the password before you can enter the BIOS.

Important:  DO NOT lose your password.  Samsung does not have a master password that overrides your password.  Write the password down and put it somewhere safe.

To set the Supervisor Password, follow these steps:

1. Select the Security menu by pressing the right arrow on the keyboard.
2. Use the down arrow on the keyboard to highlight Set Supervisor Password, and then press Enter.

1. The Set Supervisor Password screen appears.

4. Enter a password, press Enter, re-enter the password to confirm that it is correct, and then press Enter again.

Note:  The password can be up to 8 alphanumeric characters.  Special characters are not allowed.

5. A window appears stating that the changes have been saved.  Press Enter to go back to the Security menu of the BIOS.

Setting a User Password

A User password allows a user to start the laptop and access Windows, but not the BIOS. A Supervisor password must be set first before you can set a User password.

Note:  Deactivating the Supervisor password also deactivates the User password.

To set a User Password, follow these steps:

1. Set a Supervisor Password. See the Setting a Supervisor Password for instructions.

2. Select the Security menu by pressing the right arrow on the keyboard.

3. Use the down arrow on the keyboard to highlight Set User Password, and then press Enter.

4. The Set User Password screen appears.

5. Enter a password, press Enter, re-enter the password to confirm that it is correct, and then press Enter again.

Note:  The password can be up to 8 alphanumeric characters.  Special characters are not allowed.

6. A window appears stating that the changes have been saved.  Press Enter to go back to the Security menu of the BIOS.

Setting Up an HDD (Hard Disk) Password

You must set a Supervisor password before setting an HDD password.

Important:  

• If you set a password for the HDD, the HDD cannot be accessed if installed in another laptop.
• Write your password down and store it in a safe place.  Samsung does not have a master password, nor is there a way to override the HDD password.

Note:  

• For security purposes, to set the HDD password, you must first shut down the laptop, turn it back on, access the BIOS, and then select the Security menu.
• If you are unable to change the HDD password or an HDD Password Frozen message appears when you enter the BIOS setup, turn the laptop off then back on again.

To set a HDD Password, follow these steps:

1. Set a Supervisor Password. See the Setting a Supervisor Password for instructions.

2. Select the Security menu by pressing the right arrow on the keyboard.

3. Use the down arrow on the keyboard to highlight Set HDD Password, and then press Enter.

4. The Set HDD Password screen appears.

5. Enter a password, press Enter, re-enter the password to confirm that it is correct, and then press Enter again.

Note:  The password can be up to 8 alphanumeric characters.  Special characters are not allowed.

6. A window appears stating that the changes have been saved.  Press Enter to go back to the Security menu of the BIOS.

1. On the Security screen, select Set Supervisor Password, Set User Password, or Set HDD Password, and then press Enter.
2. In the Enter Current Password field, enter the current password, and then press Enter.
3. Leave the Enter New Password field blank, and then press Enter.
4. Leave the Confirm New Password field blank, and then press Enter.
5. A Setup Notice windows appears. Press Enter to confirm the changes. The password is deactivated.

Note:  If you deactivate the Supervisor password, all passwords (User and HDD) are also deactivated.

Boot priority determines the order in which your laptop accesses storage devices to load booting data when it starts. By default, your laptop boots the CD-Rom first, then a removable device, and then the HDD.  

To change the boot priority to your specifications, follow these steps:

1. On the main BIOS screen, use the left or right arrow key on your keyboard to select the Boot menu option.
2. Highlight Boot Device Priority, and then press Enter.



 

3. Press the down arrow key until (for example) IDE HDD is highlighted, and then press the F6 button to move it up the list or F5 to move it down.

Note: You can select and move any of the other devices listed in the same manner.

4. Press the F10 key to save the settings and exit the setup.  The boot priority for the IDE HDD is now changed to your specifications.