Acer Bios Not showing up A 514-52-78MD

datta0
datta0 Member Posts: 3 New User
edited November 2022 in Aspire Laptops
Hi, 
I have an Acer Aspire 5 A 514-52-78MD ( https://www.acer.com/ac/en/US/content/model/NX.HDRAA.001 ).
Recently, I've been facing issues accessing BIOS. I'm unable to enter Bios. When I press F2 (I even tried Fn+F2) on startup, it shows a blank screen. But I'm able to access Boot Menu Perfectly using the F12 key.
can someone please help.

[Edited the thread to add model name to the title]

Answers

  • StevenGen
    StevenGen ACE Posts: 12,059 Trailblazer
    First, why are you trying to access bios? As accessing bios with an uefi bios you should always access bios through windows 10 and you should go to: settings>update & security>Recovery>Advance startup


  • datta0
    datta0 Member Posts: 3 New User
    Well, I don't have Windows anymore. I'm an Arch Linux user. So, I need to enable Vt-X Vt-D back for Virtual Machines in Arch. Hence I need to access bios. 
  • billsey
    billsey ACE Posts: 34,101 Trailblazer
    It's an issue with Grub, which doesn't allow enough time for the F2 or F12 before launching. You can do it, but the timing has to be just perfect. Lots of key presses as soon as you power up...
    Click on "Like" if you find my answer useful or click on "Yes" if it answers your question.
  • datta0
    datta0 Member Posts: 3 New User
    @billsey
    I tried pressing F2 with one hand before pressing the power button, it didn't work.
    Neither did the command sudo systemctl reboot --firmware-setup.
  • billsey
    billsey ACE Posts: 34,101 Trailblazer
    You can't press and hold the key. The BIOS is looking for a key down event, so you have the be clicking it over and over in order for the event to happen in the very short time available.
    Click on "Like" if you find my answer useful or click on "Yes" if it answers your question.
  • Mumma_hen
    Mumma_hen Member Posts: 18 Troubleshooter

    I am VERY late to this party but I have a workaround and thought I would share for anyone else still Googling this. This is an issue with Acers crappy BIOS and a conflict with systemd-boot EFI entries. For some reason the BIOS just seems to hate systemd-boot and this is why I always use GRUB but you can make systemd-boot work

    Solution:

    1: open up a command terminal and type "sudo efibootmgr" from the list find your Linux distro thats using systemd-boot and note its boot order number, usually its 0001 but sometimes it can be 2001 or 000A.

    2: type "sudo efibootmgr -b (your number without these brackets) -B" this will delete the efi entry but don't worry you can still boot into your desktop later.

    3: Now reboot and your PC might say no OS found (Don't panic) it might also still boot your distro and this is fine and the most likely outcome. Alternatively if Windows is installed that will likely boot first.

    4: Again reboot and press F2 (Or your PC's required key) to enter BIOS, this time it should allow you into the BIOS. Go the the boot order tab. If your PC still booted into Linux on your first restart you might find a strange boot entry that shares the name of the drive Linux is installed on this time around. You can use this entry to boot Linux and is perfectly fine.

    5: However if no entry is present go to the security tab, create a password for the BIOS (You can remove it later) and enable secure boot temporarily, go down and select the "Add a file to secure boot" sometimes this is worded differently on various Acer machines. Browse the HDD/SSD you have installed Linux on and in boot/efi find the BOOTX64 entry and add it to secure boot and name it whatever you like.

    6: Now disable secure boot and remove the BIOS password by simply leaving the "New password" sections blank and pressing enter, and reboot. Note you won't be able to adjust the new entries boot order until at least 1 reboot after creating it.

    Boom you should now be able to access BIOS whenever and boot into Linux with ease. Remember to change the boot order in the BIOS as you please.

  • Kolay_Ne
    Kolay_Ne Member Posts: 1 New User

    Thank you so much, @Mumma_hen!