Unable to access the BIOS settings; pressing the Del key isn't responding.
Unable to access the BIOS settings; pressing the Del key isn't responding.
I haven't encountered this problem before. I attempted to access the BIOS by holding or pressing the Delete key, but couldn't enter it. I tried various methods—different keyboards, another USB port, and even the F2 key—but it always launched straight into Windows. The motherboard model is an Asus ROG STRIX X670E-A.
This approach seemed promising initially. However, it failed immediately after the first attempt. The system restarted, displayed a black screen, and remained there. This was the first time it occurred. Eventually, by moving the mouse and pressing keys, the system rebooted again and transitioned to Windows.
No, my AM5 motherboard doesn't support PS/2 connections. However, I've discovered that I can access the BIOS and the Windows startup Advanced Options menu when I connect my previous monitor to my PC. When I switch to the new Asus PG329Q, I can't reach either the BIOS or the Advanced Options menu. Many users report similar difficulties with Windows 11 entering BIOS or Advanced Options. Some have suggested a monitor workaround that allowed access to the menu before. In short, I can enter BIOS by holding the Delete key during startup and use the normal Advanced Options menu with my old monitor, but not with the new one.
Trick the system into starting with a default boot by pressing the power button and holding it until the machine shuts down. Certain boards may initiate a default boot instantly, others might need multiple attempts. Once the POST screen appears and asks to press F1 for BIOS checks, you're done. Be aware your keyboard might also be the issue, but typically it's just the board POSTing too quickly and skipping the delete key registration. Slowing down the POST in BIOS is a common fix—usually setting a delay for HDD/SSD initialization works well, around 2 seconds or slightly longer. Even with an M.2 drive, this delay helps resolve the problem.
He shared his experience with a similar problem on his Asus AM5 setup. He resolved it by resetting the BIOS and removing the CMOS battery to clear issues, then restarting with a new monitor. This approach worked for him but not for you. He also experimented with swapping DisplayPort cables and using different DP cables, but the fix didn't last. Trying an HDMI cable instead helped a bit, though it still didn't enter BIOS or show Windows Advanced Options. He discovered that pressing Space during Windows Advanced Options restarts the PC and sometimes displays the ROG splash screen. He also attempted to enter BIOS by holding Delete after a reboot, but faced signal problems switching between HDMI and DP connections. Eventually, he powered down the system, reconnected only to DP, and managed to boot Windows normally. He plans to try accessing BIOS with a DP cable again using the same method as before, but still struggles with the old monitor.
The couple of times I was able to enter the BIOS with the Asus PG329Q monitor was right after clearing the CMOS, and then swapping the DP cables. When I booted after clearing the CMOS, with the PG329Q connected, I got a black screen. But when I connected the old monitor, an LG 32GK650F-B, I was able to see the "press F1 to enter setup" screen. After doing that, I swapped the DP cables, and I was able to see the F1 screen and the BIOS for a couple of times with the PG329Q monitor. But then it started doing the same thing as before, where I couldn't enter the BIOS or see the Advanced Options screen. The issue seems to be unrelated to the speed of posting, and is related to to the VGA connection. With my old monitor, the LG 32GK650F-B, I'm able to just hold down the Delete key to enter the BIOS. I don't need to repeatedly press it. Though, I can tell when to press the Delete key, as right before the moment when it needs to be pressed, there's a faint pop from the PC speakers, then the CPU fans die down, and then the RGB on my mouse lights up. I've tried both holding down the Delete key and rapidly pressing it, many times, and neither work with the new monitor. I've tried different keyboards, and the issue persisted. But my old monitor works with the keyboards I've tried.