The BIOS can be accessed during the period when your computer is performing it's Power On Self Test (POST). The BIOS will come up, begin testing the system, activate the VGA display, show its version number and often display the key combination used for access. Below is a table showing the more common BIOS manufacturers and the keystroke combinations used to get into them.
| BIOS MANUFACTURER | KEY COMBO DURING POST | NOTES |
| AMI | DELETE | |
| AWARD | DELETE or CTRL+ALT+ESC | |
| PHOENIX | F2 |
Used by HP products |
| PHOENIX (OLD) | CTRL+ALT+ESC/CTRL+ALT+S | Key combo only works from DOS |
| MICROID RESEARCH | ESC | Manufactures BIOS upgrades for existing boards |
| IBM | F1 | Makes their own BIOS for their computers. |
| COMPAQ | F10 | Proprietary to COMPAQ |
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