how do I change bios settings, to boot my pc from usb stick to install Ubuntu

Usually at boot, quicly type F2 or F8 to enter setup BIOS.
BIOS settings apply to your motherboard and not Vista.
Search if you can directly access boot order (usually F8).
Else you will have to go into menu.

Thank you for that, I know we're in the right direction, but I still don't understand how to change the settings so I can download Ubuntu Desktop.

Hi Pamela,

We need to be clear on what you mean by "download". Are you referring to booting from the CD-ROM and installing the ISO, or do you need to download the ISO-Image from the Internet so you can run / install Ubuntu Desktop?

Additionally, what operating system is currently installed on this computer, and do you want to use it + Ubuntu, or just Ubuntu, as this will determine which is the best course of action to take?

KE1HA

Thank you KE1HA.....I downloaded Ubuntu Desktop to a USB stick....now I need to download Ubuntu Desktop from the USB stick to my laptop.

My operating system is Windows Vista. I want to change the whole thing.

Pamela

For downloading ubuntu itselves and burning it to a DVD or writing it to a memory stick you should not have to change anything in the BIOS.

For booting Ubuntu from this CD or Stick you probably might have to, though, although most computers are shipped in a way that it will boot from any removable media if it can - and only if it cannot boot from the hard disk instead.

...so most probably you will have to change the boot device order so the the computer will first boot from your Ubuntu CD/DVD/USB Stick/SD card in the Card reader/something else - and only then try to boot from the hard disk.

On all computers from Dell and Acer I know there is a second way to start up the computer from a removable media: Press F12 during boot - and a menu will show up where you can choosing the device ubuntu is on.

If that doesn't work... ...Do you know what brand the bios is from? (Most of the time it will show this during start-up or at least when you have entered the BIOS set up) Or at least the brand of the computer - and if it is a desktop or a laptop one?

Hi KE1HA......just an FYI, I am somewhat computer literate, but I'll need more of a step-by-step directions to do this on my own.

Thanks...Pamela

Hello PetePaul......I have a HP laptop and the bio company is Hewlett-Packard F.25

Someone told me to hold down the "delete" button during boot. Your suggesting F12, is there a difference?

The problem with a BIOS is - that BIOSses aren't standartized at all - from the user's point of view. For the programs that run on your computer it is a standart way to interface the hardware. But the user interface can be designed in any way the BIOS writer wants it to be. So the fact what keys you have to press to get into the BIOS, if the BIOS has a graphical user interface that feels like Windows, KDE or Gnome - or a simple text-only interface that is controlled by keyboard only depends on the manufacturers preferences.

Unfortunately I found a place where to download HP BIOSses - and even a page where HP tells basically what KE1HA did:
http://h10025.www1.hp.com/ewfrf/wc/document?lc=en&dlc=en&cc=us&product=18703&docname=c00364979

How to get the product number and the manual that describes the BIOS that is built into your computer is described here: http://h10025.www1.hp.com/ewfrf/wc/static_software_select?swlinkmsg=100&lc=en&dlc=en&cc=us&docname=c00364979&product=18703

With any luck at all the manual is good enough. If not - send me a link where to find it and I will try to read it. The only other way I could think of would be photographing each screen you see and sending it to somebody who has experience with biosses - or trying to solve the problem by phone, which - in my experience - would be a lengthy process, too.

The problem with a BIOS is - that BIOSses aren't standartized at all - from the user's point of view. For the programs that run on your computer it is a standart way to interface the hardware. But the user interface can be designed in any way the BIOS writer wants it to be. So the fact what keys you have to press to get into the BIOS, if the BIOS has a graphical user interface that feels like Windows, KDE or Gnome - or a simple text-only interface that is controlled by keyboard only depends on the manufacturers preferences.

Unfortunately I found a place where to download HP BIOSses - and even a page where HP tells basically what KE1HA did, but HP seems to use many different types of BIOSses and I am not sure which one your computer uses:
http://h10025.www1.hp.com/ewfrf/wc/document?lc=en&dlc=en&cc=us&product=18703&docname=c00364979

How to get the product number and the manual that describes the BIOS that is built into your computer is described here: http://h10025.www1.hp.com/ewfrf/wc/static_software_select?swlinkmsg=100&lc=en&dlc=en&cc=us&docname=c00364979&product=18703

With any luck at all the manual is good enough. If not - send me a link where to find it and I will try to read it. The only other way I could think of would be photographing each screen you see and sending it to somebody who has experience with biosses - or trying to solve the problem by phone, which - in my experience - would be a lengthy process, too.

What the exact model of your PC, so I can search the PDF manual in HP web site ?

Hello Delance.......thank you for all your help, I'm going to just go ahead and get a laptop with Ubuntu already loaded. It'll be much easier.

--- On Thu, 8/12/10, delance <email address hidden> wrote:

From: delance <email address hidden>
Subject: Re: [Question #120755]: how do I change bio settings, Vista, to download desktop
To: <email address hidden>
Date: Thursday, August 12, 2010, 2:26 PM

Your question #120755 on Ubuntu changed:
https://answers.launchpad.net/ubuntu/+question/120755

delance requested for more information:
What the exact model of your PC, so I can search the PDF manual in HP
web site ?

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Could you mark the question as solved to close it, and avoid people read this question trying to help you.

Thanks KE1HA, that solved my question.