The primary boot key for the Lenovo G50, used to access the one-time boot menu, is F12 (or Fn+F12).
Accessing the Boot Menu on Your Lenovo G50
The boot key provides a convenient way to temporarily change the boot order without altering your system's BIOS settings. This is particularly useful when you need to boot from a USB drive, a CD/DVD, or another external device for tasks like operating system installation, system recovery, or running diagnostic tools.
Step-by-Step Guide to Using the Boot Key
To utilize the boot key on your Lenovo G50 and select a specific boot device:
- Power On your Lenovo G50 laptop.
- As soon as the Lenovo logo appears on the screen during startup, begin pressing the F12 key (or Fn+F12 if your function keys require the Fn modifier) rapidly and repeatedly.
- Continue pressing until the Windows Boot Manager or a similar boot device selection menu appears.
- Once the menu is displayed, use the arrow keys on your keyboard to navigate through the list of available boot devices (e.g., USB drive, optical drive, hard drive).
- Press Enter to select the desired boot device.
Important Considerations
It's crucial to note that using F12 (or Fn+F12) to access the boot menu is a one-time option. This means the system will only boot from the selected device for that specific startup session. For subsequent reboots, it will revert to the default boot order configured in the BIOS.
Also, if a particular boot device (like booting from a USB or CD/DVD) is disabled within your laptop's BIOS settings, it will not appear as an option in the F12 boot menu, and you won't be able to select it using this method. In such cases, you would need to enter the BIOS setup to enable the desired boot device.
Common Lenovo Boot Keys at a Glance:
| Function | Key for Lenovo G50 (Typically) |
|---|---|
| One-Time Boot Menu | F12 or Fn+F12 |
| BIOS Setup Utility | F2 or Fn+F2 (common for many Lenovo models) |
What to Do After Pressing the Boot Key
After successfully pressing F12 or Fn+F12, the system will present you with a list of available bootable devices. This interface is often referred to as the Windows Boot Manager, though it might appear slightly different depending on your system's configuration. From this menu, you can easily choose to boot from:
- A USB flash drive containing an operating system installer or recovery media.
- An external CD/DVD drive with a bootable disc.
- Your internal hard drive or SSD if you wish to select a specific partition or operating system installation.
- A network boot option, if supported and configured.
Troubleshooting Boot Key Issues
If pressing F12 or Fn+F12 doesn't bring up the boot menu on your Lenovo G50, consider these common reasons:
- Incorrect Timing: Ensure you're pressing the key rapidly and repeatedly as soon as the Lenovo logo appears. Starting too late might cause you to miss the window.
- Disabled Boot Menu: The boot menu option might be disabled in the system's BIOS settings. You would need to access the BIOS setup (often by pressing F2 or Fn+F2 during boot) to enable it.
- Function Key Lock: Some keyboards have an Fn Lock key that changes the default behavior of the F-keys. Try pressing F12 with and without the Fn key.
For more detailed information on selecting boot devices, setting boot order, and enabling boot menu support on Lenovo laptops, you can refer to official Lenovo support resources. Learn more about boot device selection and BIOS settings for Lenovo laptops.
