How to edit VMWare 6.7 U3 VM boot time or force to boot up at BIOS during next boot

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Recently, I was asked if there was a way to extend the boot time to give an end user time to access the BIOs because they needed to make changes to the config.  It has been a minute since I have had to do this so I thought I would write a refresher blog with two methods.

Method 1: Change the boot delay which causes the VM to not boot as fast allowing more time to access the BIOs.

Method 2: Force BIOs setup, which forces during the next boot to access the BIOs

Method 1 – Change Boot Delay

Machine generated alternative text:
Power 
Guest OS 
Snapshots 
Open Remote Console 
Migrate.. 
Clone 
Fault Tolerance 
VM Policies 
Template 
Compatibility 
Export System 
[3 Edit Settings_.

Right click on VM or click actions and go to Edit Settings

Machine generated alternative text:
Edit Settings 
Tigger 
Virtual Hardware VM Options 
æneral Options 
) VMware Remote Console Options 
VM Name: Tigger 
Lock the guest operating system when the last remote user disconnects 
) Encryption 
) Power management 
) VMware Tools 
Boot Options 
Firmware 
Boot Delay 
Force BIOS setup 
Failed Boot Recovery 
) Advanced 
) Fibre Channel NPIV 
Expand for encryption settings 
Expand for power management settings 
Expand for VMware Tools settings 
BIOS (recommended) v 
When powering on or resetting, delay boot order by 
milliseconds 
O During the next boot, force entw into the BIOS setup screen 
O If the VM fails to find boot device, automatically retry after 
seconds 
Expand for advanced settings 
Expand for Fibre Channel NPIV settings 
CANCEL

Go to VM Options > Boot Options
Here you can change the Boot Delay to give the user more time to access the BIOs.

Method 2 – Force BIOS setup
You get to this section following the same steps as below.  The only difference is you want to check he box net to Force BIOS setup, which during the next boot, force entry into the BIOS setup screen.

Machine generated alternative text:
Boot Options 
Firmware 
Boot Delay 
Force BIOS setup 
Failed Boot Recovery 
BIOS (recommended) v 
When powering on or resetting, delay boot order by 
milliseconds 
During the next boot, force entw into the BIOS setup screen 
O If the VM fails to find boot device, automatically retry after 
seconds

Summary:
Not a long or difficult process to follow.  Now if you are performing a large deployment I would recommend to script it but also remember to go and change everything back if it is no longer a requirement post install.  As always, I hope y’all found this article useful.

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