HP Computer-"Key" to Access Boot Menu

I am trying to help a relatively computer illiterate person boot from a bootable CD. I have not seen his PC, do not know the model number and do not have access to the PC. He says that it is a HP Desktop PC that he acquired new around 6 to 8 years ago.

What would be the "key" to press at PC start to access the boot menu?

Is there a list somewhere that shows the various PC manufacturers and the key to press to access the boot menu and the key to press to access the BIOS?

Thanks in Advance.

 

Some commonly used Boot Menu keys are F2, F10, F11, F12 and ESC.

Al

 

On my hp computer which is roughly 6 months old it's the f12 key.

 

On my six year-old Compaq it's F-1 for the BIOS and F-8 for safe mode selections.

For boot options I believe it's either F-12 or 'Esc', but I'm not sure off the top of my head.