Cannot access BIOS on Asus Laptop without new SSD

I replaced the SSD on my Asus Vivobook with the intent of installing Windows 10 from the usb. But when I power on, the computer does not try to boot from the usb, and I also cannot access the BIOS or boot menu in accordance with manual instructions: f2 during POST. I tried continuously holding the f2 and then powering on and also spamming f2.

I found an ASUS Support FAQ that seems to contradict what is in the manual: Due to Windows 10 Fast Start Up "you CANNOT press F2 to enter the BIOS configuration when booting the system." The video in the FAQ shows how to access the BIOS via Windows. But I don't have Windows on the computer! Surely there must be a way to add a new hard drive and then install Windows on it! But I've searched the forum and internet without success.

Thanks for your help!

Thanks for the suggestion. I've already tried those options: esc, del, f8.

Yes, I was also thinking of reinstalling the original SSD etc. but I wanted to avoid that. My thinking is that surely ASUS would make the motherboard such that one could replace a failed SSD without planning ahead by changing settings BIOS via Windows. If I go that route, I will certainly disable fast boot and secure boot per your suggestions. Still hoping there might be an easier fix ...

I had a early BIOS version for my Z170 MB that had a Fast Boot on BIOS settings.
If enabled it didn't load USB and PS2 BIOS drivers during POST so you would only have USB after OS boot. No USB and PS2 means no mouse and no keyboard during POST.
The only way to enter BIOS during POST was to reset BIOS (remove the coin battery). It was so criticized that it was removed on futures BIOS updates.

Is it easy to reset your BIOS?

I don't know enough to say if BIOS is easy to reset. I was able to disable fast boot and secure boot after reinstalling the factory ssd and restarting from windows into bios config. I tested that I could boot from the usb installer and also access the BIOS config with f2 on start up. So everything was working with the old ssd. But after re-reinstalling the new sdd, these no longer work! Frustrating.

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I also set the boot order to start with the USB. This all works until I put in the new ssd. After that, all it will do is show the "ASUS in search of incredible" page and won't boot the installer or allow access to BIOS config.

Have you tried Fn + F2?