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01 December 2008

Working with the BIOS Setup Program

BIOS
  • Basic Input Output System
  • Motherboard has a BIOS

  • Other devices may also have a BIOS (ex. printer, network router, video card)

  • Typically stored on a ROM or Flash RAM chip
CMOS
  • Complementary Metal Oxide Semiconductor
  • Type of RAM used for storing exceptions to BIOS settings
  • Powered by motherboard battery full-time


Accessing BIOS Setup


  • Watch for a message at startup telling which key to press




BIOS Setup Utility




Exiting BIOS Setup
  • Refer to message onscreen for instructions

  • F10 is typical for saving changes
  • Esc is typical for discarding changes



Floppy Drive Configuration
  • BIOS does not typically detect floppy drives



Hard Drive Configuration
  • Usually Plug-and-Play, but manual setup is possible; refer to label on disk drive


Boot Configuration

  • Set boot order (CD, Hard, Floppy, etc.)




Plug and Play
  • When Plug and Play OS is assumed, BIOS relinquishes control of many hardware resources

  • Reset Configuration resets BIOS assignments of resources from its own Plug and Play

  • Assign IRQ for USB support enables USB devices to work before OS loads

Integrated Peripherals

  • Legacy parallel and serial ports

  • Set addresses or enable/disable




Power Management
  • Can be configured in BIOS or in OS

  • OS is preferable if possible

  • Power management turned on in both places can result in conflict

Recover from Bad BIOS Changes

1.Find reset jumper on motherboard
2.Change its position
3.Power system on for 5 to 10 seconds
4.Power system off
5.Reset jumper

Install BIOS Updates

  • Download update from manufacturer’s Web site

  • Check instructions on Web site

  • Many types of updaters
    *Command line utilities
    *Windows-based utilities
    *Boot disks

Replace BIOS Chip

  • Pull chip with chip puller tool

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