Non-volatile memory usage
Non Volatile
Memory Type
Amount
(Size)
Does this
memory
store
customer
data?
Does this
memory
retain data
when
power is
removed?
What is the
purpose of
this memory?
How is data input into this
memory?
How is this memory
write protected?
Real Time Clock
(RTC) battery
backed-up
CMOS
configuration
memory (CMOS)
256 Bytes No Yes Stores system
date and time
and limited
keyboard
controller data.
Using the F10 Setup utility
or changing the Microsoft®
Windows® date & time.
This memory is not
write-protected. HP
recommends password
protecting the F10
Setup utility.
Controller (NIC)
EEPROM
64 Kbytes
(not
customer
accessible)
No Yes Store NIC
configuration
and NIC
firmware.
Using a utility from the NIC
vendor that can be run from
DOS.
A utility is required to
write data to this
memory and is available
from NIC vendor.
Writing data to this
ROM in an
inappropriate manner
will render the NIC non-
functional.
Keyboard ROM 64 Kbytes
(not
customer
accessible)
No Yes Stores
firmware code
(keyboard,
mouse, &
battery
management).
Programmed at the factory.
Code is updated when the
system BIOS is updated.
A utility is required for
writing data to this
memory and is available
on the HP website.
Writing data to this
ROM in an
inappropriate manner
can render the PC non-
functional.
DIMM Serial
Presence Detect
(SPD)
configuration
data
256 Bytes
per memory
module, 128
Bytes
programmabl
e (not
customer
accessible)
No Yes Stores
memory
module
information.
Programmed by the
memory vendor.
Data cannot be written
to this memory when
the module is installed
in a PC. The specific
write protection method
varies by memory
vendor.
System BIOS 4 to 5
MBytes
Yes Yes Store system
BIOS code
and PC
configuration
data.
System BIOS code is
programmed at the factory.
Code is updated when the
system BIOS is updated.
Configuration data and
settings are input using the
F10 setup utility or a
custom utility.
A utility is required for
writing data to this
memory and is available
on the HP website.
Writing data to this
ROM in an
inappropriate manner
can render the PC non-
functional.
Non-volatile memory usage 95