BIOS Setup
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4-1 WHAT IS BIOS SETUP
• BIOS setup is an interactive BIOS program that you need to run when:
1. Changing the hardware of your system. (For example: installing a new
Hard Disk etc.)
2. Modifying the behavior of your computer. (For example: changing the
system time or date, or turning special features on or off etc.)
3. Enhancing your computer’s behavior. (For example: speeding up
performance by turning on shadowing or cache)
4-2 HOW TO RUN BIOS SETUP
• To access BIOS setup menu, press < DEL > key after “POST”, and before
the OS is loaded. The BIOS usually displays the following message:
Press DEL to enter SETUP
4-3 WHAT IS CMOS
• CMOS is the memory maintained by a battery. The BIOS uses CMOS
to store the settings you have selected in SETUP. The CMOS also
maintains the internal clock. Every time you turn on your computer,
the BIOS Looks into CMOS for the settings you have selected and
configures your computer accordingly. If the battery is out of power,
the CMOS data will be lost and POST will issue a “CMOS invalid” or
“CMOS checksum invalid” message. If this happens, you have to
replace the battery and do some proper settings in SETUP.
4-4 WHAT IS POST
• POST is an acronym for Power On Self Test. POST will test all things the
BIOS does before the operating system is started. Each of POST routines
is assigned a POST code, a unique number which is sent to I/O port 080h
before the routine is executed.
4-5 BIOS UPGRADE
• System BIOS is incorporated into a Flash memory component of the
mainboard. Flash BIOS allows user to upgrade BIOS without the need to
replace an EPROM component.
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