Abit AB-AT6, User Manual

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Introduction of BIOS 3-1
Chapter 3 Introduction of BIOS
The BIOS is a program located on a Read Only Memory chip on the
mainboard. This program will not be lost when you turn the computer off. This
program is also referred to as the boot program. It is the only channel for the
hardware circuit to communicate with the operating system. Its main function is
to manage the setup of the mainboard and interface cards parameters, including
simple parameters such as time, date, hard disk drive, as well as more complex
parameters such as hardware synchronization, device operating mode, CPU
SOFT MENU™ techniques, setup of CPU speed. The computer will operate
normally, or will operate at its best, only if all these parameters are correctly
configured through the BIOS.
When you start the computer, it is controlled by the BIOS program. The
BIOS first operates an auto-diagnostic for all the necessary hardware,
configuration the parameters of the hardware synchronization, and detects all the
hardware. Only when these tasks are completed does it give up control of the
computer to the program of the next level, which is the operating system. Since
the BIOS is the only channel for hardware and software to communicate, it will
be the key factor to system stability, and to ensure that your system performs at
its best. After the BIOS has achieved the auto-diagnostic and auto-detection
operations, it will display the following message:
PRESS DEL TO ENTER SETUP
M
Don’t change the parameters inside the BIOS unless you know what
you are doing
The parameters inside the BIOS are used to setup the hardware
synchronization or the device operating mode. If the parameters are not
correct, they will produce errors, the computer will crash, and sometimes you
will even not be able to boot the computer after it has crashed. We recommend
that you do not change the parameters inside the BIOS unless you are familiar
with them. If you are not able to boot your computer anymore, please refer to
the section “Erase CMOS data” in Chapter 2.