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Chapter 3
Introducing BIOS
The BIOS is a program located on a Flash Memory on the motherboard. This program is a bridge
between motherboard and operating system. When you start the computer, the BIOS program gain
control. The BIOS first operates an auto-diagnostic test called POST (power on self test) for all the
necessary hardware, it detects the entire hardware device and configures the parameters of the hardware
synchronization. Only when these tasks are completed done it gives up control of the computer to
operating system (OS). Since the BIOS is the only channel for hardware and software to communicate,
it is the key factor for system stability, and in ensuring that your system performance as its best.
In the BIOS Setup main menu of Figure 3-1, you can see several options. We will explain these
options step by step in the following pages of this chapter, but let us first see a short description of the
function keys you may use here:
•
Press <Esc> to quit the BIOS Setup.
•
Press
↑ ↓ ← →
(up, down, left, right) to choose, in the main menu, the option you want to confirm
or to modify.
•
Press <F10> when you have completed the setup of BIOS parameters to save these parameters and
to exit the BIOS Setup menu.
•
Press Page Up/Page Down or +/
–
keys when you want to modify the BIOS parameters for the
active option.
3-1 Entering Setup
Power on the computer and by pressing <Del> immediately allows you to enter Setup.
If the message disappears before your respond and you still wish to enter Setup, restart the system to try
again by turning it OFF then ON or pressing the “RESET” button on the system case. You may also
restart by simultaneously pressing <Ctrl>, <Alt> and <Delete> keys. If you do not press the keys at the
correct time and the system does not boot, an error message will be displayed and you will again be
asked to
Press <F1> to continue, <Ctrl-Alt-Esc> or <Del> to enter Setup
3-2 Getting Help
Main Menu
The on-line description of the highlighted setup function is displayed at the bottom of the
screen.
Status Page Setup Menu/Option Page Setup Menu
Press F1 to pop up a small help window that describes the appropriate keys to use and the
possible selections for the highlighted item. To exit the Help Window, press <Esc>.
