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ISA-E5 User`s Manual 35
BIOS Introduction
This Chapter discusses Award™ Setup program built into the ISA-E5
BIOS. The Setup program allows users to modify the basic system
configuration. This special information is then stored in
battery-backed RAM so that it retains the Setup information when the
power is turned off.
The AwardBIOS™ installed in ISA-E5 is a custom version of an
industry standard BIOS. This means that it supports VIA C7/EDEN in
a standard IBM-AT compatible input/output system. The BIOS
provides critical low-level support for standard devices such as disk
drives and serial and parallel ports.
It also adds non-standard, features such as virus and password
protection as well as special support for detailed fine-tuning of the
chipset controlling the entire system.
The rest of this chapter is intended to guide you through the process of
configuring your system using Setup.
Starting Setup
The AwardBIOS™ is immediately activated when you first power on
the computer. The BIOS reads the system information contained in the
CMOS and begins the process of checking out the system and
configuring it. When it finishes, the BIOS will seek an operating
system on one of the disks and then launch and turn control over to the
operating system.
While the BIOS is in control, the Setup program can be activated in one
of two ways:
1. By pressing <Del> immediately after switching the system on, or
2. by pressing the <Del> key when the following message appears
briefly at the bottom of the screen during the POST (Power On
Self-Test).
Press DEL to enter SETUP.
If the message disappears before you 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