Intel Pentium III Processor/840, Manual, Page: 57 / 151

Intel
®
Pentium
®
III Processor/840 Development Kit Manual 5-1
BIOS Quick Reference
5
The evaluation board is licensed with a single copy of Embedded BIOS and Embedded DOS
software from General Software, Inc.
1
This software is provided for demonstration purposes only
and must be licensed directly from General Software, Inc. for integration with new designs.
General Software may be reached at (800) 850-5755, on the web at http://www.gensw.com, or via
email at sales@gensw.com.
BIOS updates may periodically be posted to the Intel Developers’ web site at
http://developer.intel.com/.
5.1 Overview
The system’s pre-boot environment is managed with an adaptation of Embedded BIOS from
General Software. The pre-boot environment includes POST, Setup Screen System, Manufacturing
Mode, Console Redirection, Windows CE Loader (CE Ready), and Integrated BIOS Debugger. A
REFLASH tool is also available to update the BIOS image with new builds of Embedded BIOS
that may be obtained from General Software.
Before using the system, please read the following to properly configure CMOS settings, and learn
how to use the embedded features of the pre-boot firmware, Embedded BIOS.
The last two sections of this chapter provide the BIOS POST Codes and Beep codes.
5.2 Power-On Self-Test (POST)
When the system is powered on, Embedded BIOS tests and initializes the hardware and programs
the chipset and other peripheral components. During this time, POST progress codes are written by
the system BIOS to I/O port 80H, allowing the user to monitor the progress with a special monitor.
“Embedded BIOS POST Codes” on page 5-13 lists the POST codes and their meanings.
During early POST, no video is available to display error messages should a critical error be
encountered; therefore, POST uses beeps on the speaker to indicate the failure of a critical system
component during this time. Consult “Embedded BIOS Beep Codes” on page 5-16 for a list of
Beep codes used by the system’s BIOS.
5.3 The BIOS User Interface
The system BIOS can use the standard keyboard and video device, or use console redirection to
demonstrate headless operation. For headless operation, remove the standard keyboard and screen
devices and the system will boot unattended. If an RS232 cable is attached to COM1, a PC/AT-
style character-based POST is available from HyperTerminal, PROCOMM, or any other terminal
emulator software that supports VT100 emulation.
1. General Software™, the GS Logo, Embedded BIOS™, BIOStart™, CE-Ready™, and Embedded DOS™ are trademarks or registered
trademarks of General Software, Inc.