3-2 Using the BIOS Setup Utility
Introducing BIOS Setup
Your NEC Versa notebook computer comes with a hardware program called the BIOS
Setup utility that allows you to view and set system parameters. BIOS Setup also
allows you to set password features that protect your system from unauthorized use.
Use BIOS Setup to:
set the current time and date
customize your operating system to reflect your computer hardware
secure your system with a password
launch the Refresh Battery utility and fully discharge your lithium ion battery.
System parameter information, for example, date, time, drive, and security settings, is
stored in the system’s complementary metal oxide semiconductor (CMOS) memory. A
lithium battery supplies power to the CMOS memory and maintains system
configuration information when system power is off. The lithium CMOS battery
charges when your NEC Versa notebook is connected to AC power.
Entering BIOS Setup
Access the BIOS utility at power-on. Just press
F2
when the following prompt appears.
Press <F2> to Enter BIOS Setup.
When you press
F2
to enter BIOS Setup, the system interrupts the Power-On Self-Test
(POST) and displays BIOS Setup utility main menu. You can view and set system
parameters from this menu and BIOS Setup’s other menus. See the following sections
for a description of how to use the BIOS Setup utility.
If the system detects an error during POST, it prompts you with a double beep and a
message: “Press <F1> to resume, Press <F2> to enter Setup.”
If you press
F1
, the system continues past the error and attempts to load Windows
normally. If you want to fix the error, carefully read the error message that appears
above the prompt (taking notes if you want), and press
F2
to enter BIOS Setup.
