Chapter 3
Using BIOS
About The Setup Utility
The computer uses the latest Award BIOS with support for
Windows Plug and Play. The CMOS chip on the mainboard
contains the ROM setup instructions for configuring the mainboard
BIOS.
The BIOS (Basic Input and Output System) Setup Utility displays
the system's configuration status and provides you with options to
set system parameters. The parameters are stored in battery-
backed-up CMOS RAM that saves this information when the
power is turned off. When the system is turned back on, the system
is configured with the values you stored in CMOS.
The BIOS Setup Utility enables you to configure:
•
Hard drives, diskette drives, and peripherals
•
Video display type and display options
•
Password protection from unauthorized use
•
Power management features
The settings made in the Setup Utility affect how the computer
performs. Before using the Setup Utility, ensure that you
understand the Setup Utility options.
This chapter provides explanations for Setup Utility options.
The Standard Configuration
A standard configuration has already been set in the Setup Utility.
However, we recommend that you read this chapter in case you
need to make any changes in the future.
This Setup Utility should be used:
•
when changing the system configuration
•
when a configuration error is detected and you are
prompted to make changes to the Setup Utility
•
when trying to resolve IRQ conflicts
•
when making changes to the Power Management
configuration
