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C
Carey Frisch [MVP]
BIOS means 'Basic Input Output System'. BIOS is actually firmware,
the software that is programmed into a ROM (Read-Only Memory)
chip built onto the motherboard of a computer. BIOS is what makes
the system run an initial Power-On Self-Test of the computer, initialize
circuits, load the boot program from the boot disk, and then handle
low-level I/O to peripheral controllers such as keyboard and display.
--
Carey Frisch
Microsoft MVP
Windows XP - Shell/User
Be Smart! Protect Your PC!
http://www.microsoft.com/athome/security/protect/default.aspx
the software that is programmed into a ROM (Read-Only Memory)
chip built onto the motherboard of a computer. BIOS is what makes
the system run an initial Power-On Self-Test of the computer, initialize
circuits, load the boot program from the boot disk, and then handle
low-level I/O to peripheral controllers such as keyboard and display.
--
Carey Frisch
Microsoft MVP
Windows XP - Shell/User
Be Smart! Protect Your PC!
http://www.microsoft.com/athome/security/protect/default.aspx
T
Timothy Daniels
In addition to what Carey wrote, one of the most frequently
accessed parameters of the BIOS by users (in my opinion)
is the "boot sequence". That is a prioritized list of devices
which may contain the boot loader. If the CD drive is 1st
on the list and there is a CD in the CD drive, control will be
passed to the boot loader taken from the CD. If devices such
as a floppy drive or CD drive are high on the list and those devices
don't contain medium (i.e. a disk), the BIOS looks at the hard
drive list. Control passes to the boot loader on the 1st hard
drive on the hard drive list and the boot loader looks for the
active partition and passes control to the loader which is
assumed to be in the active partition, and that loader then
controls the final loading of the operating system. Thus, by
adjusting the positions of what may be more than one hard
drive on the hard drive boot sequence, one can control which
hard drive supplies the operating system that will be loaded.
*TimDaniels*
accessed parameters of the BIOS by users (in my opinion)
is the "boot sequence". That is a prioritized list of devices
which may contain the boot loader. If the CD drive is 1st
on the list and there is a CD in the CD drive, control will be
passed to the boot loader taken from the CD. If devices such
as a floppy drive or CD drive are high on the list and those devices
don't contain medium (i.e. a disk), the BIOS looks at the hard
drive list. Control passes to the boot loader on the 1st hard
drive on the hard drive list and the boot loader looks for the
active partition and passes control to the loader which is
assumed to be in the active partition, and that loader then
controls the final loading of the operating system. Thus, by
adjusting the positions of what may be more than one hard
drive on the hard drive boot sequence, one can control which
hard drive supplies the operating system that will be loaded.
*TimDaniels*
M
Mike Hall
Alternatively, one can set the boot sequence to Floppy - CD - IDE0 in which
case the most widely used function of BIOS is 'save and exit? y'..
case the most widely used function of BIOS is 'save and exit? y'..
M
Michael Stevens
ericca wrote:
Click on the link below, or copy and paste the link into the address box
if using the web based newsgroup.
Accessing BIOS
http://michaelstevenstech.com/bios_manufacturer.htm
--
Michael Stevens MS-MVP XP
(e-mail address removed)
http://michaelstevenstech.com
For a better newsgroup experience. Setup a newsreader.
http://michaelstevenstech.com/outlookexpressnewreader.htm
Click on the link below, or copy and paste the link into the address box
if using the web based newsgroup.
Accessing BIOS
http://michaelstevenstech.com/bios_manufacturer.htm
--
Michael Stevens MS-MVP XP
(e-mail address removed)
http://michaelstevenstech.com
For a better newsgroup experience. Setup a newsreader.
http://michaelstevenstech.com/outlookexpressnewreader.htm
T
Timothy Daniels
Mike Hall said:
Well, in my BIOS, it's a contradiction, as in
"Save and Exit? Enter".
*TimDaniels*