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BIOS | Tech Info Home Page | Motherboards |
General Description, Entering BIOS, Beep Codes, Post Codes, Links
BIOS ( Basic Input and Output System )
Software stored in a Read-Only Memory (ROM) chip on the motherboard (CMOS). It controls systems devices and test memory. It allows you to configure specific parameters about the hardware in your computer such as time, date, hard drive parameters and other device settings.
The CMOS needs to have a battery connected so that the settings are not erased. When this battery gets old and dies the computer will most likely not work the next time it is turned on.
To see what these batteries look like, or to buy a battery go to the "CMOS batteries" page.
BIOS software companies.
- AMI - AMI BIOS Codes.
- Award ( now part of Phoenix ) - More Info @ Award Link,
- Phoenix - ( merged with Award) -
- Entering Phoenix BIOS
while the computer is booting, and immediately after the memory check, press: <Alt> <Cntrl> <S>Every computer even some with similar BIOS software can have different methods for entering the BIOS. You should only enter the BIOS while the computer is in a DOS prompt mode and only after booting the computer and after the automatic memory test is finished.
The method for entering the BIOS is detailed in the "Entering BIOS" page.
You would enter the BIOS for the following reasons:
- To change the a hard drive designation
- To enable or disable com ports
- To change parameters of the com ports or parallel ports
- To change the power on password
- To allow the BIOS to change the amount of memory installed
The BIOS has the ability to emit short and long beeps during the boot process when there is a problem with the computer. The BIOS does not check for all types of problems but rather it concentrates on items like bad memory, hard drives and motherboards.
These beep codes are detailed in "The "Troubleshooting Beep Code errors" page
POST (Power On Self Test) error codes are also associated with the BIOS. These are diagnostic error codes that can be displayed during the boot process when an error is detected.
Each BIOS company and many of the computer companies have their own unique POST codes.
You can find many POST error codes at the "POST error codes" page.
Problems -
If you have performed a BIOS upgrade and it has failed, leaving your computer unusable, read the BIOS Restore page for some troubleshooting tips.
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