What does bios mean? Identifying problems in the BIOS. What functions does the BIOS perform?
Many users believe that the computer boots using the operating system, but in fact this is only partly true. In this material, you will learn how a PC actually boots and become familiar with such important concepts as BIOS, CMOS, UEFI and others.
Introduction
For many people, working with a computer begins after loading the operating system. And this is not surprising, since the vast majority of the time, modern PCs are actually used with the help of convenient graphics Windows shell or any other OS. In this friendly environment for us, we not only launch programs, applications or games, but also carry out settings, as well as configure system parameters to suit our own needs.
But, despite all its multifunctionality, the operating system cannot do everything, and in some key moments, it is simply powerless. In particular, this applies to bootstrap computer, which occurs completely without her participation. Moreover, the launch of the OS itself largely depends on the success of this procedure, which may not occur if problems arise.
This may be news to some, but in reality, Windows is not responsible for booting the computer from start to finish; it only continues it at a certain stage and finishes it. The key player here is a completely different firmware - the BIOS, the purpose and main functions of which we will talk about in this material.
What is BIOS and why is it needed?
The key components of any computer device are the processor and random access memory, and this is not without reason. The processor is rightly called the heart and brain of any PC, since all the main mathematical operations are entrusted to it. In this case, the CPU can only take all commands and data for calculations from RAM. He also sends the results of his work there. With any other information repositories, for example, with hard drives, the processor does not communicate directly.
This is where the main problem lies. In order for the processor to begin executing operating system commands, they must be in RAM. But when the PC is turned on, the RAM is empty, since it is volatile and cannot store information when the computer is turned off. At the same time, by themselves, without the participation of the system, computer devices cannot place the necessary data in memory. And here we are faced with a paradoxical situation. It turns out that in order to load the OS into memory, the operating system must already be in RAM.
To resolve this situation, at the dawn of the era of personal computers, IBM engineers proposed using a special small program called the BIOS, sometimes called the boot loader.
Word BIOS(BIOS) is an abbreviation for four English words Basic Input/Output System, which translated into Russian means: “Basic input/output system.” This name was given to the set of microprograms responsible for the operation basic functions video adapters, displays, disk drives, floppy drives, keyboards, mice and other basic input/output devices.
The main functions of the BIOS are the initial startup of the PC, testing and initial configuration of the equipment, distribution of resources between devices and activation of the operating system boot procedure.
Where is the BIOS stored and what is CMOS
Considering that the BIOS is responsible for the very initial stage of booting the computer, regardless of its configuration, this program should be available for base devices immediately after pressing the PC power button. That is why it is not stored on the hard drive, like most ordinary applications, but is written to a special flash memory chip located on the motherboard. Thus, access to the BIOS and starting the computer is possible even if no storage media is connected to the PC at all.
The very first computers used read-only memory (ROM) chips to store the BIOS, onto which the program code itself was written once at the factory. Somewhat later, EPROM and EEROM chips began to be used, in which it was possible, if necessary, to rewrite the BIOS, but only with the help of special equipment.
In modern personal computer BIOS stored in chips based on flash memory, which can be rewritten using special programs directly to your PC at home. This procedure is usually called flashing and is required to update the firmware to new versions or replace it in case of damage.
Many BIOS chips are not soldered onto the motherboard, like all other components, but are installed in a special small connector, which allows you to replace it at any time. True, this feature is unlikely to be useful to you, since cases requiring replacement of the BIOS chip are very rare and practically never occur among home users.
Flash memory for BIOS storage can have different capacities. In previous times, this volume was very small and amounted to no more than 512 KB. Modern versions of the program have become somewhat larger and have a volume of several megabytes. But in any case, in the background modern applications And multimedia files it's just minuscule.
In some advanced motherboards, manufacturers can install not one, but two BIOS chips at once - a main one and a backup one. In this case, if something happens to the main chip, the computer will boot from the backup one.
In addition to the flash memory in which the BIOS itself is stored, there is another type of memory on the motherboard that is designed to store configuration settings for this program. It is manufactured using a complementary metal oxide semiconductor or CMOS(Complementary Metal Oxide Semiconductor). This abbreviation is the name given to specialized memory that contains computer startup data used by the BIOS.
CMOS memory is powered by a battery installed on the motherboard. Thanks to this, when you disconnect the computer from the outlet, all BIOS settings are saved. On older computers, CMOS memory functions were assigned to a separate chip. In modern PCs it is part of the chipset.
POST procedure and initial PC boot
Now let's see what the initial process of booting a computer looks like and what role the BIOS plays in it.
After pressing the computer's power button, the power supply starts up first, starting to supply voltage to the motherboard. If it is normal, then the chipset gives a reset command internal memory central processor and its launch. After this, the processor begins to sequentially read and execute instructions written in system memory, the role of which is played by the BIOS chip.
At the very beginning, the processor receives a command to perform self-testing of computer components ( POST- Power-On Self-Test). The POST procedure includes several stages, most of which you can watch on the PC screen immediately after turning it on. The sequence of events before the operating system starts loading is as follows:
1. First, the main system devices are determined.
3. Third step - setting up the set system logic, or more simply put, the chipset.
4. Then the video card is searched and identified. If an external (independent) video adapter is installed in the computer, then it will have its own BIOS, which the main system BIOS will look for in a certain range of memory addresses. If an external graphics adapter is found, the first thing you will see on the screen will be an image with the name of the video card generated by its BIOS.
5. After finding graphics adapter, the integrity of the BIOS parameters and battery status begins to be checked. At this moment, those same mysterious white inscriptions begin to appear on the monitor screen, one after another, causing awe Not experienced users due to a lack of understanding of what is happening. But in fact, nothing supernatural happens at this moment, as you will now see for yourself. The first, topmost inscription, as a rule, contains the logo of the BIOS developers and information about its installed version.
6. Then testing of the central processor starts, after which data about the installed chip is displayed: the name of the manufacturer, model and its clock frequency.
7. Next, testing of RAM begins. If everything goes well, the total installed amount of RAM is displayed on the screen with the inscription OK.
8. Upon completion of checking the main components of the PC, the search for the keyboard and testing of other input/output ports begins. In some cases, the computer may stop booting at this stage if the system is unable to detect the connected keyboard. In this case, a warning about this will immediately be displayed on the screen.
9. Next, the detection of storage devices connected to the computer begins, including optical drives, hard drives and flash drives. Information about the found devices is displayed on the screen. In the event that several controllers from different manufacturers, then the procedure for their initialization can be displayed on different screens.
Controller Definition ScreenSerialATA, which has its ownBIOS, with the output of all devices connected to it.
10. At the final stage, resources are distributed between the found internal devices PC. In older computers, after this a summary table with all detected equipment is displayed. In modern machines, the table is no longer displayed on the display.
11. Finally, if the POST procedure is successful, the BIOS begins searching the connected drives Main Boot Area(MBR), which contains data about the operating system startup and the boot device to which further control must be transferred.
Depending on the BIOS version installed on the computer, the POST procedure may take place with slight changes from the order described above, but in general, all the main steps that we have indicated will be performed when booting each PC.
BIOS Setup Utility
BIOS is a configurable system and has own program settings of some PC hardware parameters, called BIOS Setup Utility or CMOS Setup Utility. It is called by pressing a special key during the POST self-test procedure. On desktop computers, the Del key is most often used for this purpose, and on laptops F2.
The graphical interface of the hardware configuration utility is very ascetic and has remained virtually unchanged since the 80s. All settings here are made only using the keyboard - mouse operation is not provided.
CMOS/BIOS Setup has a lot of settings, but the most popular ones that the average user may need include: setting the system time and date, choosing the order of boot devices, enabling/disabling the built-in motherboard additional equipment(sound, video or network adapters), controlling the cooling system and monitoring the processor temperature, as well as changing the system bus frequency (overclocking).
For different motherboard models, the number of configurable BIOS parameters can vary greatly. The widest range of settings usually have expensive motherboards for desktop PCs, aimed at enthusiasts, hobbyists computer games and acceleration. The most meager arsenal, as a rule, is found in budget boards designed for installation in office computers. They also don’t shine with variety. BIOS settings the vast majority of mobile devices. More details about various settings We will talk about BIOS and their impact on computer operation in a separate article.
BIOS development and update
As a rule, almost every motherboard model has its own BIOS version developed, which takes into account its individual technical features: type of chipset used and types of soldered peripheral equipment.
BIOS development can be divided into two stages. First, a basic version of the firmware is created, which implements all functions, regardless of the chipset model. Today, the development of such versions is mainly carried out by American Megatrends (AMIBIOS) and Phoenix Technologies, which in 1998 absorbed the then major player in this market - Award Software (AwardBIOS, Award Modular BIOS, Award WorkstationBIOS).
At the second stage, motherboard manufacturers are involved in the development of BIOS. At this point, the basic version is modified and improved for each specific board model, taking into account its features. At the same time, after the motherboard enters the market, work on its BIOS version does not stop. Developers regularly release updates that can fix found errors, add support for new hardware, and expand the functionality of the program. In some cases, updating the BIOS allows you to breathe new life into a seemingly outdated motherboard, for example, adding support for a new generation of processors.
What is UEFI BIOS
The basic principles of operation of the system BIOS for desktop computers were formed in the distant 80s of the last century. Over the past decades, the computer industry has developed rapidly, and during this time situations have constantly arisen when new device models turn out to be incompatible with certain BIOS versions. To solve these problems, developers constantly had to modify the code of the underlying input/output system, but in the end a number of software limitations have remained unchanged since the days of the first home PCs. This situation led to the fact that the BIOS in its classic version finally ceased to meet the requirements of modern computer hardware, preventing its distribution in the mass sector of personal computers. It became clear that something needed to change.
In 2011, with the launch of production of motherboards for Intel processors Generation Sandy Bridge installed in the LGA1155 socket has begun mass implementation new software interface to boot the computer - UEFI.
In fact, the first version of this alternative to the regular BIOS was developed and successfully used by Intel in server systems back in the late 90s. Then, the new interface for booting a PC was called EFI (Extensible Firmware Interface), but already in 2005 its new specification was called UEFI (Unified Extensible Firmware Interface). Today, these two abbreviations are considered synonymous.
As you can see, motherboard manufacturers were in no particular hurry to switch to the new standard, trying to improve traditional BIOS variations until the last minute. But the obvious backwardness of this system, including its 16-bit interface, the inability to use more than 1 MB of memory address space, the lack of support for drives larger than 2 TB and other constant insoluble compatibility problems with new equipment nevertheless became a serious argument for switching to a new software solution .
What changes did the new boot interface proposed by Intel bring with it and how does it differ from the BIOS? As with BIOS, the main task of UEFI is to correctly detect the hardware immediately after turning on the PC and transfer control of the computer to the operating system. But at the same time, the changes in UEFI are so profound that it would be simply incorrect to compare it with BIOS.
BIOS is a virtually unchangeable program code embedded in a special chip and interacts directly with computer hardware using its own software. The procedure for booting a computer using BIOS is simple: immediately after turning on the computer, it checks the hardware and loads simple universal drivers for major hardware components. After this, the BIOS finds the operating system bootloader and activates it. Next, the OS loads.
The UEFI system can be called a layer between the hardware components of the computer, with their own firmware, and the operating system, which allows it to also perform BIOS functions. But unlike BIOS, UEFI is a modular programmable interface that includes test, work and boot services, device drivers, communication protocols, functional extensions and its own graphical shell, which makes it look like a very lightweight operating system. At the same time, the user interface in UEFI is modern, supports mouse control and can be localized into several languages, including Russian.
An important advantage of EFI is its cross-platform and independence from the processor architecture. The specifications of this system allow it to work with almost any combination of chips, be it x86 architecture (Intel, AMD) or ARM. Moreover, UEFI has direct access to all computer hardware and platform-independent drivers, which makes it possible to organize, for example, Internet access or disk backup without starting the OS.
Unlike BIOS, the UEFI code and all its service information can be stored not only in a special chip, but also on partitions, both internal and external hard drives, as well as network storages. In turn, the fact that boot data can be placed on capacious drives makes it possible to provide EFI with rich functionality due to its modular architecture. For example, these could be developed diagnostic tools, or useful utilities that can be used both at the initial PC boot stage and after the OS starts.
Another key UEFI feature is the ability to work with huge volume hard drives partitioned according to the GPT (Guid Partition Table) standard. The latter is not supported by any BIOS modification, since it has 64-bit sector addresses.
Booting a UEFI-based PC, as in the case of BIOS, begins with initializing the devices. But at the same time, this procedure is much faster, since UEFI can detect several components at once in parallel mode (BIOS initializes all devices in turn). Then, the UEFI system itself is loaded, under the control of which any set of necessary actions is performed (loading drivers, initializing boot drive, starting boot services, etc.), and only after that the operating system starts.
It may seem that such a multi-step procedure should increase the overall boot time of the PC, but in fact the opposite happens. With UEFI, the system starts much faster, thanks to built-in drivers and its own bootloader. As a result, before starting, the OS receives comprehensive information about the computer’s hardware, which allows it to start within a few seconds.
Despite all the progressiveness of UEFI, there are still a number of restrictions that hinder the active development and distribution of this bootloader. The fact is that to implement all the capabilities of the new boot interface, it requires full support from operating systems. To date, only Windows 8 allows you to fully use the capabilities of UEFI. 64-bit systems have limited support for the new interface. Windows versions 7, Vista and Linux on kernel 3.2 and higher. UEFI capabilities are also used in the boot manager BootCamp by Apple in their own Mac systems OS X
Well, how does a computer boot from UEFI if it uses an unsupported operating system (WindowsXP, 32-bit Windows 7) or file partitioning (MBR)? For such cases, the new boot interface has built-in Compatibility support module(Compatibility Support Module), which is essentially a traditional BIOS. That is why you can see how many modern computers equipped with UEFI motherboards boot in the traditional way in BIOS emulation mode. Most often this happens because their owners continue to use HDD partitions with a traditional MBR and don't want to move to GPT partitioning.
Conclusion
It's clear that, unlike a traditional BIOS, UEFI is capable of much more than just the boot process. The ability to launch working services and applications, both at the initial stage of PC boot and after the operating system starts, opens up a wide range of new opportunities for both developers and end users.
But at the same time, it is still premature to talk about a complete abandonment of the basic input/output system in the near future. First of all, you need to remember that until now most computers are running WindowsXP and 32-bit Windows 7, which are not supported by UEFI. And hard drives partitioned according to the GPT standard can mostly be found only in new models of laptops based on Windows 8.
So as long as the majority of users, due to their habits or some other reasons, are tied to old versions of the OS and traditional methods of partitioning hard drives, BIOS will remain the main system for booting a computer.
Any more or less advanced computer user should know what a BIOS is, why it is needed and how to configure it correctly. In fact, BIOS is very interesting thing, with its help you can configure almost all components of the system unit. Well, now let's talk about everything in order.
What is BIOS and what is it for?
BIOS is a collection of firmware that allows you to configure individual components of the system unit, as well as the operating system loader and other settings of important parameters. Literally BIOS can be called basic system I/OMany new users ask where the BIOS is located? The BIOS is located on the motherboard and this is not without reason, since it is the motherboard that is responsible for the interaction and operation of all computer components.
In the photo above you can see what the BIOS looks like. Many will agree with us that the appearance of the BIOS is somewhat old, and to be completely honest, it is “wooden”. However, the latest models of Asus motherboards have a rather beautiful and modern design, moreover, it is Russified. In this article, we will configure the BIOS using the old version as an example, since it is more complicated, and the main thing is that you understand the essence of the BIOS. If you understand the essence of how to work in the BIOS with the old design, then it will not be difficult for you to understand the new one.
BIOS Features
As mentioned earlier, the main function of the BIOS is to configure the computer's hardware. With BIOS you can:- Set the system time;
- Set download priority;
- Set the power parameters of some devices;
- Enable or disable some devices, etc.
Working with BIOS
How to get into BIOSIn order to get into the BIOS, when rebooting or starting the computer, you need to hold down the “Delete” or “F1” key on the keyboard, depending on the motherboard, after which you get into the BIOS.
You can control the BIOS using 5 buttons:
- Arrows – help you navigate through sections and select the desired parameters in the settings;
- Enter – opens the selected section or setting;
- ESC – exit.
As for managing the BIOS in the new design of Asus motherboards, it is done using the mouse. In principle, there is nothing complicated in managing both the old and the new BIOS.
How to reset BIOS?
Sometimes advanced users reset BIOS settings. This is done in order to return the BIOS settings to factory settings, in case the changes they made led to problems in the operation of the entire computer or individual devices. Find contacts on the motherboard that are labeled as: CCMOS, Clear CMOS or Clear RTC. Each manufacturer, and maybe even each different motherboard model, may have its own options for resetting BIOS settings. It is important to note that any work to reset the BIOS settings must be carried out with the computer turned off, as well as with the system unit and other devices connected to it turned off from power.
- The first option to reset the BIOS is using a jumper. If you find a jumper, it will close the first and second contacts. To reset the BIOS, pull out the jumper and close the second and third contacts with it for 15 seconds, then move the jumper to its original position.
- The second option is to close the contacts. There are motherboard models in which to reset the BIOS you need to close 2 contacts with a metal object. Such an object could be a small screwdriver. That is, when the computer is turned off, short-circuit both contacts for 15 seconds, then remove the shorting object and start the computer, the BIOS settings will be reset.
- The third option is using a battery. To do this, you need to find the battery that powers the motherboard. Again, with the power completely off, pry the battery latch and remove it for 15 minutes. Then reinsert the battery and start the computer.
- The fourth option is to click on the reset BIOS settings button. In some motherboard models, resetting BIOS settings is very simple; to do this, you need to press the corresponding button on the motherboard.
Flashing the BIOS
BIOS firmware. Oddly enough, the BIOS has its own firmware that can be updated. Updating the firmware will eliminate some problems with the operation of the BIOS, as well as with its settings. There is no particular need to update the firmware, but if you have problems with BIOS operation or you have sufficient knowledge to produce this procedure– then you can update the BIOS firmware. Read about how to update the BIOS in the manuals, in which this process described specifically for your motherboard.
You can download the latest version of BIOS firmware for your motherboard from the official website of its manufacturer. Usually, BIOS flashing is done through a special utility, which is located on the disk with drivers and settings. This disk comes with the motherboard.
Learn more about updating the BIOS -.
How to properly configure the BIOS
So, now let's look at how to properly configure the BIOS. While in the BIOS main menu, use the arrows to move the cursor to the clock and set right time using the "PageUp" and "PageDown" keys. Then go to the date settings and use the same buttons to set today's date, month and year. This is very important, since both the operating system itself and most programs operate on the basis of this date and time. It is worth noting that the BIOS is set to the American date format, so the month, day and year come first. To go to the next settings section, click the right arrow.
You don’t need to configure anything special in the Advanced tab, since it is responsible for the operation of devices, so let’s move on to the next tab.
The Security tab allows you to configure security. We will not touch on it either, since this is not necessary for a home computer, as, for example, for an office one. Let's move on to the next section.
In the Boot section you can configure the operating system boot priority. Website site masters strongly recommend that you configure the download in order to reduce the loading time of the operating system. If a CD-ROM is installed as the primary device for loading the OS, then before loading the system from the hard drive, the bootloader will check the CD-ROM, and after a few seconds, having found nothing, it will start loading the operating system from the hard drive. Depending on the motherboard model, the boot priority settings will have different labels. The primary boot source may be called: “1st Boot Device” or “First Boot Device”. Place the cursor next to this parameter and press “Enter”. In the menu that appears, use the arrows to select “ Hard Disk" and press "Enter" again. Then go to the "2nd Boot Device" or "Second Boot Device" option and set it to "CDROM". We recommend setting the “3rd Boot Device” or “Third Boot Device” parameter to “Disabled”.
In order to save the settings made, go to the “Exit” section and select the “Exit Saving Changes” item and press “Enter”. If you only want to save the settings without leaving the BIOS, then select the “Save Changes” item. In addition, you can load default settings from the BIOS menu by selecting “Load Setup Defaults” or exit the BIOS without saving by selecting “Exit Discarding Changes”.
At this point, the necessary settings were made to the BIOS.
You have heard about BIOS, its errors or motherboards with dual BIOS, but it is almost impossible to understand these terms on your own.
The abbreviation sounds kind of strange. Therefore, to answer what it is, what its role is, why it is needed and to obtain many other useful information, this guide has been created
What is BIOS
It represents the first level software - the first program that runs when you turn on your computer, laptop, tablet, and so on.
To better understand that this software is the first level, you should know that the programs installed on your system such as browser, media player or office suite are the last level programs.
The operating system is middle tier because the drivers interact with system resources, and the BIOS directly controls the hardware.
It provides certain services that allow users to configure settings for and obtain information from last-level programs and components.
For example, a user, through installed programs, can find out the rotation speed of the fans that are on the computer or the temperature various components, including processor and video card.
How the BIOS works and how to interact with it
Bios relatively small program, With maximum size 16 MB. Modern BIOS systems are equipped with a user interface in which the user can configure hardware settings, set the current time and other minor settings such as the boot order of storage devices.
The most modern motherboards offer several settings options, for example, changing the frequency or voltage of the processor, shared memory between the processor and video card, RAM and others.
Setting up the BIOS is complex and can be dangerous; if the user does not know the exact impact of each parameter, he may select incorrect values for components that have a number of limitations.
For example, setting to very high value The processor frequency may cause it to overheat, thereby causing the computer to work without stopping.
In order to ensure that changes made to be safe, make sure you are familiar with the hardware settings you want to change.
Another parameter that relates to BIOS is saving settings when the system (computer or laptop) is turned off.
To do this, the BIOS has a small CMOS memory capacity that is powered by a battery, as in the image below.
When we're talking about About computers, CMOS is what the memory chip stores the settings of your computer hardware.
If CMOS battery is discharged, the BIOS will use the default settings, and not those specified by the user.
Why do you need a BIOS?
The most important task that the BIOS is responsible for is, when you press the power button, turn on the computer or laptop, start the fans, check the voltage levels in the system, run several tests to assess the condition of the system components, and then load the drivers and start the operating system boot process.
If any errors occur during this process, the BIOS will display a message informing you that something went wrong. In the picture below you can see an example of a possible error.
Before BIOS was invented in 1975, the operating system was the first program that ran when the system started.
This meant that the computer could only run one operating system, which was built-in. Additionally, if the operating system crashed, the entire computer became unusable.
Using a BIOS provides additional flexibility, allowing users to install any operating system they want or restore the current one if errors occur.
What is Dual BIOS
The BIOS on the board has a memory chip. You can see this chip in the image below.
Dual technology is equipped with two microcircuits - the main one and the backup one. If the main memory chip is damaged, the BIOS will not be able to boot. Therefore, some manufacturers use dual chips.
If the main BIOS becomes damaged, reboot the computer and the backup chip will be used to boot the system.
What is UEFI
UEFI is a program that can be considered as a modern and powerful BIOS.
It plays the same role as the BIOS, but has some advantages, such as encryption, remote diagnostics and repair of the computer, even if the operating system is not installed.
UEFI became popular after the release of Windows 8, as it was the first operating system with big amount users who were offered native UEFI support.
Like any other traditional BIOS, UEFI is configured by the manufacturer of the motherboard you are using.
In the case of tablets and laptops, UEFI will display a small amount of settings. In the picture below you can see how this works on Microsoft's Surface Pro 2 tablet.
For computers, UEFI has more settings than those on the standard one.
Conclusion
As you can see by reading this article, the BIOS is a core component of any computer, and knowing how to use it can provide greater flexibility and performance.
More advanced users and IT professionals can use it to get the most reliable operation for a specific computer or device.
If you are not an expert, the default settings will satisfy general user needs and your system will work as expected.
I hope this tutorial was helpful. If you have questions or some ideas, feel free to use the comments section below. Good luck.
Hello. This article is about the BIOS setup utility, which allows the user to change basic system settings. Settings are stored in non-volatile memory CMOS and are saved when the computer is turned off.
ENTERING THE SETUP PROGRAM
To enter the BIOS setup utility, turn on the computer and immediately press the . To change additional BIOS settings, press the combination “Ctrl+F1” in the BIOS menu. The BIOS advanced settings menu will open.
CONTROL KEYS
<
?>
Transition to previous point menu
<
?>
Move to next item
<
?>
Move to item on left
<
?>
Go to the item on the right
<+/PgUp>
Increase the numerical value of the setting or select another value from the list
<-/PgDn>
Decrease the numerical value of the setting or select another value from the list
REFERENCE INFORMATION
Main menu
A description of the selected setting appears at the bottom of the screen.
Settings Summary Page / Settings Pages
When you press the F1 key, a window appears with a brief hint about possible configuration options and the assignment of the corresponding keys. To close the window, click
Main menu (using the example of BIOS E2 version)
When you enter the BIOS setup menu (Award BIOS CMOS Setup Utility), the main menu opens (Fig. 1), in which you can select any of eight settings pages and two options for exiting the menu. Use the arrow keys to select the desired item. To enter the submenu, press
Fig.1: Main menu
If you can't find desired setting, press “Ctrl+F1” and look for it in the BIOS advanced settings menu.
Standard CMOS Features
This page contains all standard BIOS settings.
Advanced BIOS Features(Advanced BIOS settings)
This page contains additional Award BIOS settings.
Integrated Peripherals
This page configures all built-in peripheral devices.
Power Management Setup
This page allows you to configure energy saving modes.
PnP/PCI Configurations (Configuring PnP and PCI resources)
This page allows you to configure resources for devices
PCI and PnP ISA PC Health Status (Computer health monitoring)
This page displays the measured values of temperature, voltage and fan speed.
Frequency/Voltage Control
On this page you can change the clock frequency and processor frequency multiplier.
To achieve maximum performance, set the “Top Performance” item to “Enabled”.
Load Fail-Safe Defaults
Secure default settings ensure system functionality.
Load Optimized Defaults
The default optimized settings provide optimal system performance.
Set Supervisor password
On this page you can set, change or remove your password. This option allows you to restrict access to the system and BIOS settings, or only to the BIOS settings.
Set User password(Setting the user password)
On this page you can set, change or remove a password that allows you to restrict access to the system.
Save & Exit Setup
Saving settings in CMOS and exiting the program.
Exit Without Saving
Cancels all changes made and exits the setup program.
Standard CMOS Features
Fig.2: Standard BIOS settings
Date
Date format:<день недели>, <месяц>, <число>, <год>.
Day of the week - the day of the week is determined by the BIOS based on the entered date; it cannot be changed directly.
Month - the name of the month, from January to December.
Number - day of the month, from 1 to 31 (or the maximum number of days in the month).
Year - year, from 1999 to 2098.
Time
Time format:<часы> <минуты> <секунды>. Time is entered in 24-hour format, for example, 1 o'clock in the afternoon is written as 13:00:00.
IDE Primary Master, Slave / IDE Secondary Master, Slave (IDE Disk Drives)
This section defines the parameters of the disk drives installed in the computer (from C to F). There are two options for setting parameters: automatically and manually. When defining manually, the drive parameters are set by the user, and in automatic mode, the parameters are determined by the system. Please note that the information you enter must match your drive type.
If you enter incorrect information, the disk will not work properly. If you select the User Type option, you will need to fill out the items below. Enter data using the keyboard and press
CYLS - Number of cylinders
HEADS - Number of heads
PRECOMP - Precompensation when recording
LANDZONE - Head parking zone
SECTORS - Number of sectors
If one of the hard drives is not installed, select NONE and press
Drive A / Drive B (Floppy drives)
This section specifies the types of floppy drives A and B installed in the computer. -
None - Floppy drive is not installed
360K, 5.25 in.
Standard 5.25-inch PC-type floppy drive with 360 KB capacity 1.2M, 5.25in. 5.25" AT type floppy drive with
high density
1.2 MB recording capacity
1.44M, 3.5in.
3.5-inch floppy drive with double-sided recording; capacity 1.44 MB
2.88M, 3.5in.
3.5-inch floppy drive with double-sided recording; capacity 2.88 MB.
Floppy 3 Mode Support (for Japan Area)
Disabled Regular floppy drive. (Default setting)
Drive A Floppy drive A supports mode 3.
Drive B Floppy drive B supports mode 3.
Both floppy drives A and B support mode 3.
Halt on
This setting determines which errors will stop the system boot when detected.
NO Errors The system will continue to boot despite any errors. Error messages are displayed on the screen.
All Errors Boot will be aborted if the BIOS detects any error.
All, But Keyboard The download will be aborted on any error other than a keyboard failure. (Default setting)
Ail, But Diskette The boot will abort on any error except a floppy drive failure.
All, But Disk/Key Boot will be aborted on any error except keyboard or disk failure.
Memory This item displays the memory sizes determined by the BIOS during system self-test. You cannot change these values manually.)
Base Memory (
Basic memory
During the automatic self-test, the BIOS determines the amount of base (or regular) memory installed in the system.
If the system board has 512 KB of memory installed, the value is 512 K, and if the motherboard has 640 KB or more memory installed, the value is 640 K.
Extended Memory
During the automatic self-test, the BIOS determines the size of extended memory installed on the system. Extended memory is RAM with addresses above 1 MB in the CPU's addressing system.
Advanced BIOS Features
Fig.Z: Additional BIOS settings
First / Second / Third Boot Device
(First/second/third boot device)
Floppy Loading from a floppy disk.
LS120 Boot from LS120 drive.
HDD-0-3 Boot from hard disk 0 to 3.
SCSI Boot from a SCSI device. Boot from a ZIP drive.
USB-FDD Boots from a USB floppy drive.
USB-ZIP Boot from a USB ZIP device.
USB-CDROM Boot from a USB CD-ROM.
USB-HDD Boot from a USB hard drive.
During self-test BIOS systems determines whether the floppy drive is 40-track or 80-track. The 360 KB drive is a 40-track drive, while the 720 KB, 1.2 MB, and 1.44 MB drives are 80-track.
Enabled BIOS determines the drive type - 40- or 80-track. Keep in mind that the BIOS does not differentiate between 720 KB, 1.2 MB, and 1.44 MB drives because they are all 80-track drives.
Disabled BIOS will not detect the drive type. When installing a 360 KB drive, no message is displayed on the screen. (Default setting)
Password Check
System If you do not enter the correct password when prompted by the system, the computer will not boot and access to the settings pages will be denied.
Setup If you do not enter the correct password when prompted by the system, the computer will boot, but access to the settings pages will be denied. (Default setting)
CPU Hyper-Threading
Disabled Hyper Threading mode is disabled.
Enabled Hyper Threading mode is enabled. Please note that this feature is only implemented if the operating system supports a multiprocessor configuration. (Default setting)
DRAM Data Integrity Mode
The option allows you to set the error control mode in RAM if ECC type memory is used.
ECC ECC mode is enabled.
Non-ECC ECC mode is not used. (Default setting)
Init Display First (The order in which video adapters are activated)
AGP Activate the AGP video adapter first. (Default setting)
PCI Activate the PCI video adapter first.
Integrated Peripherals
Figure 4: Embedded peripherals
On-Chip Primary PCI IDE (Built-in controller 1 channel IDE)
Enabled Built-in 1 channel IDE controller is enabled. (Default setting)
Disabled The built-in IDE channel 1 controller is disabled.
On-Chip Secondary PCI IDE (Built-in controller 2 channels IDE)
Enabled Built-in 2 channel IDE controller is enabled. (Default setting)
Disabled The built-in IDE channel 2 controller is disabled.
IDE1 Conductor Cable (Type of cable connected to IDE1)
ATA66/100 A cable of type ATA66/100 is connected to IDE1. (Make sure your IDE device and the cable support ATA66/100 mode.)
ATAZZ A cable of type ATAZZ is connected to IDE1. (Please make sure your IDE device and cable support ATAZZ mode.)
IDE2 Conductor Cable (Type of cable connected to ШЭ2)
Auto Automatically detected by BIOS. (Default setting)
ATA66/100/133 A cable of type ATA66/100 is connected to IDE2. (Make sure your IDE device and cable support ATA66/100 mode.)
ATAZZ A cable of type ATAZZ is connected to IDE2. (Make sure your IDE device and cable support ATAZZ mode.)
USB Controller
If you are not using the built-in USB controller, disable this option here.
Enabled The USB controller is enabled. (Default setting)
Disabled The USB controller is disabled.
USB Keyboard Support
When connecting a USB keyboard, set this item to “Enabled”.
Enabled USB keyboard support is enabled.
Disabled USB keyboard support is disabled. (Default setting)
USB Mouse Support
When connecting a USB mouse, set this item to “Enabled”.
Enabled USB mouse support is enabled.
Disabled USB mouse support is disabled. (Default setting)
AC97 Audio (AC'97 Audio Controller)
Auto Built-in audio controller AC'97 is enabled. (Default setting)
Disabled Built-in audio controller AC'97 is disabled.
Onboard H/W LAN (Built-in network controller)
Enable The built-in network controller is enabled. (Default setting)
Disable The built-in network controller is disabled.
Onboard LAN Boot ROM
Using the embedded network controller ROM to boot the system.
Enable The function is enabled.
Disable The function is disabled. (Default setting)
Onboard Serial Port 1
Auto BIOS sets port 1 address automatically.
3F8/IRQ4 Enable the built-in serial port 1 by assigning it the address 3F8.(Default setting)
2F8/IRQ3 Enable the built-in serial port 1 by assigning it the address 2F8.
3E8/IRQ4 Enable built-in serial port 1, assigning it the address ZE8.
2E8/IRQ3 Enable built-in serial port 1, assigning it the address 2E8.
Disabled Disable the built-in serial port 1.
Onboard Serial Port 2
Auto BIOS sets port 2 address automatically.
3F8/IRQ4 Enable the built-in serial port 2 by assigning it the address 3F8.
2F8/IRQ3 Enable the built-in serial port 2 by assigning it the address 2F8. (Default setting)
3E8/IRQ4 Enable the built-in serial port 2, assigning it the address ZE8.
2E8/IRQ3 Enable built-in serial port 2, assigning it the address 2E8.
Disabled Disable the built-in serial port 2.
Onboard Parallel port
378/IRQ7 Enable the built-in LPT port by assigning it address 378 and assigning the IRQ7 interrupt. (Default setting)
278/IRQ5 Enable the built-in LPT port by assigning it address 278 and assigning the IRQ5 interrupt.
Disabled Disable the built-in LPT port.
3BC/IRQ7 Enable the built-in LPT port by assigning it the DS address and assigning the IRQ7 interrupt.
Parallel Port Mode
SPP Parallel port works as usual. (Default setting)
EPP Parallel port operates in Enhanced Parallel Port mode.
ECP Parallel port operates in Extended Capabilities Port mode.
ECP + EPP The parallel port operates in ECP and EPP modes.
ECP Mode Use DMA
3 ECP mode uses DMA channel 3. (Default setting)
1 ECP mode uses DMA channel 1.
Game Port Address game port)
201 Set the game port address to 201. (Default setting)
209 Set the game port address to 209.
Disabled Disable the function.
Midi Port Address
290 Set the MIDI port address to 290.
300 Set the MIDI port address to 300.
330 Set the MIDI port address to 330. (Default setting)
Disabled Disable the function.
Midi Port IRQ (MIDI Port Interrupt)
5 Assign IRQ 5 to the MIDI port.
10 Assign IRQ 10 to the MIDI port. (Default setting)
Power Management Setup
Figure 5: Power Management Settings
ACPI Suspend Type
S1(POS) Set S1 standby mode. (Default setting)
S3(STR) Set S3 standby mode.
Power LED in SI state
Blinking In standby mode (S1), the power indicator blinks. (Default setting)
Dual/OFF In standby mode (S1):
a.
If a single-color indicator is used, it goes out in S1 mode.
b. If a two-color indicator is used, it changes color in S1 mode. Soft-offby PWR BTTN (
Soft shutdown
computer)
Instant-off When you press the power button, the computer turns off immediately. (Default setting)
Delay 4 Sec.
To turn off the computer, hold down the power button for 4 seconds. When you press the button briefly, the system goes into standby mode.
Disabled The modem/LAN wake-up feature is disabled.
Enabled The function is enabled. (Default setting)
Resume by Alarm
In the Resume by Alarm item, you can set the date and time the computer turns on.
Enabled The function of turning on the computer at a specified time is enabled.
If the feature is enabled, set the following values:
Date (of Month) Alarm: Day of the month, 1-31
Time (hh: mm: ss) Alarm: Time (hh: mm: cc): (0-23): (0-59): (0-59)
Power On By Mouse
Disabled The function is disabled. (Default setting)
Double Click Wake up the computer when double click mice.
Power On By Keyboard
Password To turn on the computer, you must enter a password of 1 to 5 characters.
Disabled The function is disabled. (Default setting)
Keyboard 98 If your keyboard has a power button, pressing it turns on the computer.
KB Power ON Password (Setting a password to turn on the computer from the keyboard)
Enter Enter a password (1 to 5 alphanumeric characters) and press Enter.
AC Back Function (Computer behavior after a temporary power failure)
Memory When power is restored, the computer returns to the state it was in before the power was lost.
Soft-Off The computer remains off after power is turned on. (Default setting)
Full-On After power is restored, the computer turns on.
PnP/PCI Configurations
Fig.6: Configuring PnP/PCI devices
PCI l/PCI5 IRQ Assignment
Auto Automatic interrupt assignment for PCI 1/5 devices. (Default setting)
3, 4, 5, 7, 9, 10, 11, 12, 15 Assignment for PCI 1/5 devices IRQ 3, 4, 5, 7, 9, 10, 11, 12, 15.
PCI2 IRQ Assignment
Auto Automatically assigns an interrupt to the PCI 2 device. (Default setting)
3, 4, 5, 7, 9, 10, 11, 12, 15 Assignment for PCI 2 device IRQ 3, 4, 5, 7, 9, 10, 11, 12, 15.
ROZ IRQ Assignment (Interrupt assignment for PCI 3)
Auto Automatically assigns an interrupt to the PCI 3 device. (Default setting)
3, 4, 5, 7, 9, 10, 11, 12, 15 Assignment for PCI 3 device IRQ 3, 4, 5, 7, 9, 10, 11, 12, 15.
PCI 4 IRQ Assignment
Auto Automatically assigns an interrupt to the PCI 4 device. (Default setting)
3, 4, 5, 7, 9, 10, 11, 12, 15 Assignment for PCI 4 device IRQ 3, 4, 5, 7, 9, 10, 11, 12, 15.
PC Health Status
Fig.7: Computer status monitoring
Reset Case Open Status
Case Opened
If the computer case has not been opened, “Case Opened” will display “No.” If the case has been opened, “Case Opened” will display “Yes.”
To reset the sensor readings, set the “Reset Case Open Status” item to “Enabled” and exit the BIOS saving the settings. The computer will restart.
Current Voltage (V) Vcore / VCC18 / +3.3 V / +5V / +12V (Current system voltage values)
This item displays the automatically measured main voltages in the system.
Current CPU Temperature
This item displays the measured processor temperature.
Current CPU/SYSTEM FAN Speed (RPM)
This item displays the measured rotation speed of the processor and case fans.
CPU Warning Temperature
Disabled The processor temperature is not monitored. (Default setting)
60°C / 140°F A warning is issued when the temperature exceeds 60°C.
70°C / 158°F A warning is issued when the temperature exceeds 70°C.
80°C / 176°F A warning is issued when the temperature exceeds 80°C.
90°C / 194°F A warning is issued when the temperature value exceeds 90°C.
CPU FAN Fail Warning
Disabled The function is disabled. (Default setting)
SYSTEM FAN Fail Warning
Disabled The function is disabled. (Default setting)
Enabled When the fan stops, a warning is issued.
Frequency/Voltage Control
Fig.8: Frequency/voltage adjustment
CPU Clock Ratio
If the processor frequency multiplier is fixed, this option is not available in the menu. - 10Х- 24Х The value is set depending on clock frequency processor.
CPU Host Clock Control base frequency processor)
Note: If the system hangs before loading the BIOS setup utility, wait 20 seconds. After this time, the system will reboot. When rebooting, the processor base frequency will be set to the default value.
Disabled Disable the function. (Default setting)
Enabled Enable the processor base frequency control function.
CPU Host Frequency
100MHz - 355MHz Set the base processor frequency value from 100 to 355 MHz.
PCI/AGP Fixed
To adjust AGP/PCI clock frequencies, select 33/66, 38/76, 43/86 or Disabled.
Host/DRAM Clock Ratio
Attention! If the value in this item is set incorrectly, the computer will not be able to boot. In this case, you should reset the BIOS settings.
2.0 Memory frequency = Base frequency X 2.0.
2.66 Memory frequency = Base frequency X 2.66.
Auto The frequency is set according to the SPD data of the memory module. (Default value)
Memory Frequency (Mhz)
The value is determined by the base frequency of the processor.
PCI/AGP Frequency (Mhz)
Frequencies are set depending on the value of the CPU Host Frequency or PCI/AGP Divider option.
CPU Voltage Control
The processor supply voltage can be increased by 5.0% to 10.0%. (Default: nominal)
DIMM OverVoltage Control
Normal The memory supply voltage is equal to the nominal voltage. (Default value)
+0.1V Memory supply voltage increased by 0.1 V.
+0.2V Memory supply voltage increased by 0.2 V.
+0.3V Memory supply voltage increased by 0.3 V.
For advanced users only! Incorrect installation may damage your computer!
AGP OverVoltage Control
Normal The video adapter's supply voltage is equal to the nominal voltage. (Default value)
+0.1V The video adapter supply voltage is increased by 0.1 V.
+0.2V The video adapter supply voltage is increased by 0.2 V.
+0.3V The video adapter supply voltage is increased by 0.3 V.
For advanced users only! Incorrect installation may damage your computer!
Top Performance
Fig.9: Maximum performance
Top Performance
To achieve the best system performance, set the “Top Performance” item to “Enabled”.
Disabled The function is disabled. (Default setting)
Enabled Maximum performance mode.
Enabling Maximum Performance mode increases the speed of your hardware components. System operation in this mode is influenced by both hardware and software configurations. For example, the same hardware configuration may work well under Windows NT, but not work under Windows XP. Therefore, if there are problems with the reliability or stability of the system, we recommend disabling this option.
Load Fail-Safe Defaults
Fig.10: Installation secure settings default
Load Fail-Safe Defaults
Safe default settings are system parameter values that are the most secure from the point of view of system performance, but provide minimal performance.
Load Optimized Defaults
When you select this menu item, the default BIOS and chipset settings are loaded, automatically detected by the system.
Set Supervisor/User Password
Fig.12: Setting a password
When you select this menu item, a password prompt will appear in the center of the screen.
Enter a password of no more than 8 characters and press
To cancel your password, when prompted to enter a new password, click
The BIOS settings menu allows you to set two different passwords: the administrator password (SUPERVISOR PASSWORD) and the user password (USER PASSWORD). If no passwords are set, any user can access BIOS settings. When setting a password, you must enter the administrator password to access all BIOS settings, and the user password to access only basic settings.
If you select the “System” option in the BIOS advanced settings menu in the “Password Check” item, the system will prompt you for a password every time you boot the computer or try to enter the BIOS settings menu.
If you select “Setup” in the BIOS advanced settings menu under “Password Check”, the system will only ask for a password when you try to enter the BIOS settings menu.
Save & Exit Setup
Fig.13: Saving settings and exit
To save your changes and exit the settings menu, press “Y”. To return to the settings menu, press “N”.
Exit Without Saving
Fig. 14: Exit without saving changes
To exit the BIOS settings menu without saving the changes made, press “Y”. To return to the BIOS settings menu, press "N".
Basic input-output system or BIOS (Basic Input-Output System) intended for an initial check of the functionality of the equipment when starting the computer. If this test runs without errors, the BIOS transfers further control of the hardware to the operating system loader.
The entire BIOS market in the world is divided between three major players:
American Megatrends Inc, which produces
Intel, which has developed and produces for its own motherboards: 
Phoenix Technologies, which produces Phoenix Award BIOS(other trademark– Award BIOS): 
Modern successor to BIOS – UEFI, the name of which is translated from English as “advanced firmware interface”. Originally created by Intel. But, five years later, the project was transferred under the wing of the Unified EFI Forum, the organization that has since been responsible for its development. 
BIOS allows ask quite wide range initial settings operation of the hardware of your computer or laptop. To the most frequently used can be attributed:
- Setting independent date and time parameters;
- Selecting a device to boot ( HDD, CD-DVD-ROM, flash drive);
- Enable or disable the motherboard's built-in hardware.
- Speed up OS loading by disabling some POST tests.
For advanced users, many provide the opportunity to more fine-tuning settings computer hardware. These include:
- Changing the processor clock frequency;
- Changing RAM timings;
The main differences between UEFI and the “legacy” version of BIOS
Technical differences between BIOS and UEFI are quite large; for ease of perception, the main ones are collected in a table:
In modern motherboards it is present by default, but in some cases users try disable it to avoid some problems when installing 32-bit or non-Windows operating systems.
How consequence such a disabling will cause a notification about using the “legacy mode” BIOS to appear in the system properties. In fact, this means that if the motherboard has a more advanced UEFI mode, the BIOS is used to load the OS and, therefore, the MBR partition of the hard drive.
What does the BIOS look like and where is it located?
BIOS chip located on the motherboard and usually its installation location can be found in the supplied documentation. You can also find this microcircuit by its characteristic signs.
In most cases, next to it, on the motherboard case, is installed CMOS battery, characteristic round shape. Some hardware manufacturers additionally supply BIOS chip holographic sticker with its own name.
Of course, the battery is needed not only to make it easier for the user to find a chip with a hardwired BIOS. Main her task consists of providing non-volatile power supply, allowing save the settings for a long time.
It is for this reason that if you remove the battery from the motherboard for 15-20 seconds, “ reset to zero» BIOS, or in other words, return it to factory settings.
For the same purpose, a special jumper jumper. Changing its position gives the same result - returning to factory settings.
Finding a jumper on the board is quite simple; usually manufacturers mark it with the appropriate inscription (“CLR_CMOS”, “CCMOS”, “CLRTS”).
