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Bios Guide
Bios Guide
BIOS Guide
A great many computer builders find setting up the BIOS to be difficult. They usually find
that the BIOS settings they make results in unpredictable computer performance, rather than
making BIOS adjustment to obtain specific performance requirements. This tutorial will
take you through the many BIOS features available explaining in as simple terms as
possible what each setting is for and what effects it will have on your computers
performance.
MicroDIY
What is the BIOS?
Every computer builder should master the configuration of the BIOS if they wish to achieve a
working and stable PC. All computer motherboards come supplied with a ‘User’s Guide’
which hopefully deals with the basic configuration of the BIOS. However, the terms and
language they use can put many aspiring computer builders off. I will try to explain in as
much detail as possible, which some may find ‘over-the-top’, but will help to give a clear
description and interpretation of the BIOS configuration terms used in many motherboard
‘User’s Guides’.
a. The ROM - To store a mini program which ‘BOOTS UP’ the computer. This
program is held in a type of memory called ROM. Well, actually it’s a type of memory
called EEPROM, which stands for ‘electrically erasable programmable read-only
memory’, this part of the BIOS is not lost when power is removed. This is why you
can ‘FLASH’ the BIOS to change the mini program. The motherboard is capable of
erasing the memory contents ‘electrically’ and then ‘re-write’ the contents with new
data you may have downloaded to a floppy disk. This part of the BIOS also holds a
database for the hardware that it can detect during the ‘BOOT’ process - mainly the
processor; sound chip; types of graphics card etc, fitted to the motherboard.
b. The RAM – ‘random access memory’. This type of memory will only hold data when
power is supplied to the chip. This type of memory can be changed very quickly and
accessed very quickly by the processor to store data that will be changed either during
the ‘BOOT’ process or by the operating system during start-up. It will also hold
details of all the hardware fitted to the motherboard during the boot process such as –
hardware interrupts settings; DIM memory module timings; hard drive settings; PCI &
AGP clock settings etc. It is a vital part of the motherboard as it holds the key to all
the hardware settings used by the operating systems ‘Device Manager’. If the battery
becomes weak then data may be lost. The battery preserves the data stored in the
RAM.
c. The system Clock – stores the correct date & time. The reason the BIOS has a
small battery fitted is because of the clock and the above RAM. The battery preserves
all of the data necessary for a successful re-boot next time you switch on your
computer. You do not just lose the correct time when the battery goes flat, you lose the
hardware settings as well. Which is why, Windows® complains should this data
become lost or corrupted. There is a BIOS setting called – reset configuration data. If
you enable this option, it will allow the processor to delete all of the data relating to
the motherboards hardware and force the motherboards hardware to be ‘re-detected’.
This should only be done after the building of the computer and then left ‘disabled’
thereafter.
The CMOS – the BIOS to you and me. CMOS stands for
– ‘complimentary metal-oxide semiconductor’. It refers
to the method of construction used to manufacture the BIOS.
It is very easily damaged just by touching it with your bare hands. This type of semiconductor
material needs extremely small amounts of power to work, therefore, any electricity stored on
your hands is enough to ‘Overwhelm’ the chip and destroy it. This is why it can run for years
on one small battery. So – don’t touch it!
When building your computer or restoring an old PC, the first thing to do is make sure the
BIOS or CMOS is fully cleared from old data and you have a new battery installed.
Once inside the BIOS, you should see the following screen.
Note! - Before you enter the BIOS ‘Set-up Utility’, I would strongly suggest that you make a note of
the BIOS revision number – see Figure 1 above. This is displayed at or near the top of the screen
usually just before the ‘BEEP’. The BIOS revision number tells you when the motherboard was last
up-dated either by you or when the motherboard was manufactured. Once you have this information I
would check the manufactures or computers suppliers web site for details of any BIOS updates that
may be available for download. You may need to FLASH your BIOS if you are fitting any newly
released hardware such as the latest graphics card or processor! Failure to check may result in either
the new hardware detected incorrectly, or not at all. An example of this would be a new processor
speed/type not correctly identified. If the motherboard already has an older processor fitted, FLASH
the BIOS BEFORE you fit the new processor. The old settings will already be set for the older
processor. This is the best way to prepare for a new processor upgrade and you can be sure that the
flashed BIOS was successful, before you start fitting a new processor. Saves a lot of trouble when
trying to identify problems later!
BIOS settings found on systems using the latest processors such as Athlon 64 are shown as BLUE:-
o CPU Interface [Optimal] – this is the most stable setting. Other settings include
Aggressive to help increase system speeds.
o HT Frequency [1000MHz] (Hyper Transport) – options are [200MHz]
[400MHz] [600MHz] [800MHz] – this sets the data transfer speed from the
CPU to the AGP port. Note some graphics cards may not cope with the
highest setting. If you encounter problems you could try lowering the speed.
Most modern motherboards have a fail-safe second BIOS which can be accessed to help undo
any potentially bad settings within the BIOS (CMOS data can become corrupted if an
unstable condition occurs - such as when bad voltage & timing setting are made), so be
careful!
1. Enter the BIOS after waiting up to 50 seconds and you hear the single ‘BEEP’
2. Stop if more than one ‘BEEP’ is heard – refer to ‘BEEP codes for trouble shooting. Do
not proceed until the problem has been identified and CORRECTED.
3. Select the first menu item – Main or Standard CMOS. Here you must set:
a. System Date [dd/mm/yy] – with the correct date & time (Windows® will read this
information during the install process).
b. Auto Detection [Press Enter] - detect all IDE/serial drives fitted using auto-detect
option – if they cannot be detected – Stop! Exit the BIOS and switch off. Do not allow
the computer to restart. Check ALL cables connecting your drives to the motherboard
including power connectors. Read any documentation you have regarding your drives.
As a last resort, try booting with just the master hard drive fitted.
c. Halt On [All Errors} – select this option to ensure safe operation.
d. Legacy Diskette A [1.44M, 3.5] – if you have one fitted
Clicking onto each one in turn where a drive is known to be fitted will reveal further menus
where you can access the Auto-Detection routines as shown here. Most motherboards have a
setting –‘AUTO’, selecting this option is better than ‘Manual’ i.e. having to entering data
which you cannot be sure of, these are:
o Access modes
• CHS ‘Cylinders, heads, Sectors/track’
• LBA - ‘Logical Block Addressing’
• Large – ‘for drive that do not support LBA’
o Precomp - ‘Write Pre-compensation’
o Heads - ‘Each side of the disk platter’
o Cylinders - ‘Tracks of the same diameter on each platter’
o Sector - ‘part of a cylinders track’
o Landing Zone (LANDZ) - sector of landing zone
Using the AUTO setting ensures that the drive will be detected with the correct settings.
Load System Defaults – not every motherboard provides this option! - Select and run.
This will ensure that the basic system configuration settings
are loaded first before you begin to navigate around within
the BIOS. All the settings you will now see will be the
minimum required to get a system to boot up. You can leave
the settings as they are now or continue to make further
changes which will help to achieve a successful ‘Vanilla
Build’. This is a term used to describe a system software
install for the first time onto the new hardware. I always
make a list of the items I need to check and/or change. This has always worked for me
Advanced BIOS Features – here you set the options which relate to how the
motherboard will boot up.
Ideal BIOS setting:
CPU/PNP/PCI Configuration
Speech Configuration
o Report IDE Error [Disable] – Allows the display of IDE errors during POST
boot.
o Report System Checking [Disabled] – Report system errors.
o Report System Booting [Disabled] – Reports system booting features.
Power Menu
o Power Management [Enabled] – Enables or Disables the APM (Advanced
Power Management) features.
o ACPI Function [Enabled] – Allows the operating system determine hardware
status. If hardware problems occur then check stability by disabling the ACPI
function (Advanced Configuration & Power management Interface).
o Power Button [On/Off] – Allows you to set the state the system will go when
pressed such as suspend.
o Suspend Power Saving Type [S1] – Options are [C3] [S1]. This determines how
memory is used when power is turned off. C3 enables the memory to be
preserved.
o Restore on AC Power Loss [Power Off] – Other options allow the system to
automatically re-boot after a power cut. Can cause some confusion for some users
when set to [Power ON] or [Last State]. Best set to Power OFF.
o Suspend Time out [Disabled] – Allows the time to be set when the system will
go into suspend mode.
o Video Power Down Mode [Suspend] – Allows you to set the power down mode.
Hardware Monitor
Boot Menu
Allows you to configure the boot options of the system.