Motherboard, BIOS and POST

• The external data bus connects devices on

the motherboard together. Everything is
also connected to the address bus. These
busses are the “physical” connections
between the devices
• But with what software does the CPU use to
communicate with these devices?
 BIOS!
• Bios is software that contains hundreds of
programs that allow for communication
between the CPU and devices
• Bios is stored on ROM, which is a
permanent chip on the motherboard
• Bios is software, ROM is hardware
 Three kinds of BIOS software for
Hardware devices
• Permanent never changing BIOS for permanent hardware
– stored on the ROM chip
– example-keyboard
• Hardware that changes occasionally
– requires extra volatile information so it must be stored
on a separate chip called the CMOS
– example- RAM, hard drives, floppy drive
• The other devices- 2 options
– BIOS is stored on the devices(example-sound card)
– or device drivers are installed to ensure
communication between CPU and device
First Group the Permanents
• This BIOS is called firmware, since it is
software that does not change
• It is stored on nonvolatile memory called a
ROM chip (Read Only Memory)
• The Newer Flash ROM enables users to
change this ROM
• Phoenix and AMI are most common brands
CMOS for the Devices that can
change
• CMOS- Complimentary metal-oxide
semiconductor
• Stores information that is updated
• Also acts as a clock to keep time and date
• Enter CMOS by pressing F1 or some other
combination of keys
• Powered by separate 3 volt battery, usually a
lithium rechargable
Third kind of BIOS: BIOS is on the
device or comes with device
drivers
• If your BIOS does not support a device, you must
add a device driver, which usually comes on a
disk with the device
• For DOS programs you can use Config.sys to add
the BIOS
• For Window 3x you can also use system.ini
• For Windows 95/98 drivers are automaticly
stored in the Registry.
A Quick Word on the Registry
• The registry, which first came with Windows
95, replaced config.sys, system.ini along
with other ini files found in DOS and
Windows 3x
• If you need to edit the registry you run the
command regedit.exe
• HOWEVER!, you usually don’t need to. You
have Control Panel to most of the changes
you will ever need to make
POST- Power On Self Test
• Stored on the ROM chip
• Runs every time computer is turned on
• Instructs all devices to run a self check to
determine if everything is working
• First the basic devices checked and beeps
are sounded to indicate problems
• Second the rest of the devices are run and
error codes are displayed to indicate
problems
POST cards- to check up on faulty
POST
• POST cards can be used to check up on a
problem that the POST check has detected or
caused.
• The card is inserted into an expansion slot,
and then the computer is turned on
• Having this card can get you out of an
endless loop, where the POST test prevents
you from continuing on
The Boot Process
• 1st- When you press the power on switch the CPU
is “awakened” by a charge of electricity.
• 2nd- The POST is run
• 3rd-Errors are checked for and the screen
displays. After the screen is displayed other
devices are checked and an error message
displays is something is wrong
The Boot Process Continued
• 5th- Plug and play devices are searched for and
configured if needed. A brief summary of devices
is displayed on screen.
• 6th-BIOS then begins its search for the operation
system. It looks on the disk’s “boot sector” to see
where the operating system is on the disk. In most
computers the BIOS looks for the floppy drive first
to boot from
• 7th-The Operating System takes control!
Motherboard Layouts
• The way components are positioned on the
motherboard is called the motherboard’s
form factor
• There are two types: AT and ATX
• AT older uses the P8 and P9’s
– other version called Baby AT which was smaller
• ATX newer uses the P1 power connector
Replacing a Motherboard
• Step by step instructions: