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Bios Modifications What is a BIOS? BIOS stands for Basic Input Output System, which means that this is a series software programs that run at start up. These tell the computer what equipment is installed and what to or how to initialize it. Many computer user may not be aware of this process because many computer manufacturers feel that is it more important that you be reminded of who made the unit than it is for you to see what is going on in the machine. They mask out the BIOS operation by placing their logo on the screen on start up. The diagnostic screen that the BIOS would normally show offers a wealth of information that can help troubleshoot problems. It shows all components installed and whether they were successfully initialized. The Bios is used to set preferences regarding what equipment is supposed to run, the hierarchy of each and the configurations of each. Most of these features are handled automatically or preset by the manufacturer and require little or no input from the user. However there are time when you may have to, and there are time while not necessary you should make some changes. In order to make changes you need to be able to get into the BIOS platform. This varies and you may have to try each of these methods until you find which one open the BIOS utility. White box systems (custom built from off the shelf components) will often show the start up procedure (black and white text scrolling down the screen) and will usually advise you to press the DEL key to enter BIOS set up. But those which display a logo (HP, Compaq, Dell etc) will require that you press either the DEL, F10, F1,or some other key at the start up (press the key every 2 seconds starting immediately after you turn on your machine or cycle through the mentioned keys without a 2 second delay). If your try one key every two second and it doesn't bring you into a BIOS menu then you will have to restart the computer and try an alternate key or the continuous cycling between all the keys. To resolve any question regarding which key to use you may have the information in the manual that should have come with you computer when you bought it. Of course you could always call Tech Support and ask them but may find them reluctant to provide the information because improper handling of the BIOS can cause all kinds of problems. When you successfully get into your Bios menu you will see a screen similar to this one.
The very first change we would suggest is to get rid of the start up logo. The computers makes will have a line inserted under one of the heading that will allow you to remove the log start up. Sometimes it is disguised as "Show diagnostic start up" or "bypass logo start up" or words to that effect. Because each on uses their own method and location for this feature you will have to search for it amongst the various headings. Generally the first category is where you set your date and time and drive information. Follow the instructions for selecting the various values for your date and time and set you IDE "Pri Master -Pri Slave" etc to Auto and the 32 bit Mode to ON. This will cause it to boot even if you change hard drives or add a new CD ROM or DVD unit. The balance of the menus allow you to select or modify which drive your CPU will boot from (normally IDE-0 which is usually your c:\ drive). This can be change for diagnostic boot ups from a floppy or CD Rom (as in Virus recovery) or from CD Rom for installing the Windows XP Operating System. As you go through the screens you will be able to set your preferences on which onboard devices (built in) to enable or to disable. We would suggest that you disable the features that you are not using (but only if you are sure) such as serial ports, as this will free up your interrupts and other important resources, thereby making your computer run more efficiently and have fewer internal conflicts. |
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