Winbios Setup - American Megatrends Merlin User Manual

2

WINBIOS Setup

In ISA and EISA computers, the system parameters
(such as amount of memory, type of disk drives and
video displays, and many other elements) are stored
in NVRAM (Non-Volatile Random Access
Memory), also called CMOS RAM. Unlike the
DRAM (dynamic random access memory) that is
used for standard system memory, NVRAM
requires very little power. When the computer is
turned off, a back-up battery provides power to
NVRAM, which retains the system parameters.
Every time the computer is powered-on, the
computer is configured with the values stored in
NVRAM by the system BIOS, which gains control
when the computer is powered on.
The system parameters are configured by a system
BIOS Setup utility. Historically, BIOS Setup utilities
have been character-based, required keyboard
input, and have had user interfaces that were not
very intuitive.
Graphical Setup American Megatrends has a new type of system
BIOS Setup utility. WINBIOS Setup has a graphical
user interface the end user can access using a
mouse. The WINBIOS Setup code is so compact
that it can reside on the same ROM as the system
BIOS. The system configuration parameters are set
by WINBIOS Setup.
Since WINBIOS Setup resides in the ROM BIOS, it
is available each time the computer is turned on.
Starting WINBIOS Setup As POST executes, the following appears:
Hit <DEL> if you want to run SETUP
Press <Del> to run WINBIOS Setup.
Chapter 2 WINBIOS Setup 33