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B.2
BIOS
When you turn on your computer, you often see a number of short text messages
before you see the splash screen of your operating system. These messages are
from the POST (power-on self test) program that belongs to BIOS and is executed
by the processor.
BIOS, or the basic input/output system, is a program that resides in the permanent
memory chip (ROM or flash BIOS) on the motherboard of your computer and is its
key element. The version of BIOS that you use «knows» all the peculiarities of all
the components of the motherboard: processor, memory, integrated devices. BIOS
versions are provided by the manufacturers of motherboards.
Main BIOS functions are:
• POST checking of processor, memory and I/O devices
• initial configuring of all software-manageable parts of the motherboard
• initialization of operating system (OS) booting process
Among numerous components of the computer, initial configuring is necessary for
the external memory subsystem that controls hard disk drives, floppy disk drives,
CD-ROM drives, DVDs and other devices.
B.2.1
Setup utility
BIOS has a built-in setup utility for initial computer configuring. To enter it, you
have to press a certain combination of keys (Del, F1, C
or some other, depending on your BIOS) during the POST sequence that starts right
after you turn your computer on. Usually the message with the required
combination of keys is displayed during the startup testing. Pressing this
combination takes you to the menu of the setup utility that is included in your BIOS.
The menu can differ in appearance and sets of items and their names, depending
on the BIOS manufacturer. The most widely known BIOS makers for PC
motherboards are Award/Phoenix and AMI. Moreover, while items in the standard
setup menu are mostly the same for various BIOSes, items of the extended setup
heavily depend on computer and BIOS version.
Below we describe the general principles of initial hard disk configuring, and then
configuring (sample) in AwardBIOS.
Large PC manufacturers like Dell and Hewlett-Packard produce motherboards themselves, and
develop their own BIOS versions. You should always refer to the documentation that came
with your computer for instructions on proper BIOS configuring.
B.2.2
Standard CMOS setup menu
Parameters in the standard CMOS setup menu usually define the geometry of the
hard disk. The following parameters (and values) are available for each hard disk
installed in your PC:
Copyright © Acronis, Inc., 2000–2004
Appendix B Hard disks and BIOS setup
+A
+E
, C
TRL
LT
SC
+E
,
TRL
SC
71
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