Software Configuration; The Bios Cmos Setup Utility; Accessing The Cmos Setup Utility - Abit PR5 User Manual

Section 3
BIOS CMOS Setup Utility
Updating the BIOS
IDE Driver Disk
!
Warning
Please don' t change any default settings
unless you are sure you know what you
are doing. It is possible to establish set-
tings that will prevent the computer from
booting up. If this happens, refer to
Clearing CMOS Memory in Section 2.
TO ENTER SETUP BEFORE BOOT PRESS CTRL–ALT–ESC OR DEL KEY
S o f t w a r e C o n f i g u r a t i o n
This section explains the information you need to know
to establish your systems basic configuration and cus-
tomized settings and also has information on software
that comes with your PR5 mainboard.
The first part of this section is about the BIOS CMOS
Setup Utility program. There is also some information
on updating the BIOS and the IDE driver disk that comes
with the PR5.
T he B I OS CM OS Se tu p U til ity
The PR5 uses the Award system BIOS. The BIOS (Basic
Input Output System) is the basic software the computer
needs to enable the system hardware components to
operate together. It is stored in a Flash ROM memory
chip on the mainboard. The BIOS uses a software pro-
gram, also stored on the same chip to create a system
configuration record which is saved in a small amount of
special " CMOS" memory which is also on the board.
This Setup program records information about the sys-
tem hardware including the disk drives installed, system
m em ory and vide o dis play. It also rec ords sys tem
customization information and settings for the main-
board' s chipset, power management and configurable
hardware. In addition, the Setup program has a Password
feature, automatic hard disk detection and a hard disk
low level format command.

Accessing The CMOS Setup Utility

When you turn on your computer, a message appears on
the screen saying you can call up the Setup program. The
message appears after the POST (Power On Self Test):
If you want to run Setup but you don' t respond in time
before the message disappears, you can reset the system
by pressing the Ctrl + Alt + Delete keys at the same time,
or by pushing the system Reset button. The message will
then reappear.