4: The System Bios & Cmos Setup Utility; The System Bios - Procomp BIW2A User Manual

What' s In This
Chapter:
System BIOS
CMOS Setup Utility
System BIOS & CMOS Setup Utility
The System BIOS &
CMOS Setup Utility
This section explains what the system BIOS does
and has a summary of the CMOS Setup Utility.

The System BIOS

This motherboard uses the Award system BIOS.
The system BIOS (Basic Input Output System) is
firmware -- software stored on a chip -- that is
permanently stored on the motherboard' s firm-
ware hub chip.
The BIOS is a set of routines which function as an
interface between the Operating System and the
system hardware. It supports the installed
peripherals and provides internal services such as
the realtime clock produces time and date data.
When the system is starting up, the BIOS tests the
system and prepares the computer for operation
by checking the CMOS memory where the system
configuration information is stored and retrieving
information on the configuration settings. When it
is finished it loads the operating system and passes
control of the system to it.
The system configuration information that the
BIOS retrieves from CMOS memory is recorded
there by the CMOS Setup Utility.
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