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Using BIOS setup
Use setup to change the system configuration defaults. You can run setup with or without an OS
being present. Setup stores most of the configuration values in battery-backed CMOS; the rest of
the values are stored in flash memory. The values take effect when you boot the system. POST uses
these values to configure the hardware; if the values and the actual hardware do not agree, POST
generates an error message. You must then run setup to specify the correct configuration.
Run setup: you can run setup to modify any standard PC-AT baseboard feature such as:
Select diskette drive
Select parallel port
Select serial port
Set time/date (to be stored in RTC)
Configure IDE hard drive
Specify boot device sequence
Enable SCSI BIOS
Run SSU, not setup: you must run the SSU instead of setup to do the following:
Enter or change information about a board
Alter system resources (e.g., interrupts, memory addresses, I/O assignments) to user-selected
choices instead of choices selected by the BIOS resource manager
Record your setup settings
If the default values ever need to be restored (after a CMOS clear, for example), you must run
Setup again. Referring to the worksheets could make your task easier.
If you cannot access setup
If the diskette drive is misconfigured so that you cannot access it to run a utility from a diskette,
you might need to clear CMOS memory. You must open the system, change a jumper setting, use
Setup to check and set diskette drive options, and change the jumper back. For a step-by-step
procedure, see the chapter detailing the 'Mainboard'.
Starting setup
You can enter and start setup under several conditions:
When you turn on the system, after POST completes the memory test
When you reboot the system by pressing <Ctrl+Alt+Del> while at the DOS operating system
prompt
When you have moved the CMOS jumper on the baseboard to the "Clear CMOS" position
(enabled); for a step-by-step procedure, see the chapter detailing the 'Mainboard'.
In the three conditions listed above, after rebooting, you will see this prompt:
In a fourth condition, when CMOS/NVRAM has been corrupted, you will see other prompts but
not the <F2> prompt:
In this condition, the BIOS will load default values for CMOS and attempt to boot.
Press <F2> to enter SETUP
Warning:
cmos checksum invalid
Warning:
cmos time and date not set
C o n f i g u r a t i o n s o f t w a r e a n d u t i l i t i e s
FT5000 HANDBOOK
7/3
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