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Chapter 4
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 CMOS RAM. Unlike the DRAM (dynamic random access memory)
that is used for standard system memory, CMOS RAM requires very little
power. When the computer is turned off, a back-up battery provides power
to CMOS RAM, which retains the system parameters. Every time the
computer is powered-on, the computer is configured with the values
stored in CMOS RAM 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 has user interfaces that were not very intuitive.
A New Type of System BIOS Setup Utility
American Megatrends has now made available a new type of system BIOS
Setup utility. WinBIOS Setup has a graphical user interface that permits
mouse access, and is so compact that it can reside on the same ROM as
the system BIOS. The system configuration parameters are set via 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.
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