Chapter 3 Introduction Of Bios - Abit IT5E Series User Manual

Introduction of BIOS

Chapter 3 Introduction of BIOS

The BIOS is a program located on a Read-Only Memory chip on the
mainboard. This program will not be lost when you turn the computer off.
This program is also referred to as the boot program. It is the only channel
for the hardware circuit to communicate with the operating system. Its
main function is to manage the setup of the mainboard and interface cards
parameters, including simple parameters such as time, date, hard disk drive,
as well as more complex parameters such as hardware synchronization,
device operating mode, CPU SOFT MENU™ techniques, setup of CPU
voltage and speed. The computer will operate normally, or will operate at
its best, only if all these parameters are correctly configured through the
BIOS.
M
Don't change the parameters inside the BIOS unless you know
what you are doing
The parameters inside the BIOS are used to setup the hardware
synchronization or the device operating mode. If the parameters are not
correct, they will produce errors, the computer will crash, and
sometimes you will even not be able to boot the computer after it has
crashed. We recommend that you do not change the parameters inside
the BIOS unless you are familiar with them. If you are not able to boot
your computer anymore, please refer to the section "Erase CMOS data"
in Chapter 2.
When you start the computer, it is controlled by the BIOS program.
The BIOS first operates an auto-diagnostic for all the necessary hardware,
configurates the parameters of the hardware synchronization, and detects
all the hardware. Only when these tasks are completed does it give up
control of the computer to the program of the next level, which is the
operating system. Since the BIOS is the only channel for hardware and
software to communicate, it will be the key factor to system stability, and
to ensure that your system performs at its best. After the BIOS has
achieved the auto-diagnostic and auto-detection operations, it will display
the following message:
TO ENTER SETUP BEFORE BOOT PRESS CTRL-ALT-ESC OR DEL KEY
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