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7 The BIOS Setup Program

7.1 Introduction

The BIOS (Basic Input and Output System) Setup program is a

menu driven utility that enables you to make changes to the

system configuration and tailor the operation of your Notebook to

your individual work needs. A ROM-based configuration utility

displays the system's configuration status and provides you with a

tool to set system parameters. These parameters are stored in

nonvolatile battery backed-up CMOS RAM, which saves this

information even when the power is turned off. When the

computer is turned back on, the system is configured with the

values found in CMOS. Using easy-to-use menus, you can

configure such items as:

 Hard drives, diskette drives and peripherals

 Video display options

 Password protection from unauthorized use

 Boot devices

The settings made in the Setup program intimately affect how the

Notebook performs. It is important, therefore, first to try to

understand all the available options, and second, to make settings

appropriate for the way you use the Notebook. This chapter will

guide you through the Setup program by providing clear

explanations for all Setup options.

A standard configuration has already been set in the Setup

program by the factory technicians, so you will very likely have

little to worry about for now. However, eventually you may want

to customize your system to suit your own performance needs. It

is recommended that you read this chapter and become familiar

with the adjustments that can be made in the BIOS.

Summary of content (20 pages)

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7 The BIOS Setup Program 7.1 Introduction The BIOS (Basic Input and Output System) Setup program is a menu driven utility that enables you to make changes to the system configuration and tailor the operation of your Notebook to your individual work needs. A ROM-based configuration utility displays the system's configuration status and provides you with a tool to set system parameters.
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The next section explains how to move around in the Setup program, as well as how to specify and save your new settings. A brief discussion of the optional settings among the different submenus follows.
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7.2 Navigating through the BIOS Setup Program The Setup program has been designed to make it as easy to use as possible. It is a menu driven program, which means you can scroll through the various directories and make your selections among the various predetermined choices. If you accidentally make a setting and do not know which one to switch back to, use the BIOS hot keys to return to the previous value. The hot keys are discussed in more detail later in this chapter.
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security setup. The few examples listed above are by no means a complete list.
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7.2.1 Accessing the BIOS Setup program To access the BIOS Setup program, press the F2 key as soon as the computer starts up and you see the INSYDE BIOS screen. The Menu Bar The top of the Setup screen has a menu bar with the following selections: Main Advanced Security Boot Exit Use this menu to make changes to the basic system configuration. Use this menu to enable and make changes to the advanced features available on your system. Use this menu to set User and Supervisor passwords.
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Item Specific Help At the bottom of the Setup screen, you will notice an item specific help bar. For each item that you select on the menu, the bar informs of its specific function as well as the hot keys related specifically to that item and/or submenu.
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.2.2 Launching submenus A submenu contains additional options for a field parameter. To call up a submenu, simply move the highlight to the desired field and press the [Enter] key. The submenu opens. If you are a first time user or are not familiar with BIOS Setup programs, it is highly recommended that you take a few minutes to familiarize yourself with each of the submenus and their corresponding functions.
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7.2.3 Saving Changes and Exiting the Setup Program Refer to the Exit Menu section of this chapter for detailed information on saving changes and exiting the Setup program.
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7.3 The Main Menu When the Setup program is accessed, the Information screen appears. Use the down key to select the Main Menu. Enter the Main Menu of the BIOS setup program to make changes to the Notebook's basic system configuration. Each of the fields displayed in this menu is covered below in detail. Date and Time Sets your system to the time that you specify (usually the current time). The format is hour, minute, and second, using the 24-hour clock. Insert the appropriate information.
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Language Sets the BIOS Setup program’s language. Choose either English or Japanese. Version Info Displays the BIOS Setup program’s version information.
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7.4 The System Devices Menu Selecting System Devices from the menu bar displays the System Devices Menu. This menu allows you to configure the Notebook's ports options. Each field on this menu is covered below. FIR Ports This field allows you to configure the Notebook’s FIR Port. The following options are available: FIR I/O address – Lets you Disable the FIR Port or assign an I/O port to the device.
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are available: Normal (16650) IrDA (HPSIR) ASK IR FAST IR The default value for this field is Fast IR. DMA Setting for Fast IR – This field is only available when the FIR Port Mode Setting for IRDA is set to FAST IR. The following options are available: DMA 1 DMA 2 DMA 3 The default value for this field is: DMA 3 LPT Port This field allows you to configure the Notebook's LPT Port.
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LPT2, 278, IRQ 5 LPT3, 3BC, IRQ 7 The default value for this field is: LPT1, 378, IRQ 7 Changing the default address and IRQ settings for the Serial and LPT Port can cause conflicts with other installed peripherals Port Definition – This field allows you to configure the Notebook's LPT Port transmission mode. The following options are available: Standard Bidirectional Enhanced Parallel Port (EPP) Extended Capabilities (ECP) EPP and ECP are bidirectional modes, allowing both data input and output.
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Legacy USB Enables or disables legacy USB device support. Use the [SPACE] bar to select the Legacy USB option or not.
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7.5 The Security Menu The Notebook's advanced system of security allows you to set a password to prevent unauthorized access to system resources, data, and the BIOS Setup program. This section covers each parameter of the Security Menu. Selecting Security from the menu bar displays the following menu: Each field of the Security Menu is covered in detail below. A Note about Passwords The BIOS Setup program allows you to specify passwords in the Security menu.
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Type the password and press the [Enter] key. You can type up to ten alphanumeric characters. Symbols are ignored. To confirm the password, type the password again and press the [Enter] key. The supervisor or user password is now set, and now you can choose when to verify the password – either when you the boot the system, or when a person enters Setup. To change or clear a password, enter the submenu again.
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7.6 The Boot Menu The Boot Menu allows the user to specify the order in which the Notebook is to check for a device to boot the system. To make changes, select Boot from the menu bar. The following screen appears: Boot Device The Boot Menu allows you to alter the priority the system uses to search for the boot device on system power up according to numerical order. Use your mouse to select the First, Second, and Third boot devices from this submenu.
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7.7 The Exit Menu Once you have made all of your selections from the various menus in the Setup program, you should save your changes and exit Setup. Select Exit from the menu bar to display the following menu: Pressing the [Esc] key can be used to close an open menu or submenu. Pressing it again saves the current parameters and reboots the computer. Each of the options on this menu is described below.
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The next time you boot up the Notebook, the BIOS will attempt to load the values you saved in Non-Volatile memory. If these values cause the system boot to fail, reboot and press [F2] to enter the Setup program. Once in Setup, you can try to change the values that caused the system boot to fail. If the problem persists, load the default values (see Get Default Values below).
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You can now select Exit Saving Changes or make other changes before saving the values to Non-Volatile RAM. Discard Changes Restores the Setup program’s values to the ones it had when you entered the program during the boot sequence.