User`s manual

23
Chapter 3
Introducing BIOS
The BIOS is a program located on a Flash Memory on the motherboard. This program is
a bridge between the motherboard and the operating system. When starting the computer,
the BIOS program has control of the system. The BIOS first operates an auto-diagnostic
test called POST (power on self test) for all the necessary hardware, it detects the entire
hardware device and configures the parameters of the hardware synchronization. After
these tasks are completed, the BIOS gives up control of the computer over to the
operating system (OS). Since the BIOS is the only channel for hardware and software to
communicate, it is the key factor for system stability, and ensuring optimal system
performance.
In the BIOS Setup main menu of Figure 3-1, you can see several options. We will
explain these options step by step in the following pages of this chapter, but let us first
see a short description of the function keys you may use here:
• Press <Esc> to quit the BIOS Setup.
• Press ↑↓←→ (up, down, left, right) to choose, in the main menu, the option
you want to confirm or to modify.
• Press <F10> when you have completed the setup of BIOS parameters to save
these parameters and to exit the BIOS Setup menu.
• Press Page Up/Page Down or +/– keys when you want to modify the BIOS
parameters for the active option.
3-1 Entering Setup
Power on the computer and keep pressing <Del> immediately until you enter Setup.
If the “Enter Setup” message disappears before you had a chance to respond, restart the
system to try again by turning it OFF then ON or pressing the “RESET” button on the
system case. You may also restart by simultaneously pressing the <Ctrl>, <Alt> and
<Delete> keys.
3-2 Getting Help
Main Menu
The on-line description of the highlighted setup function is displayed at the right
side of the screen.