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BIOS SETUP
What is the BIOS Setup utility?
The BIOS (Basic Input/Output System) mediates
between the computer's hardware – the processor,
memory, and so on – and its software – the operating
system and your programs. The BIOS program is kept
in permanent, read-only memory or ROM (although
if necessary it can be upgraded by an authorised
maintainer).
BIOS Setup is a helpful utility that forms part of the
BIOS program. It allows you to view and alter the
computer's hardware configuration. Configuring the
computer is necessary to ensure that the software you
use can recognise and exploit the hardware's
capabilities.
The current configuration is kept in a special area of
memory, called CMOS (Complementary Metal
Oxide Semiconductor) memory, and maintained by a
battery so that the configuration is preserved even
while the computer is switched off.
Your computer arrives already configured, but may
need to be configured again after you add or remove
add-on options such as memory or expansion cards.
Whenever the computer is turned on, the BIOS
power-on self-test (POST) routine tests various
hardware components, including memory, and
compares the actual configuration of the computer
with that recorded in permanent (CMOS) memory.
The BIOS Setup utility is used for the following tasks:
Setting the Power Management options
Setting security options
Enabling the IrDA port
Enabling the audio functions
Setting options after connecting an external
device
Checking the memory configuration after fitting
additional memory
B I O S S e t u p
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