INFORMATION SHEET 1.
1-10
POST and BIOS Configuration
Learning Objectives:
After reading this INFORMATION SHEET, YOU MUST be able to:
1. Familiarize the POST and the BIOS SET-UP UTILITY MENU
2. Configure BIOS
Introduction
Now that you have learned to disassemble and assemble a computer, next
is to know how to configure BIOS setup in order to install now the operating
system. But you must know first how a BIOS should be configured.
What is BIOS?
BIOS stands for Basic Input / Output System. It has the following functions:
▪ boot the computer by providing a basic set of instructions
▪ load the operating system after turning on the computer
▪ perform POST (Power-On Self Test)
▪ provide set-up program for changing BIOS parameters
▪ provide low-level routines for the communications between OS and
hardware devices
The BIOS ROM
• All BIOS are contained in ROM in old days
• BIOS is now located in EEPROM chip
• erased and rewritten by special programs
• called flash BIOS
The BIOS CMOS memory:
• provide a non-volatile storage for PC’s
control information
• need very little power to operate
• powered by lithium battery
The BIOS Boot Process:
1. The power supply sends a signal to the components in the system unit.
2. The CPU finds the ROM chips that contains BIOS.
3. The BIOS performs the POST which checks components (e.g. mouse,
keyboard connectors and expansion card)
4. The results of the POST are compared with data in the CMOS chip.
5. The BIOS looks for the system files in floppy disk drive and hard disk.
6. The system files and the kernel of the OS load into RAM from hard disk.
Beep codes could be encountered if there are errors.
o A series of beep: BIOS program encounter problems
o One short beep: everything is normal
o Errors can be indicated when video screen does not function
o Interpret the beep codes by consulting main board menu
To access BIOS configuration screens and to change the system’s
parameters, complete the following steps:
1. Power on or power cycle
the server.
2. To enter the BIOS Setup
utility, press the Del, F2
or the assigned key while
the system is performing the power-on self-test (POST)
When BIOS is started,
the main BIOS Setup
utility top-level screen
appears . This screen
provides seven menu
options across the top of
the screen.
BIOS Setup Utility - Main Screen
3. Use the left and right arrow keys to select the different menu options. As
you select each menu option, the top-level screen for that menu option
appears.
4. To select an option on a top-level screen, use the up and down arrow keys
to scroll up and down the options presented.
Only options that can be modified are highlighted when you press the up
and down arrow keys.
• If a field can be modified, as you select the option, user instructions for
modifying the option appear in the right column of the screen.
• If a field is a link to a sub-screen, instructions to press the enter key to
access the sub screen appear in the right column.
5. Modify the setup field and press the Esc key to save the changes and exit
the screen.
Some screens present a confirmation dialog box that enables unwanted
changes to be retracted.
6. On sub-screens that only provide configuration information and cannot
be modified, press the Esc key to exit the screen.
7. To continue modifying other setup parameters, repeat Step
3 through Step 6. Otherwise, go to Step 8.
8. Press and release the right arrow key until the Exit menu screen appears.
9. Follow the instructions on the Exit menu screen to save or discard your
changes and exit the BIOS Setup utility.
BIOS Setup Utility:
1. Main - System Overview
2. BIOS Setup Utility: Main - Serial Number Information
BIOS Advanced Menu Screens
The BIOS Advanced screens provide detailed configuration information for the
CPU, memory, IDE, Super IO, trusted computing, USB, PCI, MPS and other
system information.
1. Setup Utility: Advanced - Advanced Settings
2. BIOS Setup Utility: Advanced - Configure Advanced CPU Settings
3. BIOS Setup Utility: Advanced - On-board SATA Configuration
4. BIOS Setup Utility: Advanced - AHCI Port 0 Configuration
5. BIOS Setup Utility: Advance - ACPI Settings
6. BIOS Setup Utility: Advanced - Advanced ACPI Configuration
7. BIOS Setup Utility: Advanced - Event Logging Details
8. BIOS Setup Utility: Advanced - View Event Log
9. BIOS Setup Utility: Advanced - IPMI Configuration
10. BIOS Setup Utility: Advanced - LAN Configuration
11. BIOS Setup Utility: Advanced - Total Number of Entries
12. BIOS Setup Utility: Advanced - Intel VT-d Configuration
13. BIOS Setup Utility: Advanced - MPS Configuration
14. BIOS Setup Utility: Advanced - Configure Remote Access Type and
Parameters
15. BIOS Setup Utility: Advanced - Trusted Computing Configuration
16. BIOS Setup Utility: Advanced - USB Configuration
17. BIOS Setup Utility: Advanced - USB Mass Storage Device
Configuration
BIOS PCI Menu Screens
The BIOS PCI screen enables you to configure the server to clear NVRAM
during system boot.
1. BIOS Setup Utility: PCI - Advanced PCI Settings
BIOS Boot Menu Screens
The BIOS Boot screens enable you to configure the boot device priority
(storage drives and the DVD-ROM drive)..
1. BIOS Setup Utility: Boot - Boot Settings
2. BIOS Setup Utility: Boot - Boot Settings Configuration
3. BIOS Setup Utility: Boot - Boot Device Priority
4. BIOS Setup Utility: Boot - Option ROM Configuration
5. BIOS Setup Utility: Boot - Wake On LAN Configuration
6. BIOS Security Menu Screens
The BIOS Security screens enable you to set or change the supervisor and user
passwords..
1. BIOS Setup Utility: Security - Security Settings
BIOS Chipset Menu Screens
The BIOS Chipset screens enable you to set the chipset parameters.
1. BIOS Setup Utility: Chipset - Advanced Chipset Settings
2. BIOS Setup Utility: Chipset - CPU Bridge Chipset Configuration
3. BIOS Setup Utility: Chipset - North Bridge Chipset Configuration
4. BIOS Setup Utility: Chipset - South Bridge Chipset Configuration
BIOS Exit Menu Screens
The BIOS Exit options enable you to save changes and exit, discard changes
and exit, discard changes, or load optimal defaults (FIGURE E-33).
To select and execute an option, follow these steps:
1. Use the up and down arrow keys to scroll up and down the BIOS Exit
options.
2. Press Enter to select the option.
A confirmation dialog box appears (see FIGURE E-34) that enables you to save or
cancel the changes and exit the Setup utility.
BIOS Setup Utility: Exit - Exit Options - Save Changes and Exit
BIOS Setup Utility: Exit - Save Configuration Changes and Exit Confirmation
For your practice in BIOS Configuration, you caN go online for a simulation. JUST
GO TO THIS URL LINK:
[Link]