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19Chapter 3Introducing BIOSThe BIOS is a program located on a Flash Memory on the motherboard. This program is abridge between motherboard and operating system. When you start the computer, the BIOSprogram gain control. The BIOS first operates an auto-diagnostic test called POST (power onself test) for all the necessary hardware, it detects the entire hardware device and configuresthe parameters of the hardware synchronization. Only when these tasks are completed done itgives up control of the computer to operating system (OS). Since the BIOS is the onlychannel for hardware and software to communicate, it is the key factor for system stability,and in ensuring that your system performance as its best.In the BIOS Setup main menu of Figure 3-1, you can see several options. We will explainthese options step by step in the following pages of this chapter, but let us first see a shortdescription of the function keys you may use here:• Press to quit the BIOS Setup.• Press ↑ ↓ ← → (up, down, left, right) to choose, in the main menu, the option you want toconfirm or to modify.• Press when you have completed the setup of BIOS parameters to save theseparameters and to exit the BIOS Setup menu.• Press Page Up/Page Down or +/– keys when you want to modify the BIOS parameters forthe active option.3-1 Entering SetupPower on the computer and by pressing immediately allows you to enter Setup.If the message disappears before your respond and you still wish to enter Setup, restart thesystem to try again by turning it OFF then ON or pressing the “RESET” button on the systemcase. You may also restart by simultaneously pressing , and keys. Ifyou do not press the keys at the correct time and the system does not boot, an error messagewill be displayed and you will again be asked toPress to continue, or to enter Setup3-2 Getting HelpMain MenuThe on-line description of the highlighted setup function is displayed at the bottom of thescreen.Status Page Setup Menu/Option Page Setup MenuPress F1 to pop up a small help window that describes the appropriate keys to use and thepossible selections for the highlighted item. To exit the Help Window, press .
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