BIO can set the Integrated Parallel port for the printer

Generally, one usually wishes to use EPP or ECP. ECP has enhanced performance but greater compatibility problems.

clipped from www.proprofs.com Integrated Parallel Port Parallel ports have various modes of operation. The original parallel ports were generally used for one-way communication from the PC to the printer. However, the newer ones include bi-directional communication and other abilities. The usual choices for this setting are: SPP: Sets the parallel port to function as a Standard Parallel Port. This is the default unidirectional (and the slowest) option. EPP: Sets the parallel port to Enhanced Parallel Port mode. This is sometimes called “Bi-directional”. ECP: Sets the parallel port up as an Enhanced Capabilities Port. This setting requires the use of a DMA channel, usually specified through another BIOS setting - The Parallel Port ECP DMA Channel setting.

BIOS screen can assign a DMA channel for use by the printer port

clipped from www.proprofs.com Parallel Port ECP DMA Channel This is used to assign a DMA channel for use by the port, if your system supports ECP parallel port mode and the port has been set to use ECP. The usual options are “DMA 1” and “DMA 3”.

BIOS settings can configure the Printer Parallel Port

clipped from www.proprofs.com In the CMOS you are able to configure a parallel port to use Enhanced Parallel Port (EPP) or Extended Capabilities Port (ECP). EPP and ECP are both bi-directional standards that operate in 8-bit, and allow data transfer speed of approximately 2 MB(s). Integrated Parallel Port This setting allows you to specify the resources for an integrated parallel port. Most of the systems allow you to choose one of the typical resource settings allocated to parallel ports, or to disable the port: 378/IRQ7 (LPT1): This sets the parallel port to the I/O address and IRQ normally used by LPT1. Most of the time, this is the default setting. 278/IRQ5 (LPT2): This sets the parallel port to the I/O address and IRQ normally used by LPT2. Disabled: Disables the integrated parallel port.

BIOS screen can alter memory bus clockspeed and internal bus clockspeed

clipped from www.proprofs.com External Clock This setting controls the clock speed of the memory bus on the motherboard, and is normally 50, 60, 66 or 75 MHz. The internal processor speed is the product of the external clock speed of the motherboard and the multiplier used by the processor. Multiplier Factor This setting controls the multiplier that is used to determine the internal clock speed of the processor relative to the external or motherboard clock speed. The usual values are 1.5X, 2X, 2.5X, 3X, 3.5X and so on. When the CPU Operating Speed parameter is set to a specific number, the External Clock parameter is computed by the BIOS and this setting is disabled. The above are the most common settings for any CPU. There can be other options other than the above based on the kind of processor and motherboard being used.

POST Error Codes

clipped from www.proprofs.com CMOS Jumper POST or Power On Self Test (POST) is a series of built-in diagnostics performed by the BIOS when the computer is switched on for the first time. POST checks if the major components such as keyboard, hard disk etc are working as expected. The following table shows the series error codes you may encounter during POST. The device failing the test can be identified by the error code displayed on the screen. Error Codes Table: Error Code Device 100 Series ( 100-199): System Board or Motherboard 200 Series ( 200-299): Memory or RAM 300 Series ( 300-399): Keyboard 400 Series ( 400-499): Monochrome Video 500 Series ( 500-599): Color Video 600 Series ( 600-699): Floppy Drive 1700 Series ( 1700-1799): Hard Drive

BIOS screen can adjust selected CPU processor speed

clipped from www.proprofs.com CPU Operating Speed This setting allows you to directly choose the operating speed of your processor. When this value is set, the BIOS will automatically set the “External Clock” and “Multiplier Factor” values for you, and locks them to restrict any changes. For example, setting this value to “166” will set the external clock to 66 MHz, and the multiplier to 2.5X. To manually control the external clock and multiplier factor values, you must set this parameter to “User Defined”.

CMOS/BIOS IX from Prof Plus

clipped from www.proprofs.com BIOS or Basic Input/Output System is a small program that facilitates the startup of a computer and enables communication with the hardware before an operating system is loaded. This software is housed on a ROM chip on the motherboard. Another ROM chip, the CMOS chip stores information that is subject to change such as time/date, power saving settings, and video adapter, hard drives and other device settings. Most motherboards have a "Restore factory defaults" option in the CMOS setup software which can be selected to return to the settings that the chip was originally shipped with. Also, the motherboard has a jumper which allows you to return to the default CMOS settings configured by the manufacturer. This is useful when you cannot access the CMOS Setup because of incorrect CMOS settings or lost CMOS passwords. Make sure the power is completely off when you short the jumper.