BIOS/CMOS: Security Passwords

On some systems, either the supervisor or user passwords allow access to the BIOS setup program. In this instance the purpose of two passwords may be to allow a single password to be set up for an administrator, which will work for multiple machines while the user password is individual for individual machine.

clipped from www.proprofs.com This setting enables you to set security passwords to control access to the system at boot time and/or when entering the BIOS setup program. Some of the systems have a single password while the newer ones have two - a supervisor and a user password. Supervisor Password This option is to set the supervisor password. This is the higher level password of the two normally present on the system. On most systems, when the supervisor password has been set, it must be entered in order to access the BIOS setup program, or to change the user password. User Password This option is to set the user password. The user password is the lower level password of the two, normally present on the system. This usually allows the system to be booted, but does not allow access to the BIOS setup program. The supervisor password must be used to enter the BIOS setup program.

BIOS/CMOS: Boot order (looking for Boot Sector)

clipped from www.proprofs.com This determines the order in which the computer has to look in to the devices like CD, floppy or hard disks for a boot sector The normal order of the search is Floppy Drive IDE primary master IDE primary slave IDE secondary master IDE secondary slave Off-chipset controllers, like SCSI cards, PCI IDE cards or their on-board counterparts. This order may be altered using this option. Once the boot sector is located, the BIOS will continue with the loading of the operating system files.

CMOS?BIOS: More about Memory Settings

clipped from www.proprofs.com Level 2 Cacheable DRAM Size / Cache Over 64 MB of DRAM This controls how much of the system memory is “covered” by the level 2 cache. DRAM Parity Checking When enabled, turns on parity checking for the system RAM. This must be enabled while using parity checking (or ECC), and disabled otherwise. The default is normally “Disabled” as most modern systems don't use parity memory. DRAM Parity/ECC Mode On a system that supports both parity and ECC error detection / correction modes; this option, selects which mode is activated. ECC stands for “error correcting code” or “error correction code” and is a more advanced error detection and correction protocol than straight parity. It is ignored or disabled if “DRAM Parity Checking” is disabled.

CMOS/BIOS: Memory settings

clipped from www.proprofs.com There are a wide range of settings available today with regard to Memory in the BIOS. Memory settings vary from motherboard to motherboard. Some of them are as follows: Memory Test Tick Sound When enabled, the POST memory test will make a tick sound as it counts the system memory. This is enabled to know if the speaker is working as well as a test to see if POST is progressing normally. Internal Cache This will enable or disable the internal cache on the processor. It is also known as the L1 or Level 1 cache. Turning off internal cache will lead to a major performance hit. External Cache This will enable or disable the external cache on your processor and is also known as the L2 or Level 2 cache. Disabling this will cause the system to slow down dramatically. However, you can use it if you are having system crashes and suspect a problem with the cache chips.

BIOS/CMOS: Setting HDD, (and SMART)

Most modern BIOS's allow automatic detection of hard disk drive parameters. These are some of the primary CMOS settings that apply to hard drives (and CD/DVD-ROM drives, etc.). This setting can be individually configured for the primary master and primary slave device and the secondary master and secondary slave device.

S.M.A.R.T. for Hard Disks
Some BIOS's have a specific BIOS setting to enable monitoring of hard disks that support the SMART (Self-Monitoring And Reporting Technology) feature, which can allow the hard disk to report impending failures of the hard disk, under some circumstances. The default for this setting is “Disabled”.
Common S.M.A.R.T Settings are as follows:

1. Type
This setting determines the "type" of the IDE device.

* Auto: This setting activates dynamic IDE auto detection for the device. The device will be auto detected by the BIOS each time the system boots.
* CD-ROM: To tell the BIOS that you are using a CD-ROM in that IDE device position.
* Disabled/None: Use this option to tell the BIOS that there is no drive at all in this IDE device position.


2. Size
Determines the capacity of the drive.
3. CHS values
Where 'C' is Cylinder which is the cylindrical surface formed by identical track numbers on vertically stacked discs.

'H' stands for Head. The head is the device which rolls across the platters in a hard disk and either lays down information (in write mode) or reads it (in read mode).

And finally 'S' is Sectors, which are divisions on a hard drive used for storing digital information: a single sector is the smallest contiguous unit of information; multiple sectors make up a track. Not able to get any better image
4. Landing Zone
It specifies the cylinder to which the BIOS should send the heads of the hard disk when the machine is to be turned off. It is here that the heads will “land” after they finish their operation of either reading or writing.
5. Boot Sector Virus protection
This option when enabled gets the computer to make a beep sound each time a write operation is requested on the boot sector of the hard disk.

CMOS/BIOS: FDD settings

The floppy drive(s) can be enabled or disabled in the BIOS (e.g. set to Not Installed). The BIOS also allows you to choose the capacity of the media. Ex: 1.44 MB 3.5 inch, 2.88 MB 3.5 inch, etc. Further, some BIOS also allows you to swap A: and B: and also disable seeking a floppy disk for a boot sector during startup. The following are Floppy Drive Settings in the Setup program:

• Integrated Floppy Disk Controller This setting enables or disables the integrated Floppy Disk Controller (FDC). The default for this is "Enabled". If for some reason the system has a plug-in floppy disk controller card, the integrated controller has to be disabled.

Swap Floppy Drives This is a useful feature for those machines using two floppy drives. When enabled this swaps the A: and B: drives. This allows you to change the bootable floppy without having to open the case and switch the cable.

Floppy Drive Seek This causes the BIOS to search for floppy disk drives at boot time. If enabled, the BIOS will activate the floppy disk drives during the boot process: the drive activity light will come on and the head will move back and forth once. First A: will be done and then B: if it exists. If disabled, this seek will not be done.

CMOS Serial ports COM1 and COM2, part 1

clipped from www.proprofs.com Most personal computers have 2 serial ports. The BIOS lets you assign COM1/COM2/COM3/COM4 to serial port 1 or 2. Most BIOS's also allow you to set the I/O addresses and IRQ but this is usually done automatically. The following are COM/Serial Port Settings in the Setup program: Integrated Serial Port 1/Serial Port 2 This setting allows you to specify the resources for the first and second serial ports on the motherboard. The exact name used for the various options varies. It is sometimes called "COM1", "COM2", etc. while at times they just list the I/O address and IRQ options. You will find the following options for every serial port setting: