top of page

BIOS

What is it?

  • Short for Basic Input Output System.

  • A set of computer instructions in firmware which control input and output operations.

  • When BIOS boots up (starts up) your computer, it first determines whether all of the attachments are in place and operational and then it loads the operating system (or key parts of it) into your computer's random access memory (RAM) from your hard disk or diskette drive.

The BIOS (Basic Input/Output System)

It is a chip that has the software code to operate your computer when the system is first turned on.

How to access BIOS?

  • Step 1: Press and hold the Power Button for 5 seconds to turn your computer completely off. 

  • Step 2: Power on the system. 

  • Step 3: As soon as the first logo screen appears, immediately press the F2 key, or the DEL key if you have a desktop, to enter the BIOS.

2 physical BIOS ROMs is on Gigabyte motherboard.

  •  Step 3: You will get a BIOS/CMOS setup to configure hardware setting and system setting as well.

Function of BIOS

POST : (Power-On Self-Test)

  • Test the computer hardware.

  • It is diagnostic testing that runs to determine if the computer keyboard, random access memory, disk drives, and other hardware are working correctly.

Bootstrap Loader :

  • Locate the operating system.

  • If a capable operating system is located, the BIOS will pass control to it.

BIOS drivers :

  • Low-level drivers that give the computer basic operational control over your computer's hardware.

BIOS Setup :

  • Configuration program that allows you to configure hardware settings including system settings such as computer passwords, time, and date.

BIOS Manufacturer 

  • Popular BIOS manufacturers are : Phoenix, Award, American Megatrends(AMI) companies.

  • Some huge manufacturers of motherboards and other periphery produce BIOS for example:

  • Intel

  • Dell

  • IBM

  • Gateway

  • Acer

  • Here is the example of Dell have their own version of BIOS.

bottom of page