Thread: Modify the BIOS Setup Utility

This chapter explains how to use and modify the BIOS setup utility that is stored on the motherboard. The setup utility stores information about the motherboard components, and the configuration of other devices that are connected to it. -The system uses this information to test and initialize components when it is started up, and to make sure everything runs properly when the system is operating.



The setup utility is installed with a set of default values designed to ensure that the system will operate adequately. You will probably have to make changes to the setup utility whenever you add new components to your system such as new disk drives. You may be able to generate increased performance by changing some of the timing values in the setup, but this can be limited by the kind of hardware you are using, for example the rating of your memory chips. In certain circumstances, the system may generate an error message which asks you to make changes to the setup utility. This happens when the system finds an error during the POST (power-on self-test) that it carries out at start up.