Transcript System Setup

System Setup
CGS2564
What Happens
When You Start up a Computer?
BIOS
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Basic Input Output System
A set of programs stored in ROM
Contain instructions on how to get started
1.
Power-On Self Test
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2.
POST
System checks its hardware
Bootstrap loader
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Loads the operating system from disk
“Boots up”
What Happens
When You Start up a Computer?
 How does it “know”
1.
2.
What hardware it’s supposed to have?
Which disk to boot from?
 Information is stored in “memory”
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CMOS RAM
 How to access and change this information?
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System setup utility
Stored in ROM
CMOS
 Special type of memory chip
 Stores information
even when the computer is off
 Complimentary Metal Oxide Semiconductor
 Requires low power
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supplied by battery
System Setup Program
 Supplied by BIOS manufacturer
 Varies by brand/version
 Little standardization
 Can be accessed during startup
 After POST
 Before OS loaded from disk
 How to access
 Function key(s)
 DEL key
 Key combinations
 CTRL-ESC
 CTRL-ALT-ESC
 Etc.
System Setup Utility
Why Access the CMOS Settings?
 Get information
CPU type and speed
 Service tag number
Record information in case disaster strikes
 Computer cannot boot without this information!
Change configuration after adding new hardware
 Today – usually detected automatically
Set the boot drive sequence
 Boot from the hard drive first instead of floppy drive
Security
 Set boot-up password
Power Management
 Different from Control Panel settings
Convenience
 Automatically turn on Num Lock
 Turn off PC speaker
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