BIOS Basics – A Brief Introduction

bios_chip

by Richard Pedersen

Introduction

BIOS is an acronym for Basic Input Output System

definition n. -

The set of routines stored in read-only memory that enable a computer to start the operating system and to communicate with the various devices in the system, such as disk drives, keyboard, monitor, printer, and communications ports.

The BIOS is built into the motherboard, and is the first code run by a PC when powered on.

The BIOS then locates software held on a peripheral device, such as a hard disk or a CD, and loads and executes that software.

This process is known as bootstrapping, commonly referred to as “booting up”.

For the curious, the saying “to pull yourself up by your bootstraps” was an example of an impossible task.

A BIOS will also have a user interface (or menu system) which is typically accessed by pressing a certain key on the keyboard when the computer starts.

This key varies from system to system. Generally, the User will have a brief window of opportunity to press this key before the operating system takes over.

If you watch your screen carefully when you first turn it on, the key needed to enter the BIOS set-up system should be displayed. On today’s fast sytems you probably won’t have more than a few seconds to do this. If you miss it and your OS boots, your only recourse is to re-boot the computer and try again.

In the BIOS User Interface (UI), you can configure hardware, set the system clock, enable or disable system components, select potential boot devices, and set passwords to keep the “bad guys” out of your system.

Some Basics

I can’t beat ‘Adrian Wong’s RojakPot’ site for BIOS information short of plagiarism, so I won’t try.

Here’s the link to his fabulous web site: Adrian Wong’s Rojak Pot

If you want to know what all those BIOS settings mean, then this is the place.

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Unlike Graphics or Audio drivers, the BIOS it is not software-driven. BIOS is on a chip called NVRAM (Non-Volatile Random Access Memory).

This is a type of memory that retains its information when the power is turned off. Generally, that’s what the little battery in your computer takes care of; it provides power to the NVRAM so its contents aren’t lost when you shut off your computer.

There is a risk:

“Updating” /”Flashing” your BIOS is not the same thing as updating Graphics or Audio drivers. The only time you should take this risk is if the BIOS upgrade offers you something you really need.

In other words, if you don’t need it, don’t do it. If it ain’t broke, don’t fix it.

The risk involved is this: if, for whatever reason, your system should shut down during the update process, your BIOS chip could get “fried”. I don’t mean physically fried, but I mean inoperable because not all the data would have been written to the chip during the upgrade. This will result in incomplete/garbled data. This could happen because of a power outage, a corrupted BIN file, or any number of other nasty reasons. The result is a computer that won’t start. You’ll end up with a very expensive door-stop.

There are safeguards in today’s modern systems, but I wouldn’t totally rely on them.

Recommendation:

For the above-mentioned reasons, I recommend that you do not “flash”/upgrade your BIOS unless it offers you a substantial improvement over and above what you already have. Read the change logs to see what’s new or fixed.

Do not flash your BIOS willy-nilly at every given opportunity to do so. This isn’t necessary, nor wise.

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I hope this brief introduction to your BIOS gives you an idea of what is going on under your computer’s hood.

Richard

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If you have any ideas or suggestions, please leave a comment below. Thanks!