Chapter 3
Award BIOS Setup
3.1 BIOS Setup
Award‘s ROM BIOS provides a built-in Setup program that allows users to modify the basic
system configuration and settings. The modified data will be stored in a battery-backed CMOS
RAM so that this data will be retained even when the power is turned off. In general, the
information saved in the CMOS RAM remains unchanged unless there is a configuration
change in the system, such as hard drive replacement or new equipment installment.
Starting Setup
The AwardBIOS™ is immediately activated when you first power on the computer. The BIOS
reads the system information contained in the CMOS and begins the process of checking out
the system and configuring it. When it finishes, the BIOS will seek an operating system on one
of the disks and then launch and turn control over to the operating system.
While the BIOS is in control, the Setup program can be activated in one of two ways:
1.
By pressing <Del> immediately after switching the system on, or
2.
By pressing the <Del> key when the following message appears briefly at the bottom of the screen
during the POST (Power On Self-Test).
P r e s s D E L t o e n t e r S E T U P .
If the message disappears before you respond and you still wish to enter Setup, restart the
system to try again by turning it OFF then ON or pressing the "RESET" button on the system
case. You may also restart by simultaneously pressing <Ctrl>, <Alt>, and <Delete> keys. If
you do not press the keys at the correct time and the system does not boot, an error message
will be displayed and you will again be asked to...
P R E S S F 1 T O C O N T I N U E , D E L T O E N T E R S E T U P
Using Setup
In general, you use the arrow keys to highlight items, press <Enter> to select, use the PageUp
and PageDown keys to change entries, press <F1> for help and press <Esc> to quit. The
following table provides more detail about how to navigate in the Setup program using the
keyboard.
< >
Move to previous item
< >
Move to next item
< >
Move to the item in the left hand
< >
Move to the item in the right hand
Enter Select
item
