The simple answer to this is DON'T. Updating and/or changing settings in the BIOS is relatively simple, but you make just ONE mistake, and you may render your computer completely inoperable. And there's nothing we at could do to fix it either, except to purchase a new BIOS chip (if it were available), and install it in your motherboard (which sometimes requires us to de-solder the old BIOS chip off the motherboard), or we would have to buy a new motherboard for those without accessible and/or replaceable BIOS chips.
BIOS stands for BASIC INPUT/OUTPUT SYSTEM. This of it this way: The Central Processing Unit (CPU) of your computer is the main "brain" of the computer; telling it how to work, processing all the billions of calculations to make the computer run, etc. The BIOS is the "brain stem" of the computer. Just as in your body, the brain stem handles all the lower function and/or unconscious actions of your body (breathing, blinking your eyes, sneezing, etc.), the BIOS handles the lower function start-up actions of the computer.
The BIOS detects, tests, initializes and monitors the computer from the instant the computer is turned on until the system is turned over to Windows (or whatever operating system is on the computer), which takes over the higher processes of the computer.
When you first turn on the computer in the morning, it's like you waking up in the morning. The BIOS identifies what parts are in the computer and start them working, just as your body does as you stretch, groan, and grumble about having to wake up. The BIOS then runs the P.O.S.T., which stands for POWER-ON SELF TEST to determine if all the parts are working properly.
If the P.O.S.T. determines everything is working o.k., the BIOS the initializes each device, detects all the peripherals inside the computer, then determines which "drive" (optical drive, hard drive, floppy drive, etc.) has the operating system (or "OS" for short) to pas along the information already gathered so the OS can finish the job of starting the computer and getting it ready for use.
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WHY DO WE NEED THE "BIOS" AND/OR "P.O.S.T?
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If any device fails to pass the testing for the P.O.S.T. or BIOS, there will usually be a series of "beep codes". These are a series of long and shorts tones that come out from the computers speaker that help computer technicians diagnose the problem. Each problems detected in either the BIOS or P.O.S.T. and its own series of long and short beeps. From the number of long and short beeps, the computer technician knows where to start looking for the problems inside the computer.
Well, working with the BIOS IS interesting, because it can help you "tweak" your computer for maximum performance. But as I stated earlier, it is NOT a job for people who don't have years of experience working with computer BIOSes. You can DESTROY your computer if you don't know what you're doing, and NOBODY will be able to fix it then.
The BIOS is a great diagnostic tool for the experienced computer technician. The BIOS is NOT another "toy" on the computer to be played with. So unless you REALLY know what you're doing, LEAVE THE BIOS ALONE!!!!!
MERRY CHRISTMAS AND HAPPY NEW YEAR TO YOU AND YOURS!
Good Computing to all and to all a good night!
DAVID P.
GO BUCKY!!!
TM
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