Acer ALTOS 930 User Manual

C h a p t e r

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BIOS Utility

The BIOS Utility allows you to view your system’s configuration settings. Most systems are already configured by the manufacturer or the dealer. There is no need to run Setup when starting the computer unless you get a Run Setup message.

The Setup program loads configuration values into the battery-backed nonvolatile memory called CMOS RAM. This memory area is not part of the system RAM.

If you repeatedly receive Run Setup messages, the battery may be bad. In this case, the system cannot retain configuration values in CMOS. Ask a qualified technician for assistance.

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2.1Entering Setup

To enter Setup, press the key combination ++.

You must press ++ while the system is booting. This key combination does not work during any other time.

The BIOS Utility main menu then appears:

BIOS Utility

System Information

Product Information

Disk Drives

Power Management

Startup Configuration

Advanced Configuration

System Security

Date and Time

Load Default Settings

Abort Settings Change

−↓←→ = Move highlight bar, = Select, Esc = Exit

The parameters on the screens show default values. These values may not be the same as those in your system.

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2.2System Information

The following screen appears if you select System Information from the main menu.

System Information		Page 1/2
Processor ......................	Pentium
Processor Speed ................	xxx MHz
Bus Frequency ..................	xx MHz
Internal Cache .................	xx KB, Enabled
External Cache .................	xxx KB, Enabled
Floppy Drive A .................	x.xx MB, x.x-inch
Floppy Drive B .................	None
IDE Primary Channel Master ......	Hard Disk
IDE Primary Channel Slave .......	None
IDE Secondary Channel Master ....	CD-ROM
IDE Secondary Channel Slave .....	None
Total Memory ...................	xx MB
1st Bank .....................	EDO
2nd Bank .....................	EDO
3rd Bank .....................	EDO
4th Bank .....................	EDO
PgDn/PgUp = Move Screen, Esc	= Back to Main Menu

The System Information menu shows the current basic configuration of your system.

The command line at the bottom of the menu tells you how to move from one screen to another and return to the main menu.

Press to move to the next page or to return to the previous page. Press to return to the main menu.

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The following screen shows page 2 of the System Information menu.

System Information		Page 2/2
Serial Port 1 .....................	Disabled
Serial Port 2 .....................	2F8h, IRQ 3
Parallel Port ....................	378h, IRQ 7
Pointing Device ...................	Installed
Memory Parity Mode ................	Disabled
Onboard USB .......................	Disabled
PgDn/PgUp = Move Screen, Esc	= Back to Main Menu

The following sections explain the parameters.

The parameters in the System Information screens show default settings. These settings are non-configurable from these screens. Select other configuration options from the BIOS Utility main menu to change the settings.

2.2.1Processor

The Processor parameter specifies the type of processor currently installed in your system. The system is designed to support the Intel Pentium II CPU.

2.2.2Processor Speed

The Processor Speed parameter specifies the speed of the CPU currently installed in your system. The system supports Intel Pentium II CPUs running at 233, 266, or 300 MHz.

2.2.3Bus Frequency

The Bus Frequency parameter specifies the system external clock. The bus frequency can be either 60 or 66 MHz.

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2.2.4Internal Cache

This parameter specifies the first-level or the internal memory size (i.e., the memory integrated into the CPU), and whether it is enabled or disabled. For information on how to configure the system memory, see section 2.7.3.

2.2.5External Cache

This parameter specifies the second-level cache memory size currently supported by the system, and whether it is enabled or disabled. For information on how to configure the system memory, see section 2.7.3.

2.2.6Floppy Drive A

This parameter specifies the type of drive designated as Floppy Drive A. For information on how to configure the floppy drives, see section 2.4.1.

2.2.7Floppy Drive B

This parameter specifies the system’s current floppy drive B settings. For information on how to configure the floppy drives, see section 2.4.1.

2.2.8IDE Primary Channel Master

This parameter specifies the current configuration of the IDE device connected to the master port of the primary IDE channel. For information on how to configure IDE devices, see section 2.4.2.

2.2.9IDE Primary Channel Slave

This parameter specifies the current configuration of the IDE device connected to the slave port of the primary IDE channel. For information on how to configure IDE devices, see section 2.4.2.

2.2.10IDE Secondary Channel Master

This parameter specifies the current configuration of the IDE device connected to the master port of the secondary IDE channel. For information on how to configure IDE devices, see section 2.4.2.

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2.2.11IDE Secondary Channel Slave

This parameter specifies the current configuration of the IDE device connected to the slave port of the secondary IDE channel. For information on how to configure IDE devices, see section 2.4.2.

2.2.12Total Memory

This parameter specifies the total system memory. The memory size is automatically detected by BIOS during the POST. If you install additional memory, the system automatically adjusts this parameter to display the new memory size.

1st Bank

This parameter indicates the type of DRAM installed in bank 1. The None setting indicates that there is no DRAM installed. For the location of bank 1, refer to Figure 1-2.

2nd Bank

This parameter indicates the type of DRAM installed in bank 2. The None setting indicates that there is no DRAM installed. For the location of bank 2, refer to Figure 1-2.

3rd Bank

This parameter indicates the type of DRAM installed in bank 3. The None setting indicates that there is no DRAM installed. For the location of bank 3, refer to Figure 1-2.

4th Bank

This parameter indicates the type of DRAM installed in bank 4. The None setting indicates that there is no DRAM installed. For the location of bank 4, refer to Figure 1-2.

2.2.13Serial Port 1

This parameter indicates the serial port 1 address and IRQ setting.

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2.2.14Serial Port 2

This parameter indicates the serial port 2 address and IRQ setting.

2.2.15Parallel Port

This parameter indicates the parallel port address and IRQ setting.

2.2.16Pointing Device

The BIOS utility automatically detects if there is a mouse connected to the system. If there is, this parameter displays the Installed setting. Otherwise, this is set to None.

2.2.17Memory Parity Mode

This parameter indicates the setting of the memory parity mode. It may be set to Enabled or Disabled .

2.2.18Onboard USB

This parameter specifies whether the onboard USB controller is enabled or not. For information on how to enable or disable USB, see section 2.7.1.

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2.3Product Information

The Product Information contains general data about the system. It includes the product name, serial number, BIOS version, etc. These information are necessary for troubleshooting and may be required when asking for technical support.

The following screen shows the Product Information items.

Product Information	Page 1/1
Product Name ..........................	xxxxxxxxx
System S/N ............................	xxxxxxxxx
Main Board ID .........................	xxxxxxxxx
Main Board S/N ........................	xxxxxxxxx
System BIOS Version ...................	vx.xx
System BIOS ID ........................	xxx.xx xxx-xx
BIOS Release Date .....................	xx/xx/xx
Esc = Back to Main Menu

2.3.1Product Name

This parameter specifies the official name of the system.

2.3.2System S/N

This parameter specifies the system’s serial number.

2.3.3Main Board ID

This parameter specifies the system board’s identification number.

2.3.4Main Board S/N

This parameter specifies the system board’s serial number.

2.3.5System BIOS Version

This parameter specifies the version of the BIOS utility.

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2.3.6System BIOS ID

This parameter specifies the identification number of the BIOS utility.

2.3.7BIOS Release Date

This parameter specifies the official date the BIOS version is released.

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2.4Disk Drives

The Disk Drives menu lets you configure the system hard disk and disk drive settings. If your hard disk supports the enhanced IDE features, you may set the functions using this menu.

The following screen shows the Disk Drives parameters and their default settings:

				Disk Drives	Page 1/1
	Floppy	Drive	A	........... [xx-MB, xx-inch]
	Floppy	Drive	B ...........	[xx-MB, xx-inch]

8IDE Primary Channel Master

8IDE Primary Channel Slave

8IDE Secondary Channel Master

8IDE Secondary Channel Slave

−↓ = Move Highlight Bar, → ← = Change Setting, F1 = Help

The triangle mark that precede an item within a menu indicates that there is a detailed menu for that particular item. Select the item to display the menu.

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From the Disk Drives screen, select the IDE Primary Channel Master, IDE Primary Channel Slave, the IDE Secondary Channel Master, or IDE Secondary Channel Slave items to display their respective menus. Selecting the IDE Primary Channel Master item displays the following menu.

IDE Primary Channel Master		Page 1/1
Type ..................................	[Auto]
Cylinder ..........................	[	]
Head ..............................	[	]
Sector ............................	[	]
Size ..............................	[	] MB
Hard Disk Block Mode .................	[Disabled]
Advanced PIO Mode ....................	[Auto]
Hard Disk Size > 504MB ...............	[Disabled]
Hard Disk 32 Bit Access ..............	[Disabled]
CD-ROM Drive DMA Mode ................	[Disabled]
−↓ = Move Highlight Bar,	→ ← = Change Setting, F1 = Help

The parameters for the IDE Primary Channel Slave, the IDE Secondary Channel Master, and IDE Secondary Channel Slave menus are the same as in the above screen.

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2.4.1Floppy Drives

To configure the first floppy drive (drive A), highlight the Floppy Drive A parameter. Press or key to view the options, then select the appropriate value.

Possible settings for the Floppy Drive parameters:

∙

∙

∙

∙

∙

∙

[	None		]
[360	KB,	5.25-inch]
[1.2	MB,	5.25-inch]
[720	KB,	3.5-inch]
[1.44 MB,		3.5-inch]
[2.88 MB,		3.5-inch]

Follow the same procedure to configure floppy drive B. Choose None if you do not have a second floppy drive.

2.4.2IDE Drives

There are four IDE drive option items under the Disk Drives menu. Select the IDE Primary Channel Master item (or the IDE Secondary Channel Master) if you want to configure an IDE device set as master. Select the IDE Primary Channel Slave item (or the IDE Secondary Channel Slave) if you want to configure an IDE device set as slave.

To configure an IDE device designated as master:

1.Select the IDE Primary Channel Master (or the IDE Secondary Channel Master) option to display its menu.

2.Highlight the parameter Type, then press or to display the IDE drive types with their respective values for cylinder, head, sector, and size.

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You may do any of the following:

∙Select the type that corresponds to your IDE hard disk drive.

∙If you do not know the exact type of your IDE device, select the Auto option to let the BIOS utility automatically detect the installed IDE drive type.

∙You may save the values under the option User. The next time you boot the system, the BIOS utility does not have to autoconfigure your IDE drive as it detects the saved disk information during POST.

We recommend that you copy the IDE disk drive values and keep them in a safe place in case you have to reconfigure the disk in the future.

∙If you have installed an IDE hard disk that was previously formatted but does not use the disk native parameters or structure, i.e., the disk may be formatted according to the user-specified number of cylinders, heads, and sectors, select the User option. Then enter the appropriate drive information.

∙If there is no device connected, choose None.

To configure an IDE device designated as slave:

1.Select the IDE Primary Channel Slave (or the IDE Secondary Channel Slave) option to display its menu.

2.Highlight the parameter Type, then press or to display the IDE drive types with their respective values for cylinder, head, sector, and size. Refer to the above procedure for configuring a master device.

Hard Disk Block Mode

This function enhances disk performance depending on the hard disk in use. If you set this parameter to Auto, the BIOS utility automatically detects if the installed hard disk drive supports the Block Mode function. If supported, it allows data transfer in block (multiple sectors) at a rate of 256 bytes per cycle. To disregard the feature, change the setting to Disabled .

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Advanced PIO Mode

When set to Auto, the BIOS utility automatically detects if the installed hard disk supports the function. If supported, it allows for faster data recovery and read/write timing that reduces hard disk activity time. This results to better hard disk performance. To disregard the feature, change the setting to Disabled .

Hard Disk Size > 504 MB

When set to Auto, the BIOS utility automatically detects if the installed hard disk supports the function. If supported, it allows you to use a hard disk with a capacity of more than 504 MB. This is made possible through the Logical Block Address (LBA) mode translation. However, enhanced IDE feature works only under DOS and Windows 3.x, Windows 95 environments. Other operating systems require this parameter to be set to

Disabled.

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