Acer ALTOS 930 User Manual
ChapterChapter
22
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.
BIOS Utility 2-1
2.1 Entering Setup
To enter Setup, press the key combination + + .
You must press + +
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
while the
The parameters on the screens show default
values. These values may not be the same as
those in your system.
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2.2 System 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.
BIOS Utility 2-3
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.
2.2.1 Processor
The Processor parameter specifies the type of processor currently installed in
your system. The system is designed to support the Intel Pentium II CPU.
2.2.2 Processor 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.
2.2.3 Bus Frequency
The Bus Frequency parameter specifies the system external clock. The bus
frequency can be either 60 or 66 MHz.
2-4 User’s Guide
2.2.4 Internal 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.
2.2.5 External 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.
2.2.6 Floppy 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.
2.2.7 Floppy 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.
2.2.8 IDE 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.
2.2.9 IDE 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.
2.2.10 IDE 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.
BIOS Utility 2-5
2.2.11 IDE 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.
2.2.12 Total 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.
2.2.13 Serial Port 1
This parameter indicates the serial port 1 address and IRQ setting.
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2.2.14 Serial Port 2
This parameter indicates the serial port 2 address and IRQ setting.
2.2.15 Parallel Port
This parameter indicates the parallel port address and IRQ setting.
2.2.16 Pointing 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.
2.2.17 Memory Parity Mode
This parameter indicates the setting of the memory parity mode. It may be
set to Enabled or Disabled .
2.2.18 Onboard 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.
BIOS Utility 2-7
2.3 Product 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
2.3.1 Product Name
This parameter specifies the official name of the system.
2.3.2 System S/N
This parameter specifies the system’s serial number.
2.3.3 Main Board ID
This parameter specifies the system board’s identification number.
2.3.4 Main Board S/N
This parameter specifies the system board’s serial number.
2.3.5 System BIOS Version
This parameter specifies the version of the BIOS utility.
2-8 User’s Guide
2.3.6 System BIOS ID
This parameter specifies the identification number of the BIOS utility.
2.3.7 BIOS Release Date
This parameter specifies the official date the BIOS version is released.
BIOS Utility 2-9
2.4 Disk 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]
IDE Primary Channel Master
8
IDE Primary Channel Slave
8
IDE Secondary Channel Master
8
IDE Secondary Channel Slave
8
↑↓ = 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.
BIOS Utility 2-11
2.4.1 Floppy 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.
2.4.2 IDE 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 .
BIOS Utility 2-13
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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