■ chapter 2 bios setup and security feature
CHAPTER▼ TWO
BIOS SETUP AND SECURITY FEATURE
In this chapter, you will learn how to
enter the BIOS Setup Menu and
manipulate various hardware control
settings. You will also learn how to use
the built-in security features.
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■ chapter 2 bios setup and security feature
The Setup Utility is a hardware configuration program built into
your computer’s BIOS (Basic Input/Output System). It runs and
maintains a variety of hardware functions. It is a menu-driven
software, which allows you to easily configure and change the
settings.
The BIOS contains manufacture’s default settings for the
computer’s standard operations. However, there are occasions
when you may be required to modify the default settings in the
BIOS. For example, you may need to configure the BIOS power
management (APM) settings if you are using DOS, Windows 3.1, or
non-Windows operating system.
The BIOS allows you to set up passwords to limit access to users.
This is an important feature because a great deal of vital
information is carried within the computer nowadays. Unauthorized
access can be prevented. Later in this chapter, you will learn how to
use this security feature.
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Entering the BIOS Setup Screen
First turn on the power. When the BIOS performs the POST
(Power-On Self Test), press F2 key quickly to activate the AMI
BIOS Setup Utility.
Note:
You may need to press F2 key fairly quickly. Once the system begins to load
Windows, you may have to retry by cycle-power on again
Leaving the BIOS Setup Screen
When you have finished modifying the BIOS settings, exit the BIOS.
It takes a few seconds to record changes in the CMOS.
BIOS Action Keys
Function Key Command Description
Leaves a sub-menu to return to the
ESC Exit
previous menu OR exits the BIOS setup
while saving changes.
F1 General Help Shows the Help Screen
F10 Save and Exit
<Tab> Select a field Selects the next field.
↑ Select an item Selects the next upper item.
↓ Select an item Selects the next lower item.
- Lower value Selects the next value within a field.
+ Higher value Selects the next value within a field.
Saves changes and reboots the
computer.
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Modifying the BIOS Settings
The AMIBIOS setup main menu is subdivided into sub-menus.
Each menu item is described in this section.
Main Setup
Under this menu, you may change time/date and view basic
processor and system memory information.
Item Selections /
Sub-menu
Date N/A Type in the current date, in MM/DD/YY
Time N/A Type in the current date, in HH:MM:SS
Description
format.
format.
Advanced Setup
►IDE Configuration
Item Selections /
Sub-menu
Primary
IDE
Master
Secondary
IDE
Master
Auto
ARMD
ATAPI CDROM
Not Installed
Description
Primary Master is where BIOS tries to
boot from first. The primary master
controls the hard drive. Normally, Auto
is selected.
The secondary master controls the
ATAPI CD-ROM drive. Normally, Auto is
selected.
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■ chapter 2 bios setup and security feature
Hard Disk
Write
Protect
Disabled
Enabled
The function only applies to hard drive’s
write operation through the BIOS. When
enabled, any attempt to write to the HDD
from the BIOS is disabled.
►Parallel Port Address
Item Selections /
Description
Sub-menu
Parallel
Port
Address
Parallel
Port Mode
Disabled
378
278
3BC
Normal
Bi-Directional
EPP
[Disable]:
The port is disabled.
Or you may choose a value for the
parallel port.
You may choose any one of these
settings. ECP offers the best
performance.
ECP
Parallel
Port IRQ
IRQ7
IRQ5
Select an interrupt setting for the printer
port.
About Hard Disk Drive Setting
Select Auto to let BIOS configure the drive parameters
automatically. Only for certain old types of hard disk drive will you
need to modify the settings. After pressing Enter on [Hard Disk],
BIOS display the drive parameters. If the detected drive parameters
are not correct or if you’re trying to enable the enhanced IDE
feature, you may still change the value manually.
32 Bit Mode:
Select On to allow data transmission in 32-bit format.
PIO Mode:
Normally use Auto To let BIOS decide the PIO mode setting.
If the selected PIO mode is not supported by the IDE drive, the
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hard disk drive may not work properly.
S.M.A.R.T. Mode:
Self-diagnostic and self-monitoring features are built into newer
type hard drive. Select Auto to enable S.M.A.R.T.
DMA Mode:
The hard drive in your computer support Ultra DMA mode.
Block Multi-Sector Transfer:
The hard drive in your computer support Multi-sector data
Transfer.
Note:
AMIBIOS automatically sets IDE drive parameters. Select Auto whenever
possible. An incorrect setting make cause the computer to malfunction.
Boot Setup
►Boot Settings Configuration
Item Selections /
Sub-menu
Quick
Boot
Enabled
Disabled
Quiet Boot Enabled
Disabled
BootUp
Num-lock
Off
On
Description
Allows BIOS to skip certain tests while
booting. This will decrease the time
needed to boot the system.
[Enabled]: Displays OEM logo instead
of POST message while booting up.
[Disabled]: Displays normal POST
message.
[Off]: The numeric keypad lock is enabled
on boot.
[On]:The numeric keypad lock is disabled
on boot.
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►Boot Device Priority
Item Selections /
Description
Sub-menu
1st Boot
Device
ATAPI CDROM
Hard Drive
NSC DP83815/6
MacPhyter
Disabled
Set the type of device for the 1st drive
BIOS attempts to boot from. If NSC
MacPhyter is selected, system will
attempt to load boot sector from the
Ethernet port.
Removable Dev.
2nd Boot
Device
3rd Boot
Device
4th Boot
Device
Set the type of device for the 2nd drive
BIOS attempts to boot from.
Set the type of device for the 3rd drive
BIOS attempts to boot from.
Set the type of device for the 4th drive
BIOS attempts to boot from.
Note:
If you select NSC DP83815/83816MacPhyter, the system will attempt to
boot from the network.
Note: When the BIOS performs POST, you may also press F12 Key to enable the
Boot Device selection menu. You may choose ATAPI CDROM, Hard Drive, or NSC
MacPhyter as the first storage device to boot from. If you have already connected a
USB Floppy Disk Drive before powering up, it will appear as a Removable Device in
the Boot Device selection menu.
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Security Setup
►Boot Settings Configuration
Item Selections /
Sub-menu
Change
N/A Install or Change the Password
Supervisor
Password
Change
N/A Install or Change the Password
User
Password
Clear User
N/A Install or Change the Password
Password
Boot
Sector
Disabled
Enabled
Virus
Protection
Description
To enable or disable the boot sector
protection.
When Enabled, BIOS gives a warning
when any program attempts to rewrite
or delete the boot sector.
Note:
About Boot Sector Virus Protection:
If enabled, the following warning message appears when a program attempts to alter
the boot sector. You may have to enter “N” several times to prevent the boot sector
write.
Boot Sector Write!!!
Possible VIRUS: Continue (Y/N)? _
The following warning message appears when a program attempts to format the
hard disk drive.
Format!!!
Possible VIRUS: Continue (Y/N)? _
Using Password Protection
Two Levels of Password Protection are available. The BIOS
provides both a Supervisor and a User password. If you try to
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activate both passwords, the Supervisor password must be set first.
The passwords activate two different levels of protection:
1. System always asks for password every time it is powered on.
2. System asks for password only when you attempt to enter
BIOS utility.
The passwords are encrypted and stored in NVRAM. Make sure
you write them down or memorize them. If you lost the passwords,
the computer may need to be sent back to the factory or to an
authorized service dealer to reset the passwords.
Power Setup
Item Selections /
Sub-menu
Power
Management/
Disabled
Enabled
APM
Power Button
Mode
On/Off
Suspend
Description
To disable or enable the power
management function.
[On/Off]: When the power button is
pressed, the system is turned off.
[Suspend]: When the power button is
pressed, the system enters the suspend
mode.
Note:
The Suspend Mode selection in BIOS only applies to older Windows version
(such as Windows 3.1 or Windows 95 or NT4) or non-Windows operating system. In
Windows ME / 98SE / 2000 / XP, suspend mode and settings are determined by
settings in the Power Options Properties (Start > Control Panel > Power Options).
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Exit Setup
Item Selections /
Sub-menu
Saves
N/A After you have completed the BIOS
Changes and
Exit
Discard
N/A Select this item if you intend to exit the
Changes and
Exit
Discard
N/A Discards changes done so far to any of
Changes
Load Optimal
N/A Load Optimal Default value for all the
Defaults
Description
settings, select this item to save all
settings, exit BIOS Setup utility, and
reboot. New system settings will take
effect on next power-up.
BIOS Setup utility without making any
changes to the current settings.
the setup questions.
setup questions. F9 key can be used for
this operation.
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