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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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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
previous menu OR exits the BIOS setup
First turn on the power. When the BIOS performs the POST
(Power-On Self Test), press DEL key to activate the AMI BIOS Setup
Utility.
Note: You may need to press DEL 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
while saving changes.
F2/F3 Change Color
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.
PgUp Lower value Selects the next value within a field.
Changes the background color of the
BIOS Setting Utility.
Saves changes and reboots the
computer.
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PgDn Higher value Selects the next value within a field.
Modifying the BIOS Settings
The AMIBIOS setup main menu is subdivided into sub-menus. Each
menu item is described in this chapter.
The Main Menu
AMIBIOS HIFLEX SETUP UTILITY VERSION 1.30
(c) 2000 AMERICAN MEGATRENDS, INC. ALL RIGHTS RESERVED
STANDARD CMOS SETUP
ADVANCED CMOS SETUP
POWER MANAGEMENT SETUP
PERIPHERAL SETUP
AUTO-DETECT HARD DISKS
CHANGE USER PASSWORD
CHANGE SUPERVISOR PASSWORD
DEFAULT SETTINGS
SAVE SETTINGS AND EXIT
EXIT WITHOUT SAVING
ESC: Exit ??: Sel F2/F3: Color F10: Save & Exit
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Standard CMOS Setup
Drive A:
Under this menu, you may change time, date, hard disk drive type,
etc.
Item Selections /
Description
Sub-menu
Date N/A Type in the current date, in MM/DD/YY
format.
Time N/A Type in the current date, in HH:MM:SS
format.
Floppy
Pri
Master
Pri Slave
Sec
Master
Sec
Not installed
1.44 MB 31/2 inch
Auto
CD/DVD-ROM
Not Installed
User
Select Not Installed, if there is no FDD
present.
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
CD/DVD-ROM drive. Normally, Auto is
selected.
Slave
Boot
Sector
Virus
Protecti
on
Disabled
Enabled
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
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the boot sector. You may have to enter “N” several times to prevent the boot sector
The actual physical size of a sector gets progressively
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)? _
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 press ‘Enter’, 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 hard
disk drive may not work properly.
About Hard Drive Parameters
Parameter Description
Type The number for a drive with certain identification
parameters.
Cyln The number of cylinders in the disk drive.
Heads The number of heads.
WPcom
smaller as the track diameter diminishes. This
parameter is the number of cylinders on the disk
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surface where write pre-compensation begins.
0
Sec The number of sectors per cylinder.
MFM drives have 17 sectors per cylinder. RLL drives
have 26 sectors per cylinder. ESDI drives have 34
sectors per cylinder. SCSI and IDE drives have even
more sectors per cylinder.
Note: AMIBIOS automatically sets IDE drive parameters. If you set it to “USER” you
will need to manually enter the MFM, ESDI, or DLL drive parameters. Select “Not
Installed” for SCSI Drive. Choose “DROM” option for ATAPI CD-ROM drive.
Advanced CMOS Setup
Item
1st Boot
Device
2nd Boot
Device
3rd Boot
Device
Selections /
Sub-menu
Disabled
IDE-0
Floppy
CD/DVD
Intel UNDI
Description
Set the type of device for the 1st drive
BIOS attempts to boot from. (Note: IDEis the hard disk drive.) If Intel UNDI
(Ethernet) is selected, system will
attempt to load boot sector from the
Ethernet port.
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.
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Silent Boot
Screen
mode when the power button is pressed.
Disabled
Enabled
Choose Enabled to not show the
hardware configuration table during
boot-up.
Password
Check
Setup
Always
[Setup]:
To enable the password check function
every time when BIOS Setup is
executed.
[Always]:
To enable the password check function
every time the system boots.
Note: If you select Intel UNDI (Ethernet), the system will attempt to boot from the
network.
Power Management Setup
Item
Power Button
Function
Selections /
Sub-menu
On/Off
Suspend
Description
[On/Off]: Turn off the system when the
power button is pressed.
[Suspend]: Put the system in suspend
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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Selections /
Peripheral Setup
Item
OnBoard
Parallel
Port
Parallel
Mode
Sub-menu
Auto
Disabled
Normal
Bi-Dir
EPP 1.9
EPP 1.7
ECP
Description
[Auto]:
BIOS will set the Parallel Port automatically.
[Disable]:
The port is disabled.
You may choose any one of these settings.
ECP offers the best performance.
Using Password Protection
Two Levels of Password Protection are available. The BIOS
provides both a Supervisor and a User password. If you try to
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.
Have the Password Check item set in Advanced CMOS Setup
Menu (See previous section Advanced CMOS Setup). 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
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authorized service dealer to reset the passwords.
Auto-Detect Hard Disk
When selecting this option, AMIBIOS will automatically detect the
hard disk drive parameters. The Standard CMOS Setup menu
shows the drive parameters.
Default Settings
When selecting this option, all values in the BIOS will be reverted
back to the factory’s original (default) settings.
Save Settings And Exit
After you have completed the BIOS settings, select this item to
save all settings, exit BIOS Setup utility, and reboot. New system
settings will take effect on next power-up.
Exit Without Saving
Select this item if you intend to exit the BIOS Setup utility without
making any changes to the current settings.
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