Sometimes, in order to optimize the computer for one purpose or another, you need to know how to enter the "BIOS" and perform any action on the menu. In this article, we will consider what this program is, why it is needed and how to use it.
What is a BIOS?
On the motherboard of any computer or laptop there is a special chip with a program recorded on it, the main function of which is to turn on the device. This is the "BIOS". That is, they call both the chip itself and the program built into it. Using the latter, you can perform all the necessary system settings before starting Windows or another OS.
Both the program itself and its menu are quite simple. However, in our time, some difficulties (quite solvable) can arise both with how to enter the BIOS, and with what actions to carry out next, even for quite sophisticated users of laptops and PCs. The fact is that the settings can vary significantly from different manufacturers.
What are the functions of "BIOS"
In a laptop or computer, this program is not only responsible for turning on, but also performs a number of important actions, such as:
- Initial device testing after power up.
- Transfer of control to the program located on the boot disk in case of correct operation of the hardware.
- Storage of PC hardware configuration.
- Providing the user with the ability to manually specify the computer's operating modes.
- Handling I / O actions.
Modern OS in some circumstances can turn to hardware, bypassing BIOS. This happens, for example, when you turn on / off sleep or standby modes. However, if any of the settings is disabled in the BIOS, it will remain unavailable for the OS. In this case, the user himself will have to perform the necessary actions. Therefore, we will further consider how to enter the BIOS in a particular case. It can actually come in handy at any time.
How to get to the menu on a desktop computer
Logging into the BIOS on a PC is somewhat easier than on a laptop. In order for the menu of this program to be displayed on the monitor, immediately after switching on, press a certain key (usually Del). The difficulty is that you need to do this very quickly. In the event that the user misses the right moment, the computer will need to restart again. In order to find out which key to press, you need to look at the lower left corner of the screen (most often). There usually for several seconds the inscription is displayed: Press DEL to enter Setup, or similar. In this case, the system prompts the user to click on Del.
How to make settings?
Very often, the question of how to enter the BIOS is related to the need to select a boot device. This is necessary, for example, when reinstalling the OS. The new Windows boots from the disk in the drive. After a successful installation, the system will need to access the HDD to start the OS. The settings in the BIOS have to be changed manually. You can do this by going to the menu item, which is called differently by different versions of the program, but usually begins with the word Boot. Of course, you will not succeed in performing any actions by moving the mouse. To navigate through the menu items you will have to use the arrows on the keyboard, and to enter them, use the Enter key.
After completing the action described above, you will see a submenu in which you will need to click on the First Boot Device item. Next, the program will prompt you to make a choice of the device from which the OS will be loaded. For example, for flash drives and a hard drive, the Hard Disk item is provided. By clicking on this inscription, you will be taken to another submenu. In Hard Disk ... and you will need to choose between a USB flash drive and HDD. The priority device is moved to the top line (using the "+" or "-" keys).
How to configure BIOS on a laptop correctly?
On laptops, the standard Del key is rarely used to enter the menu. Usually this is one of the options for functional F or some combination. As for the settings themselves, they are made in approximately the same way as on stationary PCs. In the case of a laptop, the most difficult thing for an inexperienced user is to get into the BIOS itself.
Varieties of the BIOS program
On modern devices, mainly two varieties of this program are used. The first - Phoenix Award BIOS CMOS - at the entrance provides the user with a screen with two columns and brief tips at the bottom. The second - AMI BIOS - is most often found in laptops. Working with it does not present any particular difficulties. There are other varieties used only on portable devices.
So, the matter is not as complicated as it might seem at first glance - BIOS setup. The guidance given above is, of course, far from complete. However, in this program, with an initial knowledge of the English language, it is quite possible to understand yourself. Moreover, the menu, submenu and items in it are not so many. You can understand the BIOS without even being familiar with English. Understanding which keys you need to press to navigate is not difficult experimentally either.