BIOS is a program that acts as an interface between hardware and software. Users should avoid entering the BIOS unless necessary. Common reasons to enter the BIOS include checking system status, changing the boot sequence, and altering hardware configurations. Entering the BIOS can render a computer non-functional, so changes should only be made if the user knows the result. BIOS is built into the computer and is the first program that most computer systems run. The prompt to enter the BIOS varies by manufacturer and age. Changing the boot sequence prevents boot disks from stopping booting. BIOS maintains internal catalogs of hardware, system time, and temperature. Overclocking allows users to alter how the computer powers and uses various hardware components, but misconfiguration could permanently damage a computer.
A computer’s Basic Input/Output System (BIOS) is the program that acts as an interface between hardware systems and software systems. There are a handful of occasions where a user would want to boot into the BIOS, although they should generally avoid it unless specifically instructed to do so. The three most common reasons are checking system status, changing the boot sequence, and altering hardware configurations. With this in mind, it is possible to render a computer completely non-functional by changing settings in the BIOS. Changes should only be made if the user knows exactly what the result will be.
The BIOS program is built into the computer itself and is not part of any installed program. It is the first program that most computer systems run and provides the base language spoken by the computer hardware and software. Most BIOS systems display the startup key when the computer loads for the first time. This key usually appears at the bottom of the screen with a message like “Press the X key to enter setup.” The key to boot into the BIOS varies by manufacturer and age, but “F2” and “Del” are both very common.
For the computer to recognize the key press, you must enter the key before the computer completes the power-on self-test. This process, commonly referred to as “publishing,” is usually accompanied by a single beep and a display of system status. If the user misses the BIOS boot window, the computer will need to be restarted for another attempt.
Altering the boot sequence is one of the most common reasons new users enter the BIOS. The BIOS tells the computer the order it should use to find an operating system. If a user installs an operating system onto a new drive and wants the computer to boot directly from it rather than from a previous installation, the order in which the computer looks for programming can be changed. Changing this order will also prevent boot disks from stopping booting if they are left in the drive.
The prompt to boot into the BIOS to check system status is usually straightforward. Many BIOS systems maintain internal catalogs of hardware, system time, and temperature. If a computer is acting strange or a piece of hardware isn’t being recognized, these lists may contain answers as to why.
The last and most dangerous reason to enter BIOS is to change hardware configurations. This process, commonly called overclocking, allows users to alter how the computer powers and uses various hardware components. The most common BIOS overclocking is performed on the computer’s memory, chipset and processor. Misconfiguration of any of these components could permanently damage a computer.
Protect your devices with Threat Protection by NordVPN
