A BIOS (Basic Input/Output System) is an electronic set of instructions that tells a computer conduct the power-on self test (POST). The BIOS is located on a small chip inside the computer. This test makes sure all the vital computer parts are functioning properly. If a problem is detected, the BIOS will tell the computer to generate a code that details the problem. Once the computer passes the self test, boot up will proceed. Depending on the computer, the method to access the BIOS may vary. Only experienced PC users should attempt to change BIOS settings.
Instructions
1. To access the BIOS, properly shut down the computer and restart it while pushing the BIOS key. This key may may vary depending on your computer's operating system. For example, this key is marked by the Windows symbol for Windows operating systems.
2. Push the arrow keys on the keyboard to navigate the BIOS menus and to highlight the hard disk settings. Open the settings by pushing "Enter" and using the arrow keys to set the option for the main hard disk to "autodetect." This will enable BIOS to automatically set up the hard drive.
3. Press the "ESC" button to go back to the BIOS menu and the "Standard Settings." Change the date and time if necessary so it is updated. Modify the "Halt On" setting to "All Errors" so any BIOS problems will not affect the other computer drives.
4. Hit the "ESC" button again to return to the BIOS menu and press enter on the "Advanced Settings." Turn off all the shadowing options such as the "Video BIOS Shadow."
5. Go to the "Integrated Peripherals" menu in the main menu and press "Enter." Enable any ports that the computer hardware uses, such as USB ports. Change the PS/2 to "Auto" if the mouse has PS/2 connectivity. Modify the "Integrated Parallel Port Mode" to "SPP" if necessary. This will increase the hardware's compatibility.
6. Open the CPU sub-menu in the main BIOS menu. Enter in the speed of the CPU, so the BIOS is aware of the maximum speed. Set the "External Clock" to the PC's bus speed, which is how much data can move across it at once. Set the core voltage, multiplier factor, and CPU power plane according to your CPU's specifications. The CPU specs should be listed in your computer's user manual.
7. Save the settings in the BIOS main menu, which will automatically restart your computer.
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