BIOS and

CMOS
 OBJECTIVES:

 In this lesson, you will learn to

 Explain the function of BIOS

 Distinguish among various CMOS setup utility

options

 Describe option ROM and device drivers

 Troubleshoot the power-on self test (POST)

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 Bridge Introduction

 Data flows through the computer

 Between CPU and RAM

 Between CPU and video

 Between CPU and other devices

 Bridges are used to connect the pieces

 Northbridge
 Bridge closest to the CPU
 Southbridge
 The farther bridge

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 Northbridge & Southbridge
• A chipset is a set of Northbridge and
Southbridge chips that work together

 Northbridge  Southbridge
 Chip or chips that connect  Handles all of the inputs and
the CPU to video and/or outputs to the many devices
memory in the PC

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 Data Flow

 Northbridge and Southbridge

have connectivity with all devices
 Not the same in all systems

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 Chipset

Northbridge

Southbridge

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 Basic Input/Output System (BIOS)

 Bridges connect the devices

 But without a program, they don’t know how to
communicate

 A special kind of program is required to enable

the CPU to talk to other devices

 A Flash ROM chip stores these programs

 These programs are collectively known as the

basic input/output service (BIOS)

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 Talking to the Keyboard
 The keyboard talks to the external data bus
 Uses the keyboard controller chip (8042)

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 BIOS
 Each program is called a service
 Programs stored on Flash ROM chips are known as
firmware
 Programs stored on erasable media are called software

Keyboard
controller
chip

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Essentials

CMOS
 CMOS
 Separate chip from ROM BIOS

 Volatile (kept alive by battery)

 Stores only changeable data

 Not programs

 Acts as clock to keep data current

 Customizable via SETUP program

 Often on Southbridge

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 BIOS vs. CMOS
 BIOS  CMOS
 Programs  Data

 Non-volatile (stays same  Volatile (kept alive with

after power off) battery)

 Can be changed by “flashing”  Changed via CMOS setup

 Typically 64 K of programs  Typically 128 K of data

(though Flash ROM is much (though chip size is typically
bigger) 64 K)

 Often a separate chip  Often on Southbridge

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 Updating CMOS

• Updated via BIOS program

• Three primary BIOS brands
– American Megatrends (AMI), Award, Phoenix
– To enter setup, press key combination
(may be Del, ESC,
F1, F2,
CTRL-ALT-ESC,
CTRL-ALT-INS,
CTRL-ALT-Enter,
or CTRL-S)
 CMOS Setup
• Main menu
– Access to all submenus

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 Standard CMOS Features
• Clock, hard drives, floppy drives

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 Soft Menu Setup

 Normally set to Default or Auto for all

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 Advanced Features

 POST, boot order

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 Power Management

 Use to enable/disable power-saving features

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 PnP/PCI
 Rarely need to manipulate on today’s PCs

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 Set Password

 Locks access to CMOS settings

 Prevents non-techs from changing key settings

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Option ROM and Device
Drivers
 BYOB

 Computer makers could not predict all the new types of

hardware
 Ways to bring your own BIOS (BYOB) were invented:

 Option ROM is a BIOS chip embedded on the adapter card

itself – (i.e., video cards)

 Most new hardware devices use device drivers to tell the BIOS
how to talk to the CPU

 Most devices with onboard BIOS use it only for internal needs
(internal function) and use a device driver to talk to the CPU

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 Device Drivers

 A device driver is a file that contains the BIOS

commands necessary to communicate with the
devices they support
 Loaded into RAM when the system boots

 All devices come with their own device drivers

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 BIOS, BIOS, Everywhere

 All hardware needs a program to allow CPU to

communicate with it

 Could be on motherboard ROM

 Could be on PC card ROM

 Could be loaded via a driver

 Could be loaded into RAM at boot

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 IT Technician

Power-On Self Test (POST)

 Power-On Self Test (POST)

 The power-on self test (POST) is a special program

stored on the ROM chip

 Initiated when the computer is turned on or is reset

 Checks out the system every time the computer boots

 Communicates errors

 Beep codes

 Text errors

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 Beep Codes
 If video is determined to be missing or faulty
 One long beep followed by three short beeps

 If everything checks out

 One or two short beeps

 If RAM is missing or faulty

 Buzzing noise that repeats until power turned off

 More complicated beep codes may be found in legacy

computers
 Check motherboard manual for meaning

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 Text-Based Error Message

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 POST Cards
 POST cards are devices that monitor POSTs and report
on the hardware that may be causing problems

 Turn the PC off, plug in the card, and

reboot

 POST error codes do not fix the computer – they

just tell you where to look

 If all else fails, replace the motherboard

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 The Boot Process

 The CPU is the first component initialized when the

computer is turned on

 It reads a special wire called power good once the

power supply provides the proper voltage to the CPU

 Every CPU has a built-in memory address with the

first line of the POST program on the system ROM

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 The Boot Process

 The last BIOS function called by POST is the

bootstrap loader

 The bootstrap loader loads the operating system

from the boot sector
 Searches the floppy, CD-ROM, or the hard drive
 Boot order set in CMOS

 The bootstrap loader generates an error if it cannot

find the boot sector on the bootable disk

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Care and Feeding of
CMOS/BIOS
 Losing CMOS Settings

 Common errors
 CMOS configuration mismatch
 CMOS date/time not set
 No boot device available
 CMOS battery state low

 Common reasons for losing CMOS data

 Jiggling the battery while doing other work
 Dirt on the motherboard
 Electrical surges
 Faulty power supplies
 Chip creep

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 Loosing CMOS Settings

 If your system keeps resetting

 Replace the battery

 Common symptoms of low battery

 Slow running clock

 Clock resetting to January 1st

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 Clearing CMOS Settings

 To clear the CMOS settings, place the shunt on the

CMOS jumper

 Resets to factory settings

 Resets password

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 Flashing ROM

 Flash ROM chips can be reprogrammed

 Download program from manufacturer

 Copy program to floppy

 Some programs will run within Windows

 Boot to floppy and run program

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 Thank You

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