BIOS setup

A program used to display and edit user configurable settings in the BIOS of a PC. On earlier PCs, users had to change a setting when a new drive was added, but auto-detect features were later added. Although many settings are quite arcane and only changed by experienced technicians, users might want to change the boot order of their PCs (see first boot sequence).

The BIOS setup has also been called the "CMOS setup" or the "CMOS RAM," because user settings were initially held in a tiny, battery-backed CMOS memory bank that is part of the PC's real time clock circuit. Subsequently, more user configuration settings were stored in the BIOS flash memory.

Accessed at Startup
The BIOS setup is accessed at startup. Soon after a PC is turned on, a short text message typically passes by very quickly on screen indicating which key to press (usually the DEL or F1 key). If no message appears, refer to the system manual. See BIOS, hard disk configuration and BIOS Upgrades.