Basic Input Output System

BIOS stands for Basic Input Output System  but it could also have been meaning "Basic Initial Operating System" and it would have been true because the BIOS is what is first loaded when you start your computer. As a matter of fact the BIOS is where are kept all you computer hardwares basic informations which are the first informations read and required when you first turn on your computer.

The BIOS informations are stored in a CMOS chip which is kept under constant voltage supply by the computer backup battery. This way the informations containned in the CMOS are allways alive even if the computer power is turned off.

The listing below is showing all the informations stored into the BIOS;

• Time and Date
• Number of Floppy Disk Drives
• Floppy Disk Drives informations (size, number of track, sectors, head, ect)
• Number of Hard Disk Drives
• Hard Disk Drives informations (size, number of track, sectors, head, mode, ect)
• Number of CD-ROM Drives
• CD-ROM Drives informations (operating mode, ect)
• Boot sequence ( Enable the user to decide what disk will be checked first when booting)
• Cache Memory informations (size, type, timing, ect)
• Main Memory Informations (size, type, timing, ect)
• ROM Shadowing informations (Enabling or disabling of Video and System ROM shadow)
• Basic Video mode informations (EGA, VGA, ect)
• Setting of PCI and ISA slots
• AGP Port Settings (aperture size, ect)
• Viirus Protection Warning
• Setting of COM Ports (Enabling or disabling of Com port 2 for instance)
• Password Protection (enable the user to set his password)
• Energy saving informations (snooze modes for the HDD and monitor)