Hardware (A+) BIOS The BIOS performs three primary functions, all of them vital to the usefulness and

function of the computer: Boots the computer. Verifies the information provided to it about which internal and peripheral devices are supposed to be connected to the computer. Serves as the interface between the hardware and the software Part of the BIOS is the set of instructions that are used to start the computer and get its operating system loaded into memory and running. The process of starting the computer is called booting, or the boot sequence. Boot refers to the phrase pulling yourself up by your own bootstraps, or being able to start by itself. When the computer boots up, the BIOS is behind the scenes taking care of all the details of the boot sequences. The BIOS relieves the computers operating systems and applications from the need to know the exact details about any attached hardware devices. Without the BIOS, each piece of software is running on the computer would need to be updated concerning the location of the hardware and drivers on each computer. This information also would need to be updated each time it changed. Because the BIOS manage this information for the computer, only the BIOS data must be updated when new devices are attached. The BIOS serves the needs of the processor and the hardware devices as well as those of the software on the computer. BIOS SETUP Virtually all PCs are shipped from the factory with all their peripherals devices already installed and the system configuration and the setup information already completed, but it is possible to view and alter this information should it be necessary. BIOS setup and configuration data is assessed through a startup program that is available only for a very short time each time the computer is booted. Typically, you access the system setup program by pressing the Del or the F1key immediately after the BIOS program begins its processes. BIOS PROGRAMS The BIOS is the collection of software utilities and programs that can be invoked by the operating system or application software to perform a verity of hardware related tasks. For the sake of improve performance, many operating systems now contain their own device oriented- programs. But the BIOS contains a program for almost every activities associated with accessing hardware, including the basics such as reading and writing to the hard disk and moving data between devices.

By: ASHOKSHAH