1.1 Configure and apply BIOS settings:
You may find the BIOS version on a Windows computer by running msinfo32 command at the command prompt. It will bring up the following window:
BIOS info is given under System Summary
BIOS has a Setup utility stored in the BIOS flash memory. The configured data is provided with context-sensitive Help and is stored in the system's battery-backed CMOS RAM. To get into the BIOS on your Windows computer you need to press F2 just after you turn on the computer.
A typical BIOS snap shot is shown below:
The following are some of the things that you can do with BIOS settings:
Change the Boot Order – You may configure the computer to boot from CDROM, Harddisk, or USB drive.Create a BIOS Password – This feature is useful to prevent un-authorized access to BIOS configuration menu.Change the Date and Time
Change Floppy Drive, Hard Drive, or CD/DVD/BD Drive Settings.
View Amount of Memory Installed
Enable or Disable the Quick Power On Self Test (POST)
Enable or Disable the CPU Internal Cache
Enable or Disable the Caching of BIOS
Change CPU Settings
Change Memory Settings
Change System Voltages
Enable or Disable RAID
Enable or Disable Onboard USB
Enable or Disable Onboard IEEE1394
Enable or Disable Onboard Audio
Enable or Disable Onboard Floppy Controller
Enable or Disable Onboard Serial/Parallel Ports
Enable or Disable ACPI
Change the Power Button Function
Change Power-on Settings
Change Fan Speed Settings
The computer power-on self-test (POST) tests the computer to make sure it meets the necessary system requirements and that all hardware is working properly before starting the remainder of the boot process. The causes for an error message like: ‘NTLDR is Missing, Press any key to restart’, may be due to any of the following reasons:
Computer is booting from a non-bootable source.
Computer hard disk drive is not properly setup in BIOS.
Corrupt NTLDR and/or NTDETECT.COM file.
Attempting to upgrade from a Windows 95, 98, or ME computer that is using FAT32.
Corrupt boot sector / master boot record.
Loose or Faulty IDE/EIDE hard disk drive cable.
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