BIOS (Basic Input/Output System) helps us whenever we have a hardware problem, so through this article we want to identify quickly the unwanted situations you may encounter so we can deal with them accordingly.
First, you need to know that we have several types of BIOS:
1. Award BIOS
2. AMI BIOS
3. IBM Thinkpad
4. IBM Desktop
5. Phoenix Bios
BIOS is the first software that a computer (desktop, laptop or server) runs when it is turned on for both Windows and Linux systems or Apple computers. BIOS connects the physical components (hardware) and the operating system.
The BIOS Input/Output Base System is an interface between operating systems and the physical part of your computer.
It provides a range of system services; for example, it can show you the size of your computer memory or the current date and time of the day, or how to configure the physical devices when the computer is started. It is recommended to access the BIOS not by direct manipulation but through the Input/Output ports when writing both system programs and application programs.
BIOS performs three fundamental functions:
1. Checking your computer’s components when it is powered on (Power On Self-Test or POST);
2. Load the operating system from the hard drive (HDD) into the working memory;
3. It connects the operating system and some physical devices, but this function is being rarely performed, as with modern operating systems, they take over this function after they load it into the working memory.
BIOS is structured in the following major sections:
1. CMOS Setup Standard
2. BIOS Features Setup (Advanced BIOS Features)
3. Advanced Chipset Features
4. Power Management Setup
5. PNP / PCI Configuration
6. Integrated Peripherals
7. Hardware Monitor Setup
BIOS errors and messages
BIOS errors for AWARD:
1. 1 long and 2 short beeps indicate a video card error. BIOS cannot display details on the screen
2. 1 long and 3 short beeps mean that the video card is not compatible or not detected
3. beeps which are continually repeated mean that there are problems with RAM
4. repeated beeps while the computer is on indicating that the CPU is overheated (check temperature)
BIOS errors for AMI
1. 1 short beep indicates DRAM error
2. 2 short beeps indicate the circuit failure
3. 3 short beeps indicate RAM problems
4. 4 short beeps indicate the processor is overheated
5. 6 short beeps indicate keyboard error
Errors for IBM BIOS
1. 1 short beep indicates that the computer is OK
2. 2 short beeps draw your attention to on-screen messages
3. continuously beeps indicate that it is not properly fed
UEFI is a software tool that can be seen as a more powerful and modern BIOS. It has the same role as BIOS has, but it also has some advantages over it, such as encryption, remote diagnosis, and computer repair, even if the system does not have an installed operating system. This type of BIOS was invented by Intel and was released in 2005.
UEFI has become popular since the launch of the Windows 8 operating system, as it was the first operating system with a large number of users to provide native support to UEFI.
Like any traditional BIOS, UEFI is customized by the motherboard manufacturer you use. For tablets and laptops, UEFI displays a small number of settings.
As you might have noticed throughout this article, BIOS is a primary component of each computer, and knowing how it can be used can provide you with extra flexibility and performance.
Advanced users and IT professionals can use BIOS to get the maximum performance that a particular computer or device can achieve.
The default BIOS settings meets the needs of the average user, and your system will work correctly even if you have not changed any settings.