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BIOS Setup Utility Information and Menu Options

Support details

This information applies to HP and Compaq desktop computers.

This document contains information on what the BIOS program is and how to use the BIOS Setup utility.

Your computer includes a BIOS Setup utility for changing important computer settings. This document
does not define specific default BIOS settings because too many differences exist between computer
models. This document includes typical examples. Your system might be different.

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Updating the BIOS

If you are looking for information on updating the BIOS, see Updating the BIOS .

What is the BIOS Setup utility?

Use the BIOS Setup utility to change important BIOS settings for the computer. Basic Input/Output
System (BIOS) is a program that controls communication between all input and output devices on the
computer (such as disk drives, display, keyboard, mouse, and printer). The BIOS settings are stored
in a chip on the motherboard CMOS (Complementary Metal Oxide Semiconductor) memory. A battery
on the motherboard keeps the settings from being lost when the system is turned off.

The BIOS stores configuration information such as:

The addresses of devices (hard disk drives, for example), that are attached to the
computer.

The startup sequence of the computer.

The amount of system and extended memory.

CAUTION: The information stored by the BIOS Setup utility is essential for correct
computer operation. Do not change settings without understanding what will
happen. Use caution when making changes in the BIOS Setup utility. A mistake
could prevent the computer from operating correctly or Windows from opening.

Entering the BIOS Setup utility

To open the BIOS Setup screen:

1. Turn off the computer and wait five seconds.

2. Turn on the computer.

3. When the first screen displays, immediately press the key if your computer was
built in 2006 or later (came with Vista or Windows 7). Press the key if your computer
was built before 2006 (XP or earlier). Press the key once every second until a BIOS
Setup utility screen opens.
NOTE: On some Compaq Presario computers (before 2002), press the key at
the logo screen.

4. Use the keyboard to move through the menus.

Navigating through the BIOS Setup utility

Help is displayed on the right side or bottom of the screen.

To move through the BIOS, use the keyboard keys as listed in the following table:

Key on
Description of function
keyboard
Left or right Selects a different menu screen (moves the cursor left or right).
arrow key
Up or down Selects an item (moves the cursor up or down).
arrow key
Executes a command or selects a submenu.

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Loads the default configuration values for the current menu.

If you think a BIOS setting might be wrong, you can reload the defaults. For more
information, see Reloading the default settings .
Saves the current values and exits the BIOS Setup program.
(Escape) Exits the menu or exits the BIOS Setup program without saving.

NOTE: Your mouse will not function in the BIOS setup screens.

Reloading the BIOS default settings

To reload the factory BIOS settings to the setup default:

1. Press the function key.

2. Select Yes or OK .

3. Press the key.

4. Press the function key.

5. Select Yes or OK to save the defaults.

You can also complete the following steps to reload the factory BIOS settings using the menu:

1. In the BIOS Setup utility, select the Exit tab.

2. Select Load Setup Defaults .

3. The system prompts you to load the optimized setup defaults. Select Yes or OK and
press the key.

4. Select Exit Saving Changes .

5. Press and then press to exit Setup.

BIOS Setup menu tabs

The BIOS Setup utility screen has five different tabs along the top. The tab headings are listed as
follows:

Main Advanced Power Boot Exit

Allocates resources Configures advanced Configures power Selects boot Saves or discards
for hardware features available management options and changes to Setup
components through the chipset features power supply program options
controls
BIOS Setup initially
displays the Main
menu screen.
See the Main menu See the Advanced See the Power See the Boot See the Exit menu
screen. menu screen. menu screen. menu screen. screen.

BIOS Setup menu screens

Each screen shows different options for modifying the system configuration.

Main menu

The Main tab of the BIOS Setup shows the following typical items on the screen. (Your system
might be different):

Figure 1: Example of Phoenix - Award main screen

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Figure 2: Example of American Megatrends main screen

System Time

System Date

Language

Floppy Diskette (optional)

Channel Devices (types of hard disk drives and CD or DVD optical disc drives). Select
the Channel Device to view the Channel Device submenu and the hard disk drive
settings, such as cylinders, sectors, and capacity, and CD or DVD optical disc drive
settings.

Installed Memory (RAM). Includes Memory Banks.

BIOS Revision

Core Version

Channel Device submenu

Two common Channel Device submenu screens and their options are listed below.

Example 1:

Device: (Hard disk drive or optical disc drive)

Vendor

Size

LBA Mode

Block Mode

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PIO Mode

Heads

Async DMA

Ultra DMA

SMART Support (Available on many computers released after May 2005. See
Testing the Hard Drive Using SMART for more information).

Type

Block (Multi-Sector Transfer) Mode

PIO Mode

DMA Mode

32Bit Data Transfer Mode

Example 2:

IDE HDD Auto-Detection

IDE Channel 0 Master [Auto]

Access Mode [Auto]

Capacity

Cylinder

Head

Precomp

Landing Zone

Sector

SMART Support (Available on many computers that were released after May
2005. See Testing the Hard Drive Using SMART for more information).

Transfer Mode

Advanced menu

The Advanced tab of the BIOS Setup shows the following typical items on the screen. (Your
system might be different and not include all items):

CAUTION: Setting items on this menu to incorrect values might cause your system to
malfunction.

Figure 3: Example of an Advanced screen

CPU type

CPU speed

Cache RAM (Memory used by the processor)

Plug and Play O/S

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Reset Configuration Data (Initialize the NVRAM)

Primary Video Adapter (The graphics adapter type used at startup - set to the slot-type
if installing a video card).

Onboard Video Memory Size (The amount of memory taken from system memory to
be used by the onboard video hardware)

PS/2 Mouse

Large Disk Access Mode

Local Bus IDE Adapter

Onboard SATA Adapter

Onboard PATA/SATA Adapters

Onboard PATA/SATA Configuration

USB Legacy Mode Support

Onboard TV-out Format

Onboard LAN
NOTE: Onboard devices such as LAN, audio, or video might also appear under
PCI or I/O Device configuration.

Onboard LAN Boot ROM

Onboard 1394

Onboard Audio (Disable when installing an Audio card)

Supervisor Password

Power menu

The Power tab of the BIOS Setup shows the following typical items on the screen. (Your system
might be different and not include all items):

Figure 4: Example of a Power screen

Two common Power menu screens and options are listed below.

Example 1:

After AC Power Failure

WOL (Wake-On-Lan) in S4 power state

Hyper-Threading (Advanced or Hidden)

No Execution (NX/XD)

Example 2:

Power Savings

Auto Suspend Timeout

Hard Disk Timeout

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IDE Primary Master (power saving setting)

IDE Primary Slave (power saving setting)

IDE Secondary Master (power saving setting)

IDE Secondary Slave (power saving setting)

IRQ assigned to modem

Power button behavior

Restore on AC/Power Loss

Boot menu

The Boot tab of the BIOS Setup shows the following typical items on the screen. (Your system
might be different and not include all items):

Figure 5: Example of a Boot screen

Boot-time Diagnostic screen

Boot Device Priority (The order for the boot process. For example, removable
devices, DVD optical drive, and hard disk drive).

Exit menu

The Exit tab of the BIOS Setup shows the following typical items on the screen. (Your system
might be different and not include all items):

Figure 6: Example of an Exit screen

Exit Saving Changes

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Exit Discarding Changes

Load Setup Defaults

Discard Changes

Save Changes

Other solutions customers found helpful

» -- Updating the BIOS (HP and Compaq Desktop PCs & Workstations)
» HP and Compaq Desktop PCs -- Obtaining Software and Drivers
» HP and Compaq Desktop PCs -- Upgrading Memory (RAM)
» HP and Compaq Desktop PCs -- Testing the Hard Drive Using SMART

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