A+ 1001: FIRMWARE

Question 1

BIOS

Answer 1

Basic Input/Output Services

Burned into the bios chip (non-volatile media, thus it is called firmware) on the motherboard

A chip that talks to the assumed hardware of the system

Enables interaction with mohterboard before OS Loads

Question 2

Backup Bios

Answer 2

A backup bios/firmware chip on the motherboard that is used when the primary chip is damaged

Question 3

POST

Answer 3

Power On Self Test

A diagnostic test that is Built into the bios chip

On the power button is pressed, it sends power to the POWER GOOD WIRE on the CPU, which then talks to the BIOS, which then runs the POST

The POST then broadcasts to all hardware connected to motherboard and asks for a reply

once reply is recieved the system boots up

Question 4

System Setup (CMOS)

Answer 4

Built into BIOS Chip

Question 5

POST Beep Codes

Answer 5

No video card: long short short

No Ram: Long short shorter, Long short shorter

Question 6

POST CARD

Answer 6

Display POST as the system boots up

Used to test “Dead Computers”

POST CARD error codes can be found in the motherboard manual, sometimes called q-codes

Question 7

UEFI

Answer 7

Unified Extensible Firmware Interface

Question 8

System Setup

Answer 8

Interface that allows us to interact with and make changes to BIOS

Access by holding down f2 before operating system boots

Question 9

CMOS

Answer 9

Complementary Metal-Oxide Semiconductor

Was used in BIOS setup

Replaced by Single Flash ROM Chips

Question 10

ROM

Answer 10

Read only Memory

Question 11

RTC

Answer 11

Real time clock

uses CMOS battery as a fallback to keep time without power supply

if no battery or if problem with battery:
- time slows down
- System setup information disapeard
-

Question 12

Flashing

Answer 12

Flashing the ROM updates the firmware on the flash chip

Usually done when the motherboard can support new hardware, but the firmware doesnt.

1. Make sure you have good power
2. Make sure you have a complete copy of the file update (BIOS flash image)

Question 13

BIOS programs that enable hardware to function are called what?

Answer 13

Services

Services are BIOS programs that make hardware functional.

Question 14

Which is found in BIOS?

a. ) Good power wire
b. ) CMOS battery
c. ) Service
d. ) Real-Time Clock

Answer 14

Service

The Power On Self Test (POST) program and the services are contained in the BIOS chip. The CMOS battery is not inside a chip. The RTC is in the CMOS chip, not the BIOS chip. The explanation of POST hex codes can be found in the system manual.

Question 15

What is the primary purpose of POST?

Answer 15

POST is a program in the computer’s BIOS chip that performs diagnostics prior to the computer booting an operating system. POST can send messages to a POST card but the card does not contain the POST program. A power supply provides power to the CPU. POST does not enable hardware, it tests hardware.

Question 16

For which failures would you expect POST to issue beep codes?

Answer 16

Beep codes are issued when error messages can’t be displayed on the screen. A bad video card would cause beep codes. Missing keyboard, printers, and network connection failures can be shown on a screen. The POST program will not run at all without a CPU installed (and thus would not generate a beep code).

Question 17

To prevent random people from booting the OS, a technician should do what?

Answer 17

Set a user password

A user password prevents the OS from booting until the password is entered. The administrator password prevents access to the setup program until the password is entered.

Question 18

Which is more likely to cause a computer’s reported time to fall behind?

Answer 18

A weak or failed CMOS battery will slow the system clock and may cause other problems.

Question 19

What is the standard CMOS battery

Answer 19

CR2032 is the standard CMOS battery.