Module 2 - BIOS & Boostrap Process Flashcards
BIOS stands for:
Basic Input Output System
T/F - Updating the BIOS with a version that is incompatible with the motherboard could render the computer unbootable.
True
Place the following in correct order as they pertain to the boot-up process:
- BIOS Loads
- Master Boot Record is loaded
- POST Runs
- System is powered up
- System is Powered Up
- BIOS loads
- POST runs
- Master Boot Record is loaded
Software stored in a chip is generically known as:
Firmware
CMOS is a special type of:
RAM
CMOS Setup is a program that is one of the programs in the
BIOS
Name reasons that the system BIOS should be updated:
Fix Problems/Bugs Add new features (such as faster processors or newer memory)
A manufacturer has instructed a technician to update the software that resides on the flash ROM chip of an integral system add-in component. Which type of software needs to be updated? A. System BIOS B. Firmware C. OS Patch D. Driver
B. Firmware
The system date and time on your computer is slowly losing time. What is the most LIKELY cause of this problem?
CMOS battery is weakening.
A user level CMOS password has been set. What does the user need to do when the system starts up in order to load the OS?
Enter the password
What type of BIOS password protects CMOS from being updated by anyone with access to the computer?
- Supervisor
- Ultimate
- Regular
- User
A. Supervisor
A technician would like to load an operating system CD on startup. Which of the following settings would a technician change in the BIOS?
- Enable TPM
- Enable BIOS password
- Disable TPM
- Boot Sequence
D. Boot sequence
What are common methods for clearing CMOS passwords:
- Remove the CMOS chip
- Remove the CMOS battery
- Change a Motherboard jumper
- Remove the CPU
- Remove the CMOS battery
- Change a motherboard jumper
What is POST?
Power-On Self-Test that checks RAM, CPU, and video functionality at system startup. If any of those components fail the test, a beep code will be heard or a diagnostic code will be displayed.
CMOS stands for:
Complementary Metal-Oxide Semiconductor
What is BIOS?
A set of 16-bit programs stored on a ROM/Flash memory chip on the motherboard.
Programs of the BIOS include:
- Post - Setup Program (called CMOS setup, BIOS setup, or system setup)
- Plug-n-Play support (for devices that are detected at boot time)
- Bootstrap program that kicks off the loading of the operating system.
- Programs to check CPU temperature and fan speeds, chassis intusion detection, and more
- Utilities to configure various devices, including voltages supplied to motherboard components, settings to modify CPU and bus clocks, enabling/disabling/configuring devices, such as hard drives, optical drives, network interface card(s), numlock key, and more.
Identify the following:
BIOS Chip - Dual Inline POle Legacy BIOS chip
Identify the following:
Surface Mount BIOS Chip
T/F - The BIOS is specific to the motherboard that contains it.
True
When is the BIOS loaded?
At boot time and typically stays in the background for as long as your computer is running.
What is ROM shadowing?
When BIOS is copied to system RAM to run faster.
When is BIOS used on newer systems?
Only at startup.
MS-DOS uses the BIOS to access hardware, but post-DOS systems use software known as device drivers to acess the hardware.
When does BIOS need to be upgraded (flashed)?
To provide support for new features such as faster processors, newer memory, and box fixes.