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About all bios setup settings. Setting up the BIOS on your computer

Hello to all site readers! Friends, I have long wanted to talk to you about how to create a RAID array (redundant array of independent disks) on a computer. Despite the apparent complexity of the issue, in fact everything is very simple and I am sure that many readers will immediately adopt and enjoy using this very useful technology related to the security of your data.

How to create RAID array and why it is needed

It's no secret that our information on a computer is practically uninsured and is located on a simple hard drive, which tends to break down at the most inopportune moment. It has long been recognized that the hard drive is the weakest and most unreliable place in our system unit, since it has mechanical parts. Those users who have ever lost important data (myself included) due to the failure of the “screw”, after grieving for some time, are wondering how to avoid such trouble in the future and the first thing that comes to mind is this creating a RAID array.

The whole point of having a redundant array of independent disks is to save your files on your hard drive in the event of a complete failure of that drive! How to do this, you ask, it’s very simple, you only need two (maybe even different in volume) hard drives.

In today's article, using the Windows 8.1 operating system, we will create the simplest and most popular hard drive from two blank hard drives. RAID 1 array, it is also called “Mirroring”. The meaning of a “mirror” is that the information on both disks is duplicated (written in parallel) and the two hard drives are exact copies of each other.

If you copied a file to the first hard drive, then exactly the same file appears on the second and, as you already understood, if one hard drive fails, then all your data will remain intact on second hard drive ( mirror). The probability of failure of two hard drives at once is negligible.

The only disadvantage of a RAID 1 array is that you need to buy two hard drives, but they will work as one single one, that is, if you install two 500 GB hard drives in the system unit, then the same 500 will be available for storing files GB, not 1TB.

If one of the two hard drives fails, you simply take it and replace it, adding it as a mirror to an already installed hard drive with data and that’s it.

Personally, for many years, I use it at work RAID 1 array of two 1 TB hard drives and a year ago something bad happened, one hard drive gave up life, I had to replace it immediately, then I thought with horror what would happen if I didn’t have a RAID array, a slight chill ran through me on the back, because the data accumulated over several years of work would have disappeared, and so, I simply replaced the faulty “terabyte” and continued working. By the way, at home I also have a small RAID array of two 500 GB hard drives.

Software creation RAID 1 an array of two empty hard drives using Windows 8.1

First of all, we install two clean hard drives in our system unit. For example, I will take two 250 GB hard drives.

What to do if the size of the hard drives is different or you already have information on one hard drive, read our next article.

Open Disk Management

Disk 0- SSD solid state drive with Windows 8.1 operating system installed on partition (C:).

Disc 1 And Disc 2- hard drives with a capacity of 250 GB from which we will assemble a RAID 1 array.

Right-click on any hard drive and select “Create mirror volume”

Add a disk that will be a mirror for the previously selected disk. We selected Disk 1 as the first mirrored volume, which means we select Disk 2 on the left side and click on the “Add” button.

Select the letter of the software RAID 1 array, I leave the letter (D:). Further

Check the Quick Format box and click Next.

In Disk Management, mirrored volumes are indicated by blood red and have a single drive letter, in our case (D:). Copy any files to any disk and they will immediately appear on another disk.

In the This PC window, software RAID 1 array appears as one disk.

If one of the two hard drives fails, then in disk management the RAID array will be marked with the error “Failed Redundancy”, but all data on the second hard drive will be safe.

A person who, at least at an initial level, used or simply encountered a computer, came across such a word as “BIOS”; for those who hear it for the first time, let us explain. We’ll also look at what types of BIOS exist and how users and computer builders use it.

What is Bios in a Computer

So, the abbreviation itself comes from English B asic I nput- O utput S ystem, which literally translates as basic input-output system. It is called basic because it is a system for interacting with computer hardware or, in other words, hardware software. For example, primary interaction with the screen, interaction with RAM, interaction with the processor, interaction with controllers on the motherboard, control of the cooling system, power and power control.

Most often, BIOS is used to set boot priority, especially when you need to reinstall Windows and you need to boot from another device, such as a Flash drive or floppy drive, rather than from a hard drive, due to the fact that in most cases it defaults to priority first. boot from hard drive.

Other little-known and rarely used, especially by beginners, functions are setting up computer components (bus frequency, processor frequency, cooling fan speed, etc.). Also, the BIOS checks the equipment for operability before starting the boot and, in case of problems, reports this on the screen, as well as in the form of a sequence of signals. Using these signals, the cause of the malfunction and the component of the malfunction can be identified.

Where is the BIOS located on a computer and laptop?

As for where the BIOS is located on the computer, you should look for a similar chip (picture below) on the computer’s motherboard. Everyone has probably encountered a battery on the motherboard; it is the one that is used to ensure that the clock in the BIOS does not go astray and the settings are stored.

If you suddenly configured something incorrectly in the BIOS and after that you cannot enter it. Try resetting the settings by removing the coin cell battery from the motherboard for a while.

This is what the BIOS looks like on a computer:

And here it is on a laptop:

Types of BIOS

To be precise, there are many more types of BIOS, but for clarity, let’s average them to 4 types of systems. Since they are very similar regardless of the motherboard manufacturer.

Since different motherboards use different BIOS, it is impossible to name a specific key for entering, it is only possible to name the most frequently used keys: Del, F2, Esc, and also during startup, look for the prompts, something similar to “Press” will be written there to Setup" or something similar with the key to press. If you did not have time to do this, you will have to reload and try again.

Regardless of the BIOS version, navigation in all views is possible using arrows; in new versions, a mouse is also available. Confirmation is carried out using the Enter key, and exit by pressing the ESC key, after which a window usually appears asking you to save the changed settings. Also don't forget about the tips.

BIOS Features

Before listing all the features that the BIOS provides. The most popular ones should be indicated. First of all, as mentioned above, the BIOS is used to change the boot priority of devices, in which, after that, the BIOS will be transferred to execution. In order for you to understand what priority we are talking about, you need to understand that by default, in most cases, the first boot is from the hard drive - this means that after the BIOS, control is transferred to the hard drive. If the priority is a floppy drive or USB drive, then after the BIOS comes the device that was specified in the BIOS settings or in order from higher priority to lower priority.

In addition to this popular feature, you can also:

Disable or connect the necessary ports;
Set time;
Configure, in more detail, device characteristics (power, frequency, etc.);
Change the operating mode of devices;
Change the cooling rotation speed;
Track basic parameters such as temperature, rotation speed, etc.

Difference between computer BIOS and laptop BIOS

The main difference between the Computer BIOS and the same system in a laptop will be additional parameters for energy saving and power consumption, since this is very important for a portable battery device. Hence, laptops will have more options to save power, auto shutdown, etc.

If you were looking for BIOS settings in pictures, then you have come to the right address.

The changes made will be protected by a lithium battery built into the motherboard and maintaining the required parameters in the event of a loss of voltage.

Thanks to the program, it is possible to establish stable interaction between the operating system (OS) and PC devices.

Attention! The present Boot network configuration section allows you to adjust parameters related to system boot speed and keyboard and mouse settings.

After finishing work or familiarizing yourself with the Bios Setup Utility menu, you need to press the hot Exit key, which automatically saves the changes made.

Section Main - Main Menu

Let's start working with the MAIN section, which is used to modify settings and adjust timing indicators.

Here you can independently configure the time and date of your computer, as well as configure connected hard drives and other storage devices.

To reformat the operating mode of the hard drive, you need to select the hard drive (for example: “SATA 1”, as shown in the figure).

Type - This item indicates the type of connected hard drive;
LBA Large Mode- is responsible for supporting drives with a capacity of more than 504 MB. So the recommended value here is AUTO.
Block (Multi-Sector Transfer) - For faster operation here, we recommend selecting the AUTO mode;
PIO Mode - Enables the hard drive to operate in legacy data exchange mode. It would also be best to select AUTO here;
DMA Mode - gives direct memory access. To get faster read or write speed, select AUTO;
Smart monitoring - this technology, based on an analysis of the drive’s operation, can warn of a possible disk failure in the near future;
32 bit Data Transfer - The option determines whether the 32-bit data exchange mode will be used by the standard IDE/SATA controller of the chipset.

Everywhere, using the “ENTER” key and arrows, the Auto mode is set. The exception is the 32 Bit Transfer subsection, which requires the Enabled setting to be fixed.

Important! It is required to refrain from changing the “Storage Configuration” option, which is located in the “System information” section and not to allow correction “SATADetectTimeout".

Advanced section - Additional settings

Now let's start setting up the basic PC components in the ADVANCED section, which consists of several sub-items.

Initially, you will need to set the necessary processor and memory parameters in the system configuration menu Jumper Free Configuration.

By selecting Jumper Free Configuration, you will be taken to the Configure System Frequency/Voltage subsection, where you can perform the following operations:

automatic or manual overclocking of the hard drive - AI Overclocking;
changing the clock frequency of memory modules - ;
Memory Voltage;
manual mode for setting chipset voltage - NB Voltage
changing port addresses (COM,LPT) - Serial and Parallel Port;
setting controller settings - Onboard Devices configuration.

Power Section - PC Power

The POWER item is responsible for powering the PC and contains several subsections that require the following settings:

Suspended Mode- set automatic mode;
ACPI APIC- set Enabled;
ACPI 2.0- fix the Disabled mode.

BOOT section - boot management

Here you can determine the priority drive, choosing between a flash card, disk drive or hard drive.

If there are several hard drives, then in the Hard Disk sub-item the priority hard drive is selected.

The PC boot configuration is set in the Boot Setting subsection, which contains a menu consisting of several items:

Selecting a hard drive

The PC boot configuration is set in the Boot Setting subsection,

Quick Boot– acceleration of OS loading;
Logo Full Screen– disabling the screen saver and activating the information window containing information about the download process;
Add On ROM- setting the order on the information screen of modules connected to the motherboard (MT) via slots;
Wait For 'F1' If Error- activation of the function of forced pressing “F1” at the moment the system identifies an error.

The main task of the Boot section is to determine boot devices and set the required priorities.

ASUS EZ Flash– using this option, you have the opportunity to update the BIOS from such drives as: floppy disk, Flash disk or CD.
AINET– using this option, you can obtain information about the cable connected to the network controller.

Exit section - Exit and save

Particular attention should be paid to the EXIT item, which has 4 operating modes:

Save Changes– save the changes made;
Discard Changes + EXIT– leave the factory settings in effect;
Setup Defaults– enter default parameters;
Discard Changes– we cancel all our actions.

The following step-by-step instructions explain in detail the purpose of the main BIOS sections and the rules for making changes to improve PC performance.

Bios setup

Bios Settings - Detailed instructions in pictures

Any more or less advanced computer user should know what a BIOS is, why it is needed and how to configure it correctly. In fact, BIOS is a very interesting thing; it can be used to configure almost all components of the system unit. Well, now let's talk about everything in order.

What is BIOS and what is it for?

BIOS is a collection of firmware that allows you to configure individual components of the system unit, as well as the operating system loader and other settings of important parameters. Literally, BIOS can be called the basic input/output system.

Many new users ask where the BIOS is located? The BIOS is located on the motherboard and this is not without reason, since it is the motherboard that is responsible for the interaction and operation of all computer components.

In the photo above you can see what the BIOS looks like. Many will agree with us that the appearance of the BIOS is somewhat old, and to be completely honest, it is “wooden”. However, the latest models of Asus motherboards have a rather beautiful and modern design, moreover, it is Russified. In this article, we will configure the BIOS using the old version as an example, since it is more complicated, and the main thing is that you understand the essence of the BIOS. If you understand the essence of how to work in the BIOS with the old design, then it will not be difficult for you to understand the new one.

BIOS Features

As mentioned earlier, the main function of the BIOS is to configure the computer's hardware. With BIOS you can:

Set the system time;

Set download priority;

Set the power parameters of some devices;

Enable or disable some devices, etc.

We will look at the most basic functions of the BIOS in more detail below, but first we will talk about the operation of the BIOS itself.

Working with BIOS

How to get into BIOS
In order to get into the BIOS, when rebooting or starting the computer, you need to hold down the “Delete” or “F1” key on the keyboard, depending on the motherboard, after which you get into the BIOS.

You can control the BIOS using 5 buttons:

Arrows – help you navigate through sections and select the desired parameters in the settings;

Enter – opens the selected section or setting;

ESC – exit.

In addition, you can set the BIOS to factory settings by pressing the “F9” key, and by pressing the “F10” key you will save the settings and exit the menu.

As for managing the BIOS in the new design of Asus motherboards, it is done using the mouse. In principle, there is nothing complicated in managing both the old and the new BIOS.

How to reset BIOS?
Sometimes advanced users reset BIOS settings. This is done in order to return the BIOS settings to factory settings if the changes they made led to problems with the operation of the entire computer or individual devices. Find contacts on the motherboard that are labeled as: CCMOS, Clear CMOS or Clear RTC. Each manufacturer, and maybe even each different motherboard model, may have its own options for resetting BIOS settings. It is important to note that any work to reset the BIOS settings must be carried out with the computer turned off, as well as with the system unit and other devices connected to it turned off from the power supply.

The first option to reset the BIOS is using a jumper. If you find a jumper, it will close the first and second contacts. To reset the BIOS, pull out the jumper and close the second and third contacts with it for 15 seconds, then move the jumper to its original position.

The second option is to close the contacts. There are motherboard models in which to reset the BIOS you need to close 2 contacts with a metal object. Such an object could be a small screwdriver. That is, when the computer is turned off, short-circuit both contacts for 15 seconds, then remove the shorting object and start the computer, the BIOS settings will be reset.

The third option is using a battery. To do this, you need to find the battery that powers the motherboard. Again, with the power completely off, pry the battery latch and remove it for 15 minutes. Then reinsert the battery and start the computer.

The fourth option is to click on the BIOS reset button. In some motherboard models, resetting BIOS settings is very simple; to do this, you need to press the corresponding button on the motherboard.

After you have reset the BIOS, we recommend checking the time settings and boot priority.

Flashing the BIOS
BIOS firmware. Oddly enough, the BIOS has its own firmware that can be updated. Updating the firmware will eliminate some problems with the operation of the BIOS, as well as with its settings. There is no particular need to update the firmware, but if you have problems with the BIOS or you have sufficient knowledge to carry out this procedure, you can update the BIOS firmware. Read about how to update the BIOS in the manuals, which describe this process specifically for your motherboard.

You can download the latest version of BIOS firmware for your motherboard from the official website of its manufacturer. As a rule, flashing the BIOS is done through a special utility, which is located on the disk with drivers and settings. This disk comes with the motherboard.

Learn more about updating the BIOS -.

How to properly configure the BIOS
So, now let's look at how to properly configure the BIOS. While in the BIOS main menu, use the arrows to move the cursor to the clock and set the correct time using the “PageUp” and “PageDown” keys. Then go to the date settings and use the same buttons to set today's date, month and year. This is very important, since both the operating system itself and most programs operate on the basis of this date and time. It is worth noting that the BIOS is set to the American date format, so the month, day and year come first. To go to the next settings section, click the right arrow.

You don’t need to configure anything special in the Advanced tab, since it is responsible for the operation of devices, so let’s move on to the next tab.

The Security tab allows you to configure security. We will not touch on it either, since this is not necessary for a home computer, as, for example, for an office one. Let's move on to the next section.

In the Boot section you can configure the operating system boot priority. Website site masters strongly recommend that you configure the download in order to reduce the loading time of the operating system. If a CD-ROM is installed as the primary device for loading the OS, then before loading the system from the hard drive, the bootloader will check the CD-ROM, and after a few seconds, having found nothing, it will start loading the operating system from the hard drive. Depending on the motherboard model, the boot priority settings will have different labels. The primary boot source may be called: “1st Boot Device” or “First Boot Device”. Place the cursor next to this parameter and press “Enter”. In the menu that appears, use the arrows to select “Hard Disk” and press “Enter” again. Then go to the "2nd Boot Device" or "Second Boot Device" option and set it to "CDROM". We recommend setting the “3rd Boot Device” or “Third Boot Device” parameter to “Disabled”.

In order to save the settings made, go to the “Exit” section and select the “Exit Saving Changes” item and press “Enter”. If you only want to save the settings without leaving the BIOS, then select the “Save Changes” item. In addition, you can load default settings from the BIOS menu by selecting “Load Setup Defaults” or exit the BIOS without saving by selecting “Exit Discarding Changes”.

At this point, the necessary settings were made to the BIOS.

Basic input-output system or BIOS (Basic Input-Output System) intended for an initial check of the functionality of the equipment when starting the computer. If this test runs without errors, the BIOS transfers further control of the hardware to the operating system loader.

The entire BIOS market in the world is divided between three major players:

American Megatrends Inc, which produces

Intel, which has developed and produces for its own motherboards:

Phoenix Technologies, which produces Phoenix Award BIOS(other brand - Award BIOS):

Modern successor to BIOS – UEFI, the name of which is translated from English as “advanced firmware interface”. Originally created by Intel. But, five years later, the project was transferred under the wing of the Unified EFI Forum, the organization that has since been responsible for its development.

BIOS allows set a fairly wide range initial settings operation of the hardware of your computer or laptop. To the most frequently used can be attributed:

Setting independent date and time parameters;
Selecting a device to boot (hard drive, CD-DVD-ROM, flash drive);
Enable or disable the motherboard's built-in hardware.
Speed up OS loading by disabling some POST tests.

For advanced users, many provide the opportunity to more fine-tuning settings computer hardware. These include:

Changing the processor clock frequency;
Changing RAM timings;

The main differences between UEFI and the “legacy” version of BIOS

Technical differences between BIOS and UEFI are quite large; for ease of perception, the main ones are collected in a table:

In modern motherboards it is present by default, but in some cases users try disable it to avoid some problems when installing 32-bit or non-Windows operating systems.

How consequence such a disabling will cause a notification about using the “legacy mode” BIOS to appear in the system properties. In fact, this means that if the motherboard has a more advanced UEFI mode, the BIOS and, therefore, the MBR partition of the hard drive are used to load the OS.

What does the BIOS look like and where is it located?

BIOS chip located on the motherboard and usually its installation location can be found in the supplied documentation. You can also find this microcircuit by its characteristic signs.

In most cases, next to it, on the motherboard case, is installed CMOS battery, characteristic round shape. Some hardware manufacturers additionally supply a BIOS chip holographic sticker with its name.

Of course, the battery is needed not only to make it easier for the user to find a chip with a hardwired BIOS. The main one task consists of providing non-volatile power supply, allowing save the settings for a long time.

It is for this reason that if you remove the battery from the motherboard for 15-20 seconds, it allows " reset to zero» BIOS, or in other words, return it to factory settings.

For the same purpose, a special jumper jumper. Changing its position gives the same result - returning to factory settings.