This chapter is from the book
This chapter is from the book
This chapter is from the book
Exam Preparation Tasks
Review All the Key Topics
Review the most important topics in the chapter, noted with the Key Topic icon in the outer margin of the page. Table 2-2 lists a reference to these key topics and the page numbers on which each is found.
Table 2-2 Key Topics for Chapter 2
Key Topic Element |
Description |
Page Number |
Text |
Common keystrokes used to access BIOS Setup |
32 |
Text |
Definition of UEFI firmware |
33 |
Table 2-1 |
Major CMOS/BIOS/UEFI Settings |
35 |
Figure 2-3 |
A typical CMOS UEFI Setup main menu |
38 |
Figure 2-4 |
A typical UEFI main setup menu for a desktop system with an AMD processor (UEFI BIOS for BIOSTAR Hi-Fi A85W). |
39 |
Figure 2-7 |
A typical Boot Sequence submenu configured to permit booting from a CD/DVD or USB flash drive before the hard disk |
41 |
Figure 2-12 |
Typical power management configuration menu |
46 |
Figure 2-13 |
A typical hardware monitor screen |
47 |
Figure 2-17 |
Typical exit dialog with the option to save changes to a file |
52 |
Text |
Flash BIOS update |
56 |
Complete the Tables and Lists from Memory
Print a copy of Appendix B, “Memory Tables” (found on the CD), or at least the section for this chapter, and complete the tables and lists from memory. Appendix C, “Answers to Memory Tables,” also on the CD, includes completed tables and lists to check your work.
Define Key Terms
Define the following key terms from this chapter, and check your answers in the glossary.
Basic Input/Output System (BIOS)
power-on self-test (POST)
CMOS
virtualization support
TPM
LoJack for Laptops
Secure Boot
Intrusion detection/notification
voltage
clock
bus speed
Complete Hands-On Labs
Complete the hands-on labs, and then see the answers and explanations at the end of the chapter.
Lab 2-1: Disable Onboard Audio
Scenario: You are a technician working at a PC repair bench. You need to install a sound card into a system that has onboard audio. Before you can do this, you need to turn off the onboard audio feature in the system BIOS.
Step 1. Review the BIOS screens listed earlier in this chapter. From Figure 2-3, which menu selection would you choose?
Step 2. Review the BIOS screens (see Figures 2-6 through 2-17). Which figure has the correct menu option for disabling onboard audio?
Step 3. What is the menu called?
Step 4. What is the option called?
Step 5. What is the current setting?
Step 6. What is the setting you need to select?
Step 7. What key do you press to exit setup and save changes?
Lab 2-2: Check Fan and Voltage Levels
Scenario: You are a technician working at a PC repair bench. Your client reports that the computer is overheating. You need to check the performance of fans connected to the motherboard and the voltage levels on the motherboard.
Step 1. Review the CMOS (BIOS) setup screens listed earlier in this chapter. From Figure 2-3, which menu selection would you choose?
Step 2. Review the CMOS (BIOS) setup screens (see Figures 2-6 through 2-17). Which figure displays fan speeds and voltage levels?
Step 3. What is the CPU fan speed?
Step 4. What is the CPU voltage called?
Step 5. What is the voltage for the CPU?
Step 6. What key do you press to exit setup without saving changes?
Answer Review Questions
Answer these review questions and then see the answers and explanations at the end of the chapter.
Which of the following best describes the BIOS?
Firmware contained on a ROM chip
The first code run when the computer starts up
Volatile and requires a battery to maintain its memory
Program contained in the Master Boot Record (MBR)
When the user wants to change the default settings in the BIOS startup program, where are those changes saved and stored?
UEFI
POST
MBR
CMOS
Which of the following statements is false?
UEFI does not support traditional Master Boot Record (MBR) hard drive partitioning.
UEFI is capable of working with the GUID Partition Table (GPT).
UEFI enables more efficient use of larger hard drives than traditional BIOS.
Apple OS X uses UEFI.
If there were a problem during startup with your computer’s memory, where would that problem be reported?
CMOS
POST
MBR
TPM
Which of the following steps should be taken before installing a new sound card?
You should disable the onboard audio controller in POST.
You should use POST to configure the new sound card.
You should disable the onboard audio controller in the BIOS settings.
You should configure the new sound card in the MBR.
Which of the following statements best describes the function of the Secure Boot setting in UEFI firmware?
It prevents Windows 8 or Windows 10 from booting.
It allows Linux to be used as an operating system.
It enables AHCI mode.
It enables only Windows 8 or Windows 10 to be used as an operating system.
In which of the following configuration programs might you navigate the menu screens using a mouse?
UEFI
CMOS
BIOS
POST
In the following figure, which of the following actions makes and saves changes to the CMOS chip?
Pressing Del
Pressing Tab
Pressing F9
Pressing F12
Which of the following information is not found in the BIOS/UEFI startup settings?
Time and date
Installed memory
CPU temperature
CPU type and speed
IP address
Which of the following statements best describes the effect of enabling Quick Boot in the startup program?
It omits POST.
It does not run the memory and drive tests.
It does not check CMOS settings.
It activates the S3 power saving program.
What is the power management system used for in modern computers?
APM
SATA
ATAPI
ACPI
A friend has just bought a new computer and has given you his old computer. The old computer has a 30 GB IDE hard drive that you want to upgrade to a new 3 TB SATA hard drive, but when you install your new hard drive, you find that you can access only about 2 TB of space. Which of the following statements best describes how to remedy the situation?
You should install new drivers for the new SATA drive.
You should enable the new drive in the CMOS settings.
You should upgrade your current motherboard along with the new hard drive.
You should return the hard disk drive and use a 2 TB hard disk drive instead.
In Table 2-3, identify which of the following are stored on ROM chips and which are stored on RAM chips. Also indicate which require(s) an outside source of power to maintain its memory.
Table 2-3 ROM/RAM/POWER
Options
BIOS
UEFI
CMOS
ROM or RAM?
Requires Battery or No Power Source?
Match the following security features with their definitions.
Features
Definitions
A. TPM
1. Warns when chassis has been opened
B. Secure Boot
2. Limits access to startup screens to users with proper authorization
C. BIOS password
3. Supports BitLocker encryption
D. Power-on password
4. Requires user to provide identification when turning system on
E. Intrusion detection
5. Checks signature of boot software and permits only trusted software to start the system
6. Allows computer’s location to be traced if stolen
7. Warns when a virus tries to attack the system
Which of the following best describes to permanently change or upgrade the BIOS program?
Download a new program from the system manufacturer and flash the BIOS.
Make any necessary changes to the CMOS program and save those changes to the BIOS.
Make any necessary changes to the POST program as it is testing and initializing the various components.
After the MBR has been run, save any changes to the BIOS.
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Answers and Explanations to Hands-On Labs
Lab 2-1: Disable Onboard Audio
To access the onboard audio screen from Figure 2-3, the most likely menu to go to is the Peripherals menu. However, on other systems, the correct answer might be Advanced or other options.
Figure 2-10 is the figure including the HD Audio setting.
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The menu is the Advanced menu.
The option is called HD Audio Azalia Device.
The current setting is Enabled.
The setting to select is Disabled.
The key to save changes and exit varies by BIOS/UEFI firmware. In Figure 2-17, the key is F10 (the most common choice). However, a different BIOS/UEFI firmware dialog shown in Figure 2-16 uses F4.
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Lab 2-2: Check Fan and Voltage Levels
The PC Health Status menu is the most likely place to find this information. Figure 2-13 illustrates a typical dialog.
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The CPU fan speed is 1394 RPM (rpm). The CPU voltage is listed as two values: CPU Vcore and CPU VCCSA. CPU Vcore is 1.224V, and the CPU VCCSA is 1.068V.
To exit without saving changes, use the Esc key.
Answers and Explanations to Review Questions
A. During startup, the BIOS program (or the more recent UEFI) is the first program to run and is responsible for starting the computer. The BIOS is stored on a ROM chip and is not volatile. The BIOS is not part of the MBR.
D. When changes are made to the startup program in either the BIOS or the newer UEFI, those changes are stored on the CMOS chip.
A. UEFI does support traditional Master Boot Record (MBR) hard drive partitioning and is also capable of working with the GUID Partition Table (GPT) and modern large hard drives. UEFI is also used by OS X.
B. During startup, the BIOS program runs POST, which tests and initializes components such as memory, CPU, hard drives, optical drives, USB drives, and video cards and then reports any problems found.
C. Restart the computer and open the startup settings. Disable the onboard audio before installing the new sound card and save the changes to CMOS.
D. Secure Boot must be disabled when the user wants to install a different operating system.
A. The UEFI display uses a mouse-driven GUI in addition to the keyboard navigation used by the BIOS.
A. CMOS is a RAM chip that is used to store changes made to the startup program within the BIOS or UEFI. To edit the startup program, you should check the user’s manual or restart the computer and watch the screen for instructions to enter the BIOS setup. In the diagram, pressing Del allows you to enter the startup program. Any changes made here may be saved in CMOS.
E. The IP address is found in the Network and Sharing Center or through the command-line interface, not in the BIOS or UEFI.
B. Quick Boot enables faster system startup by skipping the memory and drive tests when booting the computer. POST and CMOS are always involved in the boot process. The S3 power setting does not affect the boot process.
D. ACPI replaced APM as the power management utility on modern computers. SATA is a type of hard drive. ATAPI is the standard for CDs and DVDs.
C. An older traditional BIOS can support only a maximum hard drive size of 2.2 TB. To use the new 3 TB hard drive, you need to replace the motherboard with a newer one that supports UEFI (which supports up to 9.4 ZB hard drives).
ROM/RAM/POWER Answers
Options
BIOS
UEFI
CMOS
ROM or RAM?
ROM
ROM
RAM
Requires Battery or No Power Source?
No power source
No power source
Requires battery
BIOS and UEFI are both stored on ROM chips and therefore are permanent and do not require an additional power source. CMOS is stored in RAM, which is volatile and requires a CMOS battery to provide a constant trickle of power to maintain its memory.
A. 3; B. 5; C. 2; D. 4; E.1. Incorrect definitions: 6, 7.
A. The BIOS program (or the newer UEFI program) is stored as permanent memory in ROM. To permanently change the programming for either of these chips, you must download a new program from the manufacturer and flash that program onto the BIOS or UEFI. Changes made to the CMOS chip, which is RAM, are temporary and will be lost if power is lost in the CMOS battery. POST and the MBR do not affect the contents of either the BIOS or the UEFI.