2007-07-27 03:15:43 · 7 answers · asked by Abbas 1 in Computers & Internet ➔ Hardware ➔ Other - Hardware
Acronym for basic input/output system, the built-in software that determines what a computer can do without accessing programs from a disk. On PCs, the BIOS contains all the code required to control the keyboard, display screen, disk drives, serial communications, and a number of miscellaneous functions.
The BIOS is typically placed in a ROM chip that comes with the computer (it is often called a ROM BIOS). This ensures that the BIOS will always be available and will not be damaged by disk failures. It also makes it possible for a computer to boot itself. Because RAM is faster than ROM, though, many computer manufacturers design systems so that the BIOS is copied from ROM to RAM each time the computer is booted. This is known as shadowing.
Many modern PCs have a flash BIOS, which means that the BIOS has been recorded on a flash memory chip, which can be updated if necessary.
The PC BIOS is fairly standardized, so all PCs are similar at this level (although there are different BIOS versions). Additional DOS functions are usually added through software modules. This means you can upgrade to a newer version of DOS without changing the BIOS.
PC BIOSes that can handle Plug-and-Play (PnP) devices are known as PnP BIOSes, or PnP-aware BIOSes. These BIOSes are always implemented with flash memory rather than ROM.
2007-07-27 03:27:40 · answer #1 · answered by Anonymous · 0⤊ 0⤋
The basic function of BIOS is to get your hardware started and to handoff the hardware to the operating system.
BIOS refers to the firmware code run by an IBM compatible PC when first powered on. The primary function of the BIOS is to prepare the machine so other software programs stored on various media (such as hard drives, floppies, and CDs) can load, execute, and assume control of the PC. This process is known as booting up.
Basic Input/Output System also incorrectly known as Basic Integrated Operating System and occasionally Built In Operating System.
2007-07-27 10:27:08 · answer #2 · answered by mpasnick 4 · 0⤊ 0⤋
BIOS means Basic Input / Output System. "the BIOS makes sure all the other chips, hard drives, ports and CPU function together"
2007-07-27 10:24:23 · answer #3 · answered by Tilly_Mint 3 · 0⤊ 0⤋
The bios is an embedded chip on your motherboard that is the first thing that the computer accesses at boot. It allow transfer of control to a hard disk, floppy, USB, or even CD. In some newer ones it allows you to tinker with you hardware.
2007-07-27 13:19:29 · answer #4 · answered by The Master 5 · 0⤊ 0⤋
Its a chip thats embedded with information about hardware on your motherboard. It also maintains the settings for the hardware like how fast to run your memory. How many hard drives are installed etc.
Imagine if your computer booted up every time and you had to tell it what hardware you had and how to run it.
The BIOS maintains all that for your OS so it can poll it to determine what to load and how to load it.
It also helps the OS determine if you have installed any new hardware so it can load the needed drivers.
2007-07-27 10:22:51 · answer #5 · answered by youngboy1606 7 · 0⤊ 0⤋
It is also here:
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/BIOS
PC hardware enthusiasts usually tweak BIOS to squeeze out the best performance from their PC.
2007-07-27 10:31:49 · answer #6 · answered by Karz 7 · 0⤊ 0⤋
That is instruction for the CPU. It tells it how to run operations.
2007-07-27 10:18:20 · answer #7 · answered by Bruce__MA 5 · 0⤊ 0⤋