BIOS Setup Utility

BIOS Setup Utility

The Setup Utility lets you review and change important information about the computer and its hardware.

Starting the Setup Utility

Follow these steps to start the Setup Utility.

Power-On on the Monitor
Power-On on the System-unit
When you see the IBM logo and the line message: Press F1 to enter Setup ,
press F1 to enter the Setup Utility.
If you have previously set a power-on password, you are prompted to type in the password after you press the F1 key.

NOTE: You cannot enter the Setup Utility after the power-on self test (POST).

Working with the Setup Utility menus

The Setup Utility Main Menu lists options that identify system configuration topics. When you select one of these options, an additional menu appears. To select and move through Setup Utility options, you must use the keyboard. To move through menus, press the down or up arrow key on the keyboard until the option you want is highlighted. To select a highlighted menu option, press the Enter key. To move through menus, use the following keys:

Keys Function ------------------------------------------------------------------------ Down or up Use these arrow keys to highlight an option on the menu. arrow key (Press the Enter key to choose the option.) Left or right Use these arrow keys to make a selection and change an option's setting. arrow key On some menus, you can use these keys to move from one field to another. F1 Press this key if you want help for a selected menu option. Esc After viewing or making changes to the settings on a menu, press this key to exit the menu. Enter Press this key to choose a highlighted option from a menu.

Changing and restoring settings

In Setup Utility menus, the configuration information you can change is enclosed in brackets like these: [ ]. You cannot change information that is not surrounded by brackets.
When you complete your changes or finish viewing information, return to the Main Menu. From this location, you can exit the Setup Utility and save your changes or exit without saving your changes.

To exit the Setup Utility, follow these steps:

From the Main Menu, press the Esc key.
The Exit Setup Utility menu appears. If you have made changes in the Setup Utility, it will contain an option for saving your changes.
- If you would like to save your changes, press the left arrow key to select the option Yes, then press Enter to save your changes and exit the Setup Utility.
- If you do not want to save your changes, press the right arrow key to select the option No, then press Enter, to exit the Setup Utility without saving.

Restoring factory settings

When you purchase an Aptiva computer, it is already configured for use. The Setup Utility stores these original configuration settings, called factory or default settings, so that you can return to the original configuration at any time. If you have m ade changes in the Setup Utility and you would like to restore the factory settings, follow these steps:

From the Main Menu, highlight the option Load Setup Default Settings then press Enter. A dialog box appears confirming if you want to load the default settings.
Use the left arrow key to select Yes, then press Enter.
Press Esc to save your changes and exit the Setup Utility.

Viewing System Information

From the Setup Utility Main Menu, select the System Information option to view information about the hardware installed on your computer. You cannot use this screen to change information. The Setup Utility automatically updates this menu when you:

Add or change hardware on your computer
Make changes to other menus in the Setup Utility and save those changes.

The System Information menu contains information about the processor, memory, drives, and ports installed in your system. It includes information on the video and I/O port addresses. This screen also shows if the mouse is installed.
The option Product Data lists other information about your computer including model number, serial number, and BIOS version and date.

Changing Disk Drive Configuration

If you install a new diskette, hard disk, or CD-ROM drive, BIOS auto--detects the presence of these devices. Enter the Setup Utility to identify or verify the type of drive installed in the computer. From the Setup Utility Main Menu, select the System Information to display a screen with a list of the devices installed. The device settings in this screen are not configurable.
If you want to change any drive setting, select Disk Drives from the main menu. The Disk Drives menu appears showing the cylinders, heads, sectors, and size of the hard disk drives installed in your computer.

Diskette drive (A: or B:)

These options display the size and storage capacity of the currently installed diskette drive or drives. Empty drive bays are indicated with a "None" setting. Your Aptiva computer comes with a diskette drive A:. If you add an additional diskette drive, it will be designated as diskette drive B.

IDE hard disks and CD-ROM drives

These options display the IDE hard disks and CD-ROM drives that either are already installed or can be installed in your computer. You can have a maximum of four IDE drives. The drives are identified as follows:

IDE 1st Channel Master is attached to IDE connector 1 on the system board and set as the master device. This is the hard disk that comes pre-installed with your computer.
IDE 1st Channel Slave (if installed) is attached to IDE connector 1 on the system board and set as the slave device.
IDE 2nd Channel Master (if installed) is attached to IDE connector 2 on the system board and set as the master device.
IDE 2nd Channel Slave (if installed) is attached to IDE connector 2 on the system board and set as the slave device. Normally, a pre-installed CD-ROM drive is connected here.

If the cylinders, heads, sectors, and size of a particular drive channel appear, it means that a hard disk drive is installed in that channel.

Enhanced IDE Features

Hard disk block mode
This function enhances disk performance depending on the hard disk in use. BIOS automatically detects if your hard disk supports this feature.
Setting to Auto allows data transfer in blocks (multiple sectors) to increase the data transfer rate. If your system does not boot after setting this parameter to Auto, change the setting to Disabled. The default setting for this parameter is Auto.

Advanced PIO mode
Enabling this parameter improves system performance by allowing the use of faster hard drives. If your hard disk does not support this function, set this parameter to Disabled. The default is Auto.

Large hard disk support
This enhance IDE feature works only under DOS and Windows 3.1x environments. If enabled, it allows you to use a hard disk with a capacity of more than 504MB. This is made possible through the Logical block address (LBA) mode translation. Other operati ng systems require this parameter to be set to Disabled.
To prevent data loss, set this parameter to Auto if you are using a hard disk with more than 504MB capacity that was previously configured through the LBA mode. If you use a hard disk configured through the user-specific cylinder-head-sector (CHS) mod e, set this parameter to Disabled.

Hard disk 32-bit access
Setting this parameter to Auto improves system performance by allowing the use of the 32-bit hard disk access. This enhanced IDE feature only works under DOS, Windows 3.x, Windows 95, and Novell NetWare. If your software does not support this function , set this parameter to Disabled. The default setting is Auto.

Changing devices and I/O port configurations
From the Setup Utility Main Menu, select the Devices and I/O Ports option to view or change port configuration settings. The Devices and I/O Ports menu appears. This menu lets you configure serial and parallel ports.
Also included in this menu are items for enabling or disabling the onboard audio chip and the keyboard numeric lock.

Onboard communication ports

Serial ports
Your computer comes with two 9-pin serial ports. The serial port parameters display the current address for the serial ports in your computer.
Use the serial port parameters to make sure that each serial port has a different address. If you change serial port addresses, you might also need to make changes in the software that uses serial ports. For instructions on changing your software, see the user's guide or online documentation that came with the software.

Parallel port
Your computer comes with one parallel port. This parameter displays the current address for the parallel port on your system board. Use this menu to make sure that each parallel port has a different address. If you change parallel port addresses in this menu, you might also need to make changes in the software that uses the parallel port. For instructions on changing your software, see the user's guide or online information that came with the software.

Operation mode
As long as the parallel port setting is not disabled, this item allows you to choose an operation mode for the parallel port. You can select either the Standard mode or one of the extended modes (Bidirectional, EPP, or ECP) for a parallel port operation mode. The extended modes increase the efficiency of your parallel port; however, these modes use recent technology and are only supported by newer hardware (such as some printer models). The available extended modes are:

Standard This mode allows for one-way operation at a normal speed.
Bidirectional This mode allows for a two-way operation at a normal speed.
EPP This mode allows for a bidirectional parallel port operation at a maximum speed.
ECP This mode allows the parallel port to operate in a bidirectional mode and at a speed higher than the maximum data transfer rate.

ECP DMA Channel
This item becomes active only if you select ECP as the operation mode. It allows you to select DMA channel 1 or DMA channel 3 depending on the available system resource.

NumLock after boot
This parameter displays whether the NumLock function on the keyboard turns on automatically each time you turn your computer on. You can set this to Enabled or Disabled. The default is Enabled.

Setting Power Saving Timers
The system power management feature allows you to reduce power consumption. When the Power Management Mode parameter is set to Enabled, you can configure the different power saving timers to your desired settings. Setting this parameter to Disabled deactivates the power management feature and all the timers.

Monitor power saving timer
This timer allows the monitor to enter suspend mode after the number of minutes that you specified has elapsed. Any keyboard or mouse action, or a video buffer access, returns the monitor to normal operation. Press the left or right arrow key to selec t your desired setting. Setting this timer to Off deactivates the monitor power saving function. The default setting is 15 minutes.
Set this timer to Off if you want to use the monitor energy saving feature in Windows 95.

IDE hard disk standby timer
This parameter allows the hard disk to enter standby mode after inactivity of 1 to 15 minutes, depending on your setting. When you access the hard disk again, allow 3 to 5 seconds (depending on the hard disk) for the system to recover and return to no rmal speed. Set this parameter to Off if your hard disk does not support this function.

System standby timer
This parameter sets the system to a "fast-on" power saving mode. It automatically enters the standby mode after a period of inactivity. Any keyboard or mouse activity, or any enabled monitored activities occurring in the IRQ/DMA channels resume system operation.
Press the left or right arrow key to select your desired setting. Setting this to Off disables the timer.

System suspend timer
This timer supports the lowest power saving mode. After the time specified in this timer has elapsed without any system activity, the system enters suspend mode. To resume system operation, you can either press a key or move the mouse.
Press the left or right arrow key to select your desired setting. Setting to Off disables the suspend function.

Changing Plug and Play Configuration

When you install a new Plug and Play adapter card, the system BIOS automatically detects it and configures your computer to use the card. If you install a non-Plug and Play or a non-PCI adapter card, the BIOS does not detect it. Instead, use Windows 9 5 Device Manager to dedicate ISA Legacy resources for the card. From the Setup Utility Main Menu, select the Plug and Play option to view or change BIOS configuration policy or clear configuration data when installing adapter cards.

Plug and Play OS
When this parameter is set to Yes, BIOS initializes only Plug and Play boot devices, then the Plug and Play operating system takes care of the other devices. When set to No, BIOS initializes all Plug and Play boot and non-boot devices.
Set this parameter to Yes if you are using the Windows 95 operating system. Set to No if you run any other operating system. The default setting is Yes.

Reset resource assignments
Set this parameter to Yes to avoid IRQ conflict when installing non-Plug and Play cards. This clears all resource assignments and allow BIOS to reassign resources to all installed Plug and Play devices the next time the system boots. After clearing th e resource data, the parameter resets to the default setting No.
Before you install non-Plug and Play cards, set this parameter to Yes exit the Setup Utility and turn off the computer. Then refer to 'Memory Map' and 'System Input/Output Addresses', and 'System Interrupts' 'System Input/Output Addresses', and 'DMA Channel Assignments', to ensure there is no conflict to system resources.

Configuring Startup Options

From the Setup Utility Main Menu, select the Startup Options option to view or change start-up configuration settings. The Startup Options menu appears. This menu identifies the start-up devices.

System boot drive

This parameter has four options:

Drive A Then C In this option, the system BIOS checks drive A first. If there is a diskette in the drive, the system boots from drive A. Otherwise, it boots from drive C. This is the default setting.
Drive A only It directs BIOS to boot up the system from drive A.
Drive C only It directs BIOS to boot up the system from drive C.
Drive C then Drive A In this option, the system BIOS checks drive C first. If there is no hard disk drive, the system boots from drive A.
Boot from CD-ROM When enabled, this parameter prompts BIOS to look first for a bootable CD in the CD-ROM drive. If a bootable CD is present, the system boots from the CD-ROM. Otherwise, it boots from the drive specified in the System Boot drive parameter.

Setting the Date and Time

From the Setup Utility Main Menu, select the Date and Time option to view or change the system clock from the Date and Time menu. If you want to change the system date, enter the date in the format shown on the screen as in the following example: Tue Feb 14, 1997 If you change the time, enter the time in 24-hour format (hours, minutes, seconds).
For example:

12 midnight is 00:00:00
12 noon is 12:00:00
1 p.m. is 13:00:00

When setting date and time, press the up or down arrow key to highlight a field. Press the left or right arrow key to select settings.

Configuring Advanced Options

From the Setup Utility Main Menu, select the Advanced Options option to view or change a variety of configuration settings. The Advanced Options menu appears, with the following options:

Security Options
Cache Options
PCI Options

Each of these options opens an additional menu.

Security options
The Security Options menu lets you configure the following parameters:

Power On Password
Disk Drive Control

Power on password
Select this option to open the Power On Password menu. In this window, you can set up a password to restrict the use of your computer. You can also change or remove the password. If you set up a power-on password, you must type this password each time your computer is turned on. If you do not type the correct password, you cannot use your computer.

Note: Make sure that jumper JP4 is set to pins 1-2 (check password). This is the default setting. See 'System Board Layout'

Follow these steps to set a power on password:

Highlight the Power On Password parameter and press the left or right arrow key to display the Power On Password window.
Type a password consisting of up to seven characters, then press Enter.
Retype the password then press Enter.
The Power On Password window disappears. The Power On Password parameter automatically sets to Present.

The next time you turn on the system, you will be prompted to enter your power-on password. If you press F1 during POST to enter the Setup Utility, you must key in the password as well.

Disk drive control
These parameters allow you to write-protect the diskette and hard disk drives. The settings include:

Write protect all sectors It disables the write function all sectors of the diskette or hard disk drive.
Write protect boot sector It disables the write function only on the boot sector of the diskette or hard disk drive.
Normal It allows the diskette or hard disk drive to function normally.
Disabled It disables all diskette or hard disk drive functions.

Cache Options
The Cache Options menu allows you to configure the internal and external caches. Enabling the cache parameters optimize system performance. Some older applications, however, may not run properly with the caches enabled. Set the parameters to Disabled when you run these applications. Disabling the caches will degrade system performance.

Internal cache
This parameter enables or disables the internal cache memory.

External cache
This parameter enables or disables the external cache memory.

Cache scheme
This item indicates the cache scheme when you enable the external cache parameter. It turns greey when the external cache is disabled. The fixed setting is Write Back.
The Write Back cache scheme allows updates in the cache but not in the memory when there is a write instruction. The memory is only updated when there is inconsistency between the cache and the memory.

PCI options
The parameters in the PCI Options menu allow you to set the IRQ assignments for your PCI devices.

PCI IRQ setting
This parameter allows for automatic or manual configuration of PCI devices. If you use Plug and Play devices, you can keep the default setting Auto. The system then automatically configures the Plug and Play devices. If you install non-Plug and Play adapter cards, set this parameter to Manual. This allows you to assign resources to non-Plug and Play cards first.
If you have to configure PCI resources manually, use the up or down arrow key to move between fields and select the IRQ assignments using the left or right arrow key.

PCI slots
These parameters allow you to specify the appropriate PCI devices. You may assign IRQ3, IRQ4, IRQ5, IRQ7, IRQ9, IRQ10, IRQ11, IRQ12, IRQ14, or IRQ15 if they have not been previously assigned to other devices. Some IRQs are normally assigned to specifi c system devices. See "System interrupts" to make sure that the IRQ that you want to use is free to avoid resource conflicts.

Onboard PCI VGA
This parameter lets you to assign an interrupt for the onboard PCI VGA device.

Bus mastering
When set to Enabled, this option allows for the PCI cycles not to pass through the CPU for faster operation. When set to Disabled, all PCI transactions pass through the CPU.

Loading the Setup default settings
There are times when you will have to load the Setup default settings of your computer. In the following instances, you must load the Setup defaults:

when you replace the system battery
when you customize your system configuration settings, and some resource assignments conflict, causing the computer to hang.

At certain times, you have to load the default settings to optimize system performance.

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