802 1.

1 BIOS

Northbridge (previously called the MCC)

-

Acts as the primary bridge between the CPU and the rest of the computer.
It is responsible for the tasks that requires the highest performance
Ex. Connection between the video card and the RAM

Southbridge (currently the Input/Output Controller Hub)

-

Implements the slower capabilities of the motherboard

Ex. USB Controller, Keyboard Controller, Hard Drive Controller

Scan Code
-

The data that most computer keyboards send to a computer to repeat

which keys have been pressed.

BIOS (Basic Inout/Output System)

-

Firmware used during the booting process and is the first software a PC
runs

ROM Chip
-

A device that stores programs (called services)

Non-volatile : information isnt erased when the computer is turned of
a. Traditional ROM Once a program is stored, you cant change it
b. Flash ROM You can update and change the contents via flashing the
ROM

Firmware
-

Program that is stored in a ROM chip

CMOS (Complimentary Metal-Oxide Semiconductor)

-

A separate memory chip that stores the information that describes

specific drive parameters
CMOS does not store programs. It only stores data that is read by the BIOS
(mostly 64kb of data but only 128b are necessary for the PC). The CMOS
also acts as the system clock to keep the current date and time.

Originally, it was a separate chip and is now integrated into the

southbridge.
Modifying the CMOS
Every computer has a CMOS setup program (also called a system setup
utility) that enables access and modification of the CMOS data.
BIOS Companies
1. AMI
2. Phoenix Technologies (Bought Award Software)
Common Key Combinations to Access CMOS
1.
2.
3.
4.

DEL
ESC
F1
F2

5.
6.
7.
8.

CTRL+ALT+ESC
CTRL+ALT+INS
CTRL+ALT+ENTER
CTRL+S

9.
10.KEY NOTES
-

System ROM Chip stores the BIOS and holds the program that accesses
the information stored in the CMOS chip to support changeable pieces of
hardware. This program is called the CMOS Setup Program or the System
Setup Utility.
BIOS is the program needed by the CPU to communicate with devices
CMOS holds a small amount of data that describes the changeable pieces
of hardware supported by the system BIOS
CMOS, today, is part of the Southbridge
11.
12.BIOS Boilerplate/Module

Is what motherboard manufacturers buy. It is based on the needs of each

motherboard
13.
14.MB Intelligent Tweaker (MIT)

Used to change the voltage and multiplier settings on the motherboard for
the CPU from the defaults
Usually found on motherboards that cater to overclocking
15.
16.Advanced BIOS Features

While this section varies from PC to PC, this section usually contains boot
options
17.
18.Advanced Chipset Features

This section deals with low-level chipsets and is not recommended to be

modified unless specifically told
19.
20.Integrated Peripherals

Section where you can configure, enable or disable onboard devices such
as the integrated sound card
21.
22.Power Management Setup

Section where the power management settings for the motherboard can
be modified

Often times concert or conflict with Windows Power Management Settings

23.
24.Overclocking

Section where you can change bus speeds, clock multipliers and voltage
for the desired component
25.
26.For Overclocking CPU : Adjusting the CPUs clock and bus speed will
make your computer faster
27.
28.PnP/PCI Configuration

29.

PnP Plug and Play

30.

PCI Slot used for cards

This section is almost never used. It allows you to configure how PnP
devices automatically work when plugged into the PC
31.
32.Load Fail Safe/Optimized Defaults

Sets everything to very simple settings

Used when low-level problems such as freeze-ups occur
Optimized sets the CMOS to the best possible speed/stability for the
system
o This option is used if you have tampered the CMOS too much and is
needed to be put back to where it was.
33.
34.ATA Security Mode Feature Set (Drivelock)

First line of defense for protecting hard disks from unwanted access when
a system is lost or stolen.
o LoJack Security Feature
Used to track the PCs location, install a key logger or even
remotely shut down the computer
35.
36.Trusted Platform Module

Acts as a secure cryptoprocessor

Is a hardware platform for the acceleration of cryptographic functions and
the secure storage of associated information
TPM can be a small circuit board plugged into the motherboard or it can
be built directly into the chipset.

Used mainly for hard disk encryption. Bit Locker can be accelerated by a
TPM
More secure because the encryption key is stored in the tamper resistant
TPM Hardware rather than an external flash drive (compared to Bit Locker)

37.

Other uses:
38.DRM (Digital Rights Management), Network Access Control, Application
Execution Control, Password Protection
39.
40.Bring Your Own BIOS (BYOB)

A way that was designed in the past to add programming other than on
the BIOS
1. Option ROM
a. BIOS is found on the hardware itself.
41.Ex. Video Card has its own BIOS
2. Device Driver
a. A file stored on the PCs hard drive that contains all of the
commands necessary to talk to whatever device it was written to
support
b. All operating systems are designed to look at this list early in the
boot process and copy the listed files into the RAM, thereby giving
the CPU the capability to communicate with the hardware
supported by the device driver
42.
-

Installation Disc
The software bundled with the hardware when it was bought
43.
44.POST (Power-On Self Test)

A special program also stored in the system ROM Chip that checks out the
system every time the computer boots.
POST Will only tell the human if there is a problem or not. It is represented
by beep codes or/and error messages

45.

POST sends a
command to all
devices

Devices run their

own diagnostic tool

Depending on the
result, POST wil
display any error
message

46.Beep Codes
-

Series of beeps that you will hear if anything went wrong the moment the
PC is turned on
Today, there are just two beep codes:
1. Bad or missing video
a. One long beep followed by two or three short beeps
2. Bad or missing RAM
a. Single beep that repeats indefinitely
Other beep codes may inform you that the CPU is approaching its high
heat limit
47.Text Errors

Error messages, mostly self-explanatory, that are far more useful than
beep codes.
Only apprears if the POST for video is OK
48.
49.POST Cards

An inoperative device can sometimes disrupt a POST, forcing the machine

into an indefinite loop causing the PC to act dead.
POST Cards monitors the POST and identifies which piece of hardware is
causing the trouble.
Simple cards that snaps into expansion slots with a small, two-character
LED that indicates which device the POST is currently testing.
If the POST card shows no reading, the problem is before the POST and
must be related to the power, CPU, RAM or motherboard

50.
51.The Boot Process
52.

Power supply
circuicity test for
proper voltage

PC is powered on

Operating System

BOOTSR
AP is
removed

SIGNA
L

Power good wire

(CPU awakens)

BOOTSRAP Loader

POST

53.
54.
55.BOOTSTRAP Loader
-

Reads CMOS to tell it where to look first for an operating system

56.
57.Almost all storage devices can be configured to boot an operating
system by setting aside a specific location called the boot sector.
58.
59.Boot Sector

Contains special programming designed to tell the system where to locate

the operating system
60.Bootable Disk

Any device with a functional operating system

61.Pre-Boot Execution Environment (PXE)

A feature in some BIOS that enables you to boot a PC without any local
storage. The PC is booted by retrieving an OS from a server over a
network
62.Unified Extensible Firmware Interface (UEFI)

A BIOS in a 32 or 64 bit environment

Regular BIOS will only boot to MBR drives (MBR supports up to 2.2 TB
only)
UEFI supports GUID Partition Table (GPT) and therefore supports partition
larger than 2.2 TB
While UEFI supports both 32 and 64 bit, Windows 7 x64 (and later OS) is
the only one that supports UEFI