BIOS, CMOS, POST and Chipset

Prepared by: Dennis S. Chua

CHS NCII-INSTRUCTOR/ASSESSOR
Bridge Introduction
Data flows through the computer
Between CPU and RAM
Between CPU and video
Between CPU and other devices

Bridges are used to connect the pieces

Northbridge
 Bridge closest to the CPU
Southbridge
 The farther bridge
The Chipsets are simply a number of integrated circuits
designed to perform one or more functions that are closely
related to each other.

Two Major Chip set

 Northbridge  Southbridge
The North Bridge Handles The South Bridge handles
data for the AGP Port and data from the PCI and ISA
the main memory which slots and can also have
includes the FSB (Front integrated components
side bus) such as Audio codec's etc.
North & South bridge Chipset
 Northbridge and Southbridge

Data Flow have connectivity with all devices

Not the same in all systems
 Basic Input/Output System (BIOS)
BIOS is that chip responsible for holding the data the
computer needs to start and to check all devices in the
system. This data is not lost when the computer is turned
off. The cmos battery keeps the data intact.

Bridges connect the devices

 But without a program, they don’t know how to
communicate

A special kind of program is required to enable the CPU

to talk to other devices

A Flash ROM chip stores these programs

These programs are collectively known as the basic

input/output service (BIOS)
CMOS
CMOS controls a variety of functions, including the
Power On Self Test (POST). When the computer’s
power supply fires up, CMOS runs a series of checks to
make sure the system is functioning properly. One of
these checks includes counting up random access
memory (RAM). This delays boot time, so some people
disable this feature in the CMOS settings, opting for a
quick boot. If installing new RAM it is better to enable
the feature until the RAM has been checked.
CMOS
Separate chip from ROM BIOS

Volatile (kept alive by battery)

Stores only changeable data

Not programs
Acts as clock to keep data current

Customizable via SETUP program

Often on Southbridge
BIOS vs. CMOS
 BIOS  CMOS
 Programs  Data

 Non-volatile (stays same  Volatile (kept alive with

after power off) battery)

 Can be changed by “flashing”  Changed via CMOS setup

 Typically 64 K of programs  Typically 128 K of data

(though Flash ROM is much (though chip size is typically
bigger) 64 K)

 Often a separate chip  Often on Southbridge

Accessing CMOS set-up
HOT KEYS FOR ACCESSING CMOS SETUP

BIOS HOT KEYS WHEN TO PRESS THE KEYS

 Acer CRLT+ALT+ESC During boot, after the memory
check
 Ami Del During boot, after the memory check
 Ami CTRL+ALT+S After memory check
 Phoenix CRLT+ALT+ESC After memory check
 Phoenix F2 After you see the Phoenix name
 Award Del During boot, after the memory check
 Att F1 During boot, after the memory check
 Ast CRLT+ALT+ESC During boot, after the memory check
 Compaq F10 none
 IBM F1 none
 Northgate F2 During boot, after the memory check
CMOS Setup
• Main menu
– Access to all submenus
Standard CMOS Features
• Clock, hard drives, floppy drives
SoftMenu Setup
Normally set to Default or Auto for all
Advanced Features
POST, boot order
Power Management
Use to enable/disable power-saving features
PnP/PCI
Rarely need to manipulate on today’s PCs
Set Password
Locks access to CMOS settings
Prevents non-techs from changing key settings
Power-On Self Test (POST)
POST, a diagnostic testing sequence run by a
computer’s BIOS as the computer’s power is initially
turned on. The POST will determine if the computer’s
RAM, disk drives, peripheral devices and other
hardware components are properly working. If the
diagnostic determines that everything is in working
order, the computer will continue to boot
Power-On Self Test (POST)
The power-on self test (POST) is a special program
stored on the ROM chip
Initiated when the computer is turned on or is reset

Checks out the system every time the computer boots

Communicates errors

Beep codes

Text errors
Beep Codes
 If video is determined to be missing or faulty
 One long beep followed by three short beeps

 If everything checks out

 One or two short beeps

 If RAM is missing or faulty

 Buzzing noise that repeats until power turned off

More complicated beep codes may be found in legacy

computers
 Check motherboard manual for meaning
 AMI BIOS ERROR BEEP CODES
 1 Beep - Memory Refresh Failure (check memory)
 2 Beeps - Memory Parity Error in first 64KB block (check memory)
 3 Beeps - Memory Read/Write Error in first 64KB block (check memory)
 4 Beeps - Motherboard timer not functioning (possible motherboard
replacement)
 5 Beeps - Processor Error (may need replacement Processor)
 6 Beeps - Gate A20/keyboard controller failure (possible motherboard
replacement)
 7 Beeps - Processor Exception Interrupt Error (may need replacement
Processor)
 8 Beeps - Display Memory Read/Write Failure (reseat or replace video
card)
 9 Beeps - ROM checksum Error (replace BIOS chip or motherboard)
 10 Beeps - CMOS shutdown Read/Write error (possible motherboard
replacement)
 11 Beeps - Bad Cache Memory - test failed (replace cache memory)
 Phoenix BIOS ERROR BEEP CODES
Phoenix BIOS beep codes are a series of beeps separated by a
pause, for example:
beep --- beep beep --- beep --- beep beep would be 1-2-1-2
1-1-4-1 - Cache Error (level 2)
1-2-2-3 - BIOS ROM Checksum
1-3-1-1 - DRAM Refresh Test
1-3-1-3 - Keyboard controller test
1-3-4-1 - RAM Failure on address line xxxx (check memory)
1-3-4-3 - RAM Failure on data bits xxxx of low byte of memory
bus
1-4-1-1 - RAM Failure on data bits xxxx of high byte of memory
bus
2-1-2-3 - ROM copyright notice
2-2-3-1 - Test for unexpected interrupts
AWARD BIOS ERROR BEEP CODES

There are 2 main beep codes for the Award BIOS:

one long beep and two short beeps - Video error (reseat
or replace video card)

two short beeps - Non-Fatal Error (reseat RAM, check

other components)
Text-Based Error Message

•101-199 SYSTEM BOARD

•201-299 MEMORY
•1101-1199 SERIAL PORT
•1701-1799 HDD
•301-399 KEYBOARD
•601-699 FDD
•501-599 FUSSER
 POST Cards
POST cards are devices that monitor POSTs and report on
the hardware that may be causing problems

Turn the PC off, plug in the card, and reboot

POST error codes do not fix the computer – they just

tell you where to look

If all else fails, replace the motherboard

The Boot Process
The CPU is the first component initialized when the
computer is turned on

It reads a special wire called power good once the

power supply provides the proper voltage to the CPU

Every CPU has a built-in memory address with the

first line of the POST program on the system ROM
The Boot Process
The last BIOS function called by POST is the
bootstrap loader

The bootstrap loader loads the operating system from

the boot sector
Searches the floppy, CD-ROM, or the hard drive
Boot order set in CMOS

The bootstrap loader generates an error if it cannot

find the boot sector on the bootable disk
Care and Feeding of
CMOS/BIOS
Losing CMOS Settings
Common errors
 CMOS configuration mismatch
 CMOS date/time not set
 No boot device available
 CMOS battery state low

Common reasons for losing CMOS data

 Jiggling the battery while doing other work
 Dirt on the motherboard
 Electrical surges
 Faulty power supplies
 Chip creep
Losing CMOS Settings
If your system keeps resetting

Replace the battery

Common symptoms of low battery

Slow running clock

Clock resetting to January 1st

Clearing CMOS Settings
To clear the CMOS settings, place the shunt on the
CMOS jumper

Resets to factory settings

Resets password
Thank You!!!