Checking the BIOS Settings

The BIOS is a block of software that your computer uses before it loads Windows or some other operating system. Every time you turn on the computer, it performs a series of tests and sets a number of options that control the computer's performance.

The default BIOS option settings usually provide a configuration that works under most conditions, but many of them are not always the best choices for every user. When you're setting up a new computer, you may want to change one or more of these settings.

To open the BIOS Setup utility, restart your computer and immediately press the key that interrupts the startup process.

Caution 

Some of the settings in the BIOS Settings utility are critical to the operation of your computer. Don't change any BIOS settings unless you understand exactly what you're doing and why you're doing it.

CROSS-REF 

See Chapter 8 for more details about the BIOS.