Chapter 4: Hardware Configuration

Overview

con*fig*ure v : to assemble pieces so that they function as a single unit

Configuring your computer hardware can be an easy or difficult task to complete. Each hardware device must be configured with unique system resource settings. The resource settings enable the device to communicate with the computer's processor and memory without competing or conflicting with other devices. Most devices have the capability to accept various combinations of resource settings.

In this chapter, these hardware configuration topics are covered:

• Hardware installation

• Software drivers

• Interrupts

• Base memory

• I/O memory

• Direct memory access (DMA)