Windows 7 Annoyances

Appendix A. BIOS Settings

The BIOS, or Basic Input-Output System, is the software—stored in a chip on your motherboard—responsible for booting your computer and starting your operating system. It also handles the flow of data between the operating system and your peripherals (USB devices, PCI/PCIE slots, hard disk controller, video adapter, etc.), manages your PC’s power management features, and cooperates with the Windows plug-and-play subsystem. Incorrect settings in your PC’s BIOS can prevent Windows from booting, limit performance, and cause all sorts of hardware and driver problems.

Note

You change BIOS settings in the BIOS setup screen, which you can usually access by pressing a key—such as Del, F2, or Esc—immediately after powering on your system and before the initial beep. The normal boot screen that appears before the Windows logo often identifies the key you need to press; consult your computer’s manual if you need further help.

The settings available in a computer’s BIOS setup screen vary from one system to another, but there are many settings that are common among them all. Unfortunately, motherboard and computer manufacturers are notorious for poorly documenting BIOS settings, so it can be difficult to determine what the settings mean, let alone how they should be set. For instance, look up Microcode Updation in an ASUS motherboard manual, and here’s the entire explanation of the entry for that setting:

Microcode Updation [Enabled]

Allows you to enable or disable the microcode ...