The BIOS can be used to set your notebook's system parameters. The system date, time, power settings and other functions are set in the BIOS. This information is stored on a non-volatile, battery-backed CMOS RAM. This simply means that the settings are saved even when the notebook itself is switched off.

To access the BIOS,when you see the message F2 to enter System Configuration Utility (or similar) press the appropriate keys. This message is not on screen for long, and should you miss it you will need to reboot your notebook.

This page is intended merely as a guide, should you do any severe damage to your computer whilst in the BIOS, we can accept no responsibility.
The following options are available in the BIOS.

Menu	Menu Items
Main	Date, Time
Advanced	Advanced Chipset Control, shared memory, TV Output, Parallel Port type and mode, COM ports.
Security	BIOS Password
Boot	Boot sequence
Exit	Save and Exit, Exit (no save), Default settings, Discard changes, Save (no exit)

To navigate your way around the BIOS, use the following keys.

Keys	Action
Arrow / Right Arrow	Moves from one menu to another
Up/Down arrows	Scroll up and down through the options of a menu. Also, when an option is selected, these keys scroll through the available settings.
Enter	Selects an option you wish to change.

Note: if an option is not listed in the following menus, then it should remain at the factory default setting.

Item	Setting/Option		Function
Date and Time	Day/Month/Year Hour/Minute/Second		Sets the date and time

Item	Setting/Options		Function
Advanced Chipset Control	Embedded Share Memory	16 mb	The amount of installed memory which is to be used for the VGA display
		32 mb
		64 mb
I/O Device Configuration	Serial Port	Disabled	No Configuration
		Enabled	User Configuration (user sets Parallel Port mode)
		Auto	BIOS or OS chooses configuration
		(OS Controlled)	Displayed when controlled by the Operating System
	Parallel Port	Disabled	No Configuration
		Enabled	User Configuration (user sets Parallel Port mode)
		Auto	BIOS or OS chooses configuration
		(OS Controlled)	Displayed when controlled by the Operating System

Warning - NEVER set the shared Memory to be the same size as the total memory of your notebook. (i.e. if you only have 64mb memory, do not set the shared memory to 64mb). If you do this, your notebook will not boot and you will have to add more physical RAM before you can access your notebook!

Item	Options
Boot Device	Removable Devices
	Hard Drives
	CD-ROM Drive
	Network Boot

To set the boot sequence of your system, highlight the device that you would like to move and use '+' or '-' to move the device up or down in the list.

The exit menu provides the user with options for leaving the BIOS, with or without saving any changes which have been made, as well as the options for restoring default settings or returning to previous settings.

Item	Function
Exit Saving Changes	Save the current settings and reboot the system
Exit Discarding Changes	Exit without saving any of the changes
Load Setup Defaults	Restores to the previously saved settings
Discard Settings	Resets any changes you may have made in the BIOS back to what they were before you started.
Save Changes	Save changes which have been made, but don't leave the BIOS