Absolute Beginners Guide to A+ Certification. Covers the Hardware and Operating Systems Exam

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Use the "Key Terms and Definitions" section of the lab to review terms used in this chapter. Try the "Practice Test" to check your comprehension of the chapter. Tackle the "Lab Exercises" to apply your knowledge.

Key Terms and Definitions

Advanced CMOS Configuration

Menu that has various types of settings for hardware.

AMI (American Megatrends)

Another leading third-party BIOS developer.

Auto

ATA/IDE BIOS setting that queries the drive for the correct settings every time you start the computer.

Auto-detect

BIOS feature used to query the ATA/IDE drives for the correct settings. The settings are usually transferred to the user -defined drive type option for each drive.

automatic configuration

Selecting an option such as Optimal, Fail-Safe, Turbo, Setup defaults, or Original to configure all except the standard setup screen.

beep code

Series of long/short or high/low beeps used to indicate a POST test failure. Beep codes vary by BIOS vendor and version.

BIOS (basic input/output system)

Firmware that configures and controls onboard hardware, performs the POST, and loads the operating system (OS). It also acts as the interface between onboard hardware and the OS.

BIOS defaults

Automatic BIOS setup option that selects low-performance settings. Also called Original or Fail-Safe.

BIOS setup

A program (stored in the BIOS on most systems) that can be activated at system startup and is used to configure settings for BIOS-controlled devices and options. Also called CMOS setup.

BIOS upgrade

Replacement of BIOS code to support new hardware and software. Usually involves a software download and installation, but occasionally requires a chip swap (mostly on older systems or systems in which a Flash BIOS update has failed).

Boot Order

Menu that changes the order in which drives are checked for an operating system order and boot options.

bootstrap loader

Portion of the BIOS responsible for starting the computer and locating the operating system.

Chipset configuration

Menu that has memory and AGP settings. Also called Advanced Chipset or Chipset Features.

cold boot

System start after being turned on or reset. The complete POST including memory test is run after a cold boot.

CMOS (Complementary Metal-Oxide Semiconductor)

Low-power chip construction; also the name for the chip used to retain BIOS setup information.

CMOS battery

Motherboard battery used to retain CMOS settings.

CMOS setting

Values stored in the CMOS generated by the selections made in the BIOS/CMOS setup.

DIP (Dual Inline Pin)

A rectangular chip with pins on the long sides.

DIP switch

Small two-position switches on motherboard used for various configuration tasks . Primarily used on recent systems for configuring processor speed and voltage.

Flash BIOS

BIOS chip with Flash memory; can be upgraded with special software.

Flash recovery

A jumper on some systems that enables recovery from a failed Flash BIOS upgrade.

Hardware Monitor

Menu that displays fan speed, system temperature, and processor voltage. Also called PC Health.

I/O device configuration

Menu that configures onboard peripherals. Also called Onboard Peripherals or Integrated Peripherals.

PCI Configuration

Menu used to adjust IRQ and other PCI slot/device settings.

Phoenix Technologies

Original third-party BIOS developer. Owns the former Award Software.

PLCC (Plastic Leaded Chip Carrier)

A square chip with leads on all four sides.

PnP Configuration

Menu(s) used to prevent hardware resource conflicts (IRQ, DMA, I/O port) between PnP and non-PnP hardware. Can sometimes be disabled in the BIOS.

POST (power-on self-test)

The series of tests performed by the BIOS when the computer is turned on or rebooted. If the POST fails, the computer can't start.

POST card

A PCI or ISA card that displays POST codes during system startup. Can be used to determine codes indicating POST failure when error messages or beep codes don't apply.

POST code

Two-digit hex codes used to indicate various checkpoints during the startup process. Also called checkpoint codes.

POST error message

Error message such as "stuck key" or "CMOS error" generated by the POST.

Power Management

Menu that configures power management and its options.

RTC/NVRAM (real-time clock/non-volatile RAM)

The official name of the CMOS.

Setup defaults

Automatic BIOS setup option that selects normal performance settings. Also called Optimal.

Standard CMOS Configuration

Menu that typically sets date, time, and drive configuration.

standard device

Device built into the motherboard.

Turbo

Automatic BIOS setup option that selects fastest memory timings.

warm boot

System start after system is restarted. A condensed POST without memory test is run after a warm boot.

write-protect jumper

A jumper on some systems that prevents the Flash BIOS from being overwritten; remove to perform a BIOS update, and then replace.

Practice Test

1:

Which of the following statements most accurately describes the BIOS chip? (Choose one)

  1. Firmware that controls add-on cards

  2. Software that controls motherboard devices

  3. Hardware that performs the POST

  4. Firmware that configures motherboard devices

2:

Which of the following statements most accurately describes the relationship of the BIOS to CMOS?

  1. The CMOS stores the setup program for the BIOS.

  2. The CMOS stores the choices made from options in the BIOS.

  3. The CMOS and BIOS perform completely unrelated tasks.

  4. The CMOS is another name for the BIOS.

3:

A client complains that the clock on the system is losing time, even after repeated resetting. Which of the following motherboard components is the most likely cause?

  1. Battery

  2. CMOS chip

  3. BIOS

  4. ATA/IDE host adapter

4:

You insert a POST (checkpoint) card into a system that can't boot and determine that the system is pausing at POST code 31hex. Which of the following do you also need to determine before you can repair or replace a defective component in the system?

  1. Motherboard model

  2. Operating system version

  3. BIOS maker

  4. Processor type

5:

You have replaced a PS/2 keyboard with a USB keyboard. The keyboard doesn't work until the system boots to the Windows GUI. Which of the following options should be enabled to allow the keyboard to work at all times?

  1. USB legacy mode

  2. USB ports

  3. Level 1 cache

  4. Keyboard repeat rate

6:

On a Windows 98 system, you need to install a legacy ISA card that doesn't use PnP. Which BIOS feature should you use to avoid conflicts with PCI cards?

  1. Enable BIOS Defaults (Fail-Safe) configuration

  2. Disable Plug-and-Play Operating System setting

  3. Disable Power Management

  4. PnP Resource Exclusion menu(s)

7:

A user prefers to leave a blank floppy disk in the computer at all times to use for data backups . Which of the following boot sequences will enable the computer to boot without a " non-system disk" error?

  1. Floppy, CD-ROM, hard disk

  2. SCSI, network, CD-ROM

  3. CD-ROM, hard disk, floppy

  4. Floppy, hard disk, CD-ROM

8:

After installing a 2200+ AMD Athlon XP in place of a 1.2GHz Athlon processor, the system doesn't detect the processor properly. Which of the following procedures is most likely to enable the new processor to work properly?

  1. Record all BIOS/CMOS information and restart system.

  2. Install the recommended Flash BIOS upgrade.

  3. Disable write-protection on the system BIOS chip.

  4. Disable Plug-and-Play Operating System option.

9:

After installing a new case fan, the Hardware Monitor feature shows no activity for the case (chassis) fan. Which of the following is the most likely cause?

  1. The case fan has failed.

  2. The case fan is plugged into a drive connector instead of the motherboard.

  3. The system BIOS is outdated .

  4. The operating system is not compatible with the fan.

10:

Your client complains that some computer users are tampering with BIOS settings and causing the system to fail. Which of the following BIOS options could be used to prevent this problem?

  1. Enable Plug-and-Play Operating System.

  2. Disable Auto Detection of ATA/IDE drives.

  3. Disable Power-On password.

  4. Enable Setup password.

Lab Exercises

Required equipment : motherboard or system reference manual with BIOS setup screens, working system with Internet connection

The BIOS Detective

Objective : Determine BIOS vendor and get BIOS information.

  1. Start system and look for BIOS vendor information on startup screen.

  2. If this information is not present, press the key(s) to start the BIOS setup program.

  3. Look for the BIOS vendor information on the menu.

  4. Go to the BIOS vendor's Web site and download listings of beep codes, POST

  5. hex codes, and other technical information.

  6. File this information with other information for the system.

CMOS Settings

Objective : Determine selected BIOS settings.

  1. Start system and start the BIOS setup program.

  2. Look for the following information:

    • Password setup

    • AGP setup

    • USB setup

    • Integrated peripherals and ports (serial, parallel, audio, network, and so forth)

  3. Note the BIOS menu used for each menu and the settings in use. You can use Post-It notes in the system or motherboard manual to record the current settings.

BIOS Upgrades

Objective : Determine the availability and benefits of a BIOS upgrade for your system.

  1. Determine the motherboard vendor and model (check manual, read startup information, or check with system vendor).

  2. Go to system/motherboard vendor's Web site and determine if BIOS upgrade(s) are available.

  3. Look for the following:

    • Whether a BIOS upgrade is necessary for a particular processor upgrade

    • Whether only some PCB (printed circuit board) versions of a motherboard can be upgraded

    • Other benefits of the BIOS upgrade

  4. Go to the download page and determine the following:

    • Can the upgrade be performed from within Windows?

    • Does a download contain the loader program, or do you need to download a loader program and BIOS image separately?

  5. Check the system/motherboard manual (download a copy if necessary) to determine:

    • If BIOS recovery is available

    • If system features a dual BIOS (two BIOS chips) design

    • If the BIOS is write-protected (this feature must be disabled before an upgrade can take place)

Answers to Practice Test

A1:

Answer D (firmware that configures motherboard devices) is the right answer.

A2:

Answer B (the CMOS stores the choices made from options in the BIOS) has the relationship between CMOS and BIOS exactly right.

A3:

Your client will be very happy if you start with Answer A (battery). It's a cheap fix that does the job almost every time.

A4:

You need answer C (BIOS maker) before you can make any progress on this system. Because the POST codes mean different things in different BIOSs, you must find out the BIOS maker (and then the BIOS version) to use a POST card effectively.

A5:

If you chose answer A (USB legacy mode), give yourself a pat on the back.

A6:

To avoid painful conflicts, give answer D (PnP Resource Exclusion menus ) a try. You will also need to know the hardware resources available and the resources the card is using.

A7:

Answer C (CD-ROM, hard disk, floppy) is the way to booting happiness for this user.

A8:

Answer B (install the recommended Flash BIOS upgrade) is the right choice. You might need to disable write-protection on the BIOS chip and you should record BIOS/CMOS information before the upgrade, but neither of these is the answer itself.

A9:

Unless you believe in complex answers to simple problems, answer B (the case fan is plugged into a drive connector instead of the motherboard) is the most likely cause.

A10:

It's time to try answer D (enable Setup password) to stop unauthorized BIOS hacking.

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