Important BIOS Settings

Note: This does not hold for proprietary BIOS setups that you may encounter in some older Compaq systems. In addition, not all BIOSes have all of these features.

 
Standard Settings

These are basic settings that involve system time/date, and the detection of system drives. In addition, it configures system behaviors during certain errors. See PCguide details of standard/drive settings.

Advanced Features

Advanced drive settings and performance tweaks. Some of these settings can be disabled in the event of system failures. Frequently includes boot order settings. See PCguide details of advanced feature settings.

Advanced Chipset Features

Tweaks which will affect critical system performance involving memory, system timer, cache, etc. You will not affect these settings under any circumstances. See PCguide details of advanced chipset feature settings.

PCI/PNP Configuration

Tweaks which will affect the PCI bus (over which PCI devices run) and PnP (Plug and Play) behavior. You will not affect these settings under any circumstances. See PCguide details of PCI/PnP configuration settings.

Power Management

Affects the power down/power up of different components in the system. Includes things like 'wake up on lan'. Can affect app functions that rely on constant component uptime. See PCguide details of power management settings.

Integrated Peripherals

Enables or disables peripherals integrated into the motherboard. Choices usually include network adapter, video adapter and audio adapter (if they are integrated). This will be very important for you if you need to replace an integrated peripheral's function with a non-integrated card. See PCguide details of integrated peripherals settings.

IDE Device Setup/Auto detection

Drives are generally auto detected in the 'standard settings' part of the BIOS. This section allows advanced and detailed configuration of each drive. See PCguide details of hardware device settings.

Security/Password Settings

Sets passwords for system access. Note: All BIOS passwords can be circumvented by removing the BIOS battery and then re-inserting it, or setting the BIOS jumper to defaults. See PCguide details of security/password settings.

Hardware Device Settings

All new computers feature 'jumper less' configurations. You can set CPU speed, multipliers, and other parameters through the BIOS. This is where you set such parameters. See PCguide details of hardware device settings.

Auto configuration and Defaults

Sets all BIOS settings to the 'out of the box' configurations. Warning: setting the BIOS to defaults can cause some devices and apps to malfunction. Setting BIOS defaults in OEM systems should not effect the system configurations as originally set by the manufacture. It is also known as Clearing the NVRAM and is similar to removing the CMOS battery.  See PCguide details of hardware device settings.