Sometimes troubleshooting requires you to make changes to your PC's BIOS (Basic Input Output System). What's the BIOS, you say? It's geek-speak for a small bit of software that acts as translator between Windows and your computer's hardware. You might even say it's Windows' subconscious mind, controlling Windows' behavior without being visible to the outside world. And like the human subconscious, the BIOS powerfully affects outward behavior.
The BIOS isn't actually part of Windows, which is stored on your hard drive. Instead, the BIOS software is stored on a chip in your computer. When you first turn on your computer, the BIOS tests your computer's hardware, then finds Windows on the hard drive and starts it.
To work properly, every BIOS must be customized to its host computer. For instance, the BIOS needs to know the time, the date, and what kind of hard drives are installed in the computer. This information and more is manually entered into the BIOS via the BIOS setup program (also called the CMOS setup program). To access your computer's BIOS setup program:
- Turn on your computer.
Carefully watch your computer screen for instructions on how to enter the BIOS setup program. Typically, a brief message will flash on the screen just seconds after you turn on the computer telling you to press a certain key to enter the setup program—often the DEL or F1 key.
- Press the designated key, and the BIOS setup menu should appear. You only have a few seconds to press the key, so be quick. If you miss, restart the computer and try again.
Find the setting you want to change and change it. The menu structure and specific BIOS settings vary a bit from computer to computer, but navigation is usually straightforward.
- Press the proper key to save your changes and exit. Again, the exact key to press varies from PC to PC, but you should find clear directions on the screen.
- Your computer will restart and launch Windows.
