What is BIOS? Ask PC Experts

Ever wondered how does your PC which is made of various hardware’s work together in sync and still be perfect? While you type a command or run a program how does the entire system co-ordinate to perform instantly within seconds?

BIOS – Binary Input and Output System of your PC.

BIOS look into the functioning of your system as one. All hard drives, ports, CPU and others function together with the help of BIOS.

To be able to perform successfully the computer is completely dependant on the BIOS. When you turn on your PC is the BIOS is copied from the ROM to RAM. The BIOS is usually stored inside a PROM, EEPROM or flash ROM.

Here is how the BIOS functions:

1. The BIOS is used to function as the sole interface through which all components communicate. BIOS handles important instructions and allows the user to customize their settings in order to get the maximum performance or stability out of the system.
2. When you turn on your PC the BIOS starts up your computer.
3. When the PC is first turned on, its main system memory is empty, and it needs to find instructions immediately to tell it what to run to start up the PC. These it finds within the BIOS program, because the BIOS is in read-only permanent memory and so is always available for use, even when the rest of system memory is empty.
4. It checks for all the attachments in your system and then loads the Operating system into the RAM from where it executes.
5. One of the most important role of the BIOS in the PC is Hard disk access and control.
6. The loading of the system is always done as per the settings of the BIOS. You must have noted when you switch on your PC while the system is being loaded you have option of “DEL” to load the BIOS. Here you can see, the drive is always selected to boot the system, where the OS is linked from the ROM to the RAM in loaded for use.
7. When re-installing windows we change the settings in the BIOS to boot from the CD-ROM. In this case the BIOS picks the data from the CD-ROM and enables re-installation of windows via the RAM.
8. BIOS also enables faster flow of data from the drive to the memory in cases wherein faster data flow is required. E.G. In case of video cards. The data is to be transferred within seconds from the graphic card to the monitor.
9. Certain BIOS also enable Plug and Play devices. I.e. addition if new devices which do not require any installation or configuration.

To know more about BIOS, BIOS Setting or any other PC related issues, click here to ASK PC EXPERTS.

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