Computer Hardware Fundamentals
Laboratory Exercise 2: BIOS Setup
OBJECTIVES:
After completing this exercise, the students will be able to:
 identify information about the system hardware components
 explore the different BIOS settings and menus
 modify BIOS settings
MATERIALS AND EQUIPMENT:
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complete PC system with Windows OS
bootable floppy diskette
bootable CD-ROM or DVD
PROCEDURES:
Note: This exercise should be performed under the instructor’s supervision. The instructions below are
based on common PC setups. The steps may vary depending on the system. Ask your instructor for
assistance if the steps below are not applicable.
1. Boot your PC and look for directions on the screen that tell you how to access CMOS setup on your
PC such as Press F2 to enter setup. Press the specified key to access CMOS setup.
2. When the CMOS main screen displays, write down the settings shown. Then follow the instructions on
the screen to select and navigate to the next screen. You can use the arrow keys or TAB key to
highlight options. Once you have highlighted your selection, you usually need to press the ENTER key,
PAGE DOWN key or the SPACEBAR. The main screen may or may not display a short summary of the
highlighted category.
3. Continue navigating through screens and writing down settings until you have a complete record of the
CMOS settings.
4. Reset the CMOS or set the CMOS settings to default. Then, enter manually the settings you recorded
in step 2 and 3.
5. What is the BIOS manufacturer of your system?
_______________________________________________________________________
6. Enumerate the main menus that appear in the BIOS setup utility.
_________________________________________________________________________________
_________________________________________________________________________________
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Laboratory Exercise 2: BIOS Setup
* Property of STI
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Computer Hardware Fundamentals
7. What keys are used to navigate the BIOS setup?
Exit
____________
Select Item
____________
Select Menu
____________
Change Values
____________
Setup Default
____________
Save & Exit
____________
Select Sub Menu
____________
8. Answer the checklist below:
System Information
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HD model
______________________________________
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System time
______________________________________
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System date
______________________________________
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System memory
______________________________________
9. Change the system time and date settings.
10. Set a supervisor password. Type “lab2bios” as the password.
11. Save the changes and exit BIOS setup.
12. Enter BIOS setup. Enter the supervisor password. Verify if the time and date settings are changed.
13. Remove the supervisor password and restore the original time and date settings. Save the changes.
14. Change the boot sequence of the system. Return to the main CMOS setup screen and select the
option to change the boot sequence. Follow the menu options. Set the floppy drive as the first boot
device. Disable other boot devices. Save the changes and exit BIOS setup.
15. Insert the bootable floppy diskette. Verify if the system will boot using the floppy drive.
16. After verifying, press Ctrl+Alt+Del and enter BIOS setup.
17. Set the CD-ROM or DVD drive as the first boot device. Disable other boot devices. Save the changes
and exit BIOS setup.
18. Insert the bootable CD-ROM or DVD. Verify if the system will boot using the CD-ROM or DVD.
19. After verifying, press Ctrl+Alt+Del and enter BIOS setup.
Laboratory Exercise 2: BIOS Setup
* Property of STI
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Computer Hardware Fundamentals
20. Restore the boot sequence to its original settings. Set the floppy drive as the first boot device, CDROM or DVD drive as the second boot device, and hard disk drive as the third boot device. Save the
changes and exit BIOS setup.
21. Remove any floppy disk, CD-ROM, or DVD from the drives so that Windows can start normally.
22. Shut down and turn off the PC.
Essay:
1. What happens when the battery of the motherboard is taken out or looses charge?
2. What is the purpose of setting supervisor password in CMOS setup?
Laboratory Exercise 2: BIOS Setup
* Property of STI
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