What Is My Computer's BIOS?

The Basic Input Output System (BIOS) is the first operating system that your computer loads when it loads up. It runs from ROM chips in the computer's motherboard and directs the computer to load an operating system from some computer device. To load the BIOS setup utility, press F1, F2, F6, F8, Del or similar key when the computer first loads. The BIOS setup utility usually contains your computer's time and date (which is stored in ROM; this information doesn't get lost when your computer turns off, because there is usually a 3V battery on the motherboard that keeps the BIOS settings and date in the computer's memory). Also, the BIOS usually contains: your computer's boot manager to tell the computer where to find an operating system, the computer system's hardware information, RAM and CPU configurations (so that you may overclock your RAM and CPU; although I don't recommend this), power management information (so that you can enable your computer to sleep or not), a password configuration for the BIOS (so you can decide whether or not you want to have two passwords load up when someone turns on your computer; for added security), and many other things to configure the settings of your computer.