Start up Process - BIOS and CMOS

Start up

• Turn On
• BIOS (Basic Input/Output System)

Checking hardware and initializing it

Show error if something isnt working

Set options such as boot devices

You CANNOT write to it as it is a kind of ROM chip (Read Only Memory)

• CMOS (Complimentary Metal Oxide Semi-conductor.

You CAN write to the CMOS (e.g. passwords, time and date)

The CMOS is a kind of RAM (Random Access Memory)

Will save setting changes.

There is a battery associated to the CMOS that will keep enough power after power is cut off to allow the CMOS to save changes.