Hardware Tips: Tweak Your PC's BIOS Settings the Safe Way
Tweak Your PC's BIOS Settings the Safe WayIf Windows is the happy face your computer projects to the world,
then the BIOS is its dark, brooding subconscious. The BIOS--or Basic
Input/Output System--is the code for fundamental PC functions, such as
retrieving a keystroke from the keyboard or putting a pixel on the screen. This
small program works behind the scenes, translating Windows' people-friendly
commands into the zeroes and ones understood by your hardware. And like the
human subconscious, the BIOS can have a powerful influence on your PC's
behavior and performance. BIOS TherapyAs new technology emerges and old bugs are discovered, computer
makers often issue updated BIOS versions that can solve problems and improve
performance. Check your PC maker's Web site for updates. But first, make sure
you have the version number of your current BIOS; it usually flashes on your
monitor right after you turn on your system. (Press the
Pause key if it flashes too
quickly.)Updating your BIOS is easy, but you must do it with care. Usually
you need only run a small program from a floppy disk. If a problem occurs,
however, you can be left with a useless motherboard. So be sure to read all the
instructions in the BIOS update's readme file beforehand. And always do
exactly what the directions say. If the BIOS is your PC's subconscious, then its Setup utility is
the foundation on which you build your PC's character. The utility has user
settings to control hard disks, memory, graphics cards, power saving, USB
ports, and other hardware. The program used to come on a disk, but now it's
conveniently stored in the same ROM chip as the PC's BIOS, enabling easy
access. To open Setup, just press the key (or combination of keys) that you're
prompted to enter when the PC starts up. Different BIOS makers use different
keys--typically <Delete>, <F1>, or <F10>. Your screen should
announce which key or keys to press for Setup just after it displays the BIOS
version number. If it doesn't, check your system's documentation. Because the Setup utility is made by the BIOS maker and is in the
same chip as the BIOS, it's often called the BIOS Setup utility. And because it
stores its settings in the clock/calendar chip--a complementary metal-oxide
semiconductor, or CMOS, chip--it's also referred to as the CMOS Setup program.
(The CMOS chip has its own battery to retain the chip's settings even when the
PC is unplugged.) The Setup utility has an abundance of hardware settings, ranging
from the obvious, like one for the time on your PC's clock, to the arcane, such
as the number of "wait states" that coordinate the flow of data between the RAM
and the CPU. First, Do No HarmWhen working with your PC's Setup utility, use the same rule of
thumb taught to budding brain surgeons: If you don't know what something does,
don't mess with it. Inadvertently changing a wait state or other cryptic
setting can slow performance or even cause a system crash. If you think you may have accidentally changed a setting while
working in the Setup utility, play it safe and start over. All Setup utilities
have a menu choice that lets you exit without saving changes. You may also see
a choice for returning the settings to their default values. Ignore this
option: If your PC's vendor fine-tuned the system, the BIOS maker's default
settings may not be optimal. Back up your settings before making changes. When the battery that
powers the clock/calendar chip dies, your settings die with it. If your Setup
utility has a backup option, use it. If not, write your settings down on
paper--or press the
Print Screen key for each screen in the
utility (this doesn't always work, however). What to Look ForBefore you start, read through the user manual that came with your
PC or motherboard. Many manuals offer a short explanation of each setting.
Settings vary by manufacturer and model, but you should find these on almost
all PCs:Optimization and compatibility settings: The Setup
utility often contains settings for hardware performance. Sometimes these
aren't set optimally at the factory, especially on generic or built-to-order
PCs. Scan the entire Setup program. AGP mode settings and DMA settings are good
candidates for optimization. These settings are also useful for troubleshooting
newly installed hardware: Disabling or lowering a given setting may kick-start
a heretofore incompatible graphics card, CD-ROM drive, or other device.Hard-disk settings: You'll find a table, usually on a
second or Advanced page and with "IDE" in its title, that lists all the
configuration parameters for the EIDE hard drives directly connected to your
motherboard. (SCSI hard drives and EIDE hard drives running off an expansion
card will have their own configuration programs.) While most PCs made in the
last few years can seamlessly detect and configure new hard disks, some require
manual installation. Read your new disk's documentation on that procedure and
use the on-screen options (
FIGURE 1 shows an
example) to make changes in this table.Floppy disk: This option lets you set the type of
floppy drive (3.5-inch, 1.44MB, for instance) that you have designated as your
A: or B: drive. This is a good setting to check if you're having floppy-drive
problems. Some Setup utilities have a separate 'Floppy Read only' security
setting that prevents your data from being written to a floppy disk and removed
from the PC.Boot sequence: This setting determines where the PC
first looks for boot-up instructions. For example: 'A: then C:', 'C: then A:',
or 'C:, Zip drive'. To boot from a CD-ROM, Zip, or LS-120 drive, you'll likely
have to change this setting.Password protection: If this is enabled, the BIOS will
ask for a password before booting up. Be very careful with this one: If you
forget the password, you'll have to reset a motherboard jumper or disconnect
your CMOS battery, which will cause you to lose all your settings, or you may
even have to buy a new motherboard.IRQ settings: If you need an extra IRQ setting for new
hardware, you may free one up by disabling an unused feature, such as a serial
port, parallel port, or USB port.Parallel port settings: Select the mode that works
best for your hardware. ECP or EPP modes can speed up printers and other
devices considerably (see
FIGURE 2).Fan RPM and CPU temperature: These two critical
parameters should be checked periodically to ensure they are functioning
properly.Go Offline for Hardware HelpThe Internet is great for finding answers to hardware questions,
but sifting through Web sites looking for trustworthy advice can take a lot of
time. (Unless, of course, you go straight to
PCWorld.com.)
Sometimes the fastest way to get answers is the old-fashioned way: with a good
reference book. Here are two of the best.Upgrading
and Repairing PCs by Scott Mueller ($60) is the classic book
covering everything you need to know about the PC and quite a bit you likely
don't know. If you're looking for an all-around reference, this title's breadth
and depth are unbeatable (
www.quepublishing.com).
PC
Hardware in a Nutshell by Barbara Fritchman Thompson and Robert
Bruce Thompson ($40) is a well-written, practical guide to buying and using
PCs. It's loaded with real-world advice presented in a concise style that
clearly delivers just the information you want, without your having to hunt for
it (
www.oreilly.com).Dirty DrivingA weekend remodeling job left a layer of dust over our whole
office, and I'm worried that my CD-RW drive may be dirty. How should clean
it? Cory Hogan, Fresno, CaliforniaYou probably shouldn't. The slightest smudge can block or jostle
the drive's sensitive laser, so if it ain't broke, don't clean it. If your
performance slows, or if your drive is unable to read the media, try a few
well-directed blasts from a can of compressed air--available for less than $10
from computer stores (see
FIGURE 3). Be sure
to use the plastic straw that comes with the can. And keep the blasts short;
extended rushes of air can cause condensation that deposits moisture on the
drive's interior. Before using a CD-RW cleaning kit such as Kensington's $15
Drive
Guardian, check with the drive maker; some recommend them, but
others don't.Brake for Old-TimersSome really old software programs just don't work on today's
high-speed PCs. If you have a golden oldie that locks up or spits out an error
message every time you try to run it, give CPUKiller a try; it's a free,
easy-to-use utility that lets you slow down your PC as little or as much as you
want. Go to
www.cpukiller.com to download your copy. Click on the link for past
Hardware
Tips columns. Send your tips and questions to
kirk_steers@pcworld.com.
We pay $50 for published items. Kirk Steers is a
PC World contributing editor.
