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VK3ABK > BIOS 15.02.04 13:05l 57 Lines 2228 Bytes #999 (0) @ WW
BID : 15651_VK3KAY
Read: DB0FHN DO1RJ GUEST
Subj: Re: BIOS etc.
Path: DB0FHN<DB0RGB<OK0PPL<DB0RES<ON0AR<VK3KAY
Sent: 040215/1028Z @:VK3KAY.#WEV.VIC.AUS.OC #:15651 [Wendouree] $:15651_VK3KAY
From: VK3ABK@VK3KAY.#WEV.VIC.AUS.OC
To : BIOS@WW
Hello all Biased Biosese!
The question of what is a 'BIOS' and it's meaning has become a literary
and technical free-for-all.
I am surprised at this: I had not given it a thought. I mentioned the BIOS
among other things in a reply to Bob. VK6BE.
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Hello all Booters! (10 February 2004)
Bob, VK6BE, and now Willem, PA3FKO have sent bulletins asking for directions
to a fix for computer malfunction. In other words their PCs are revolting!
I haven't used Win XP as they do, but the boot procedure is the same for
all PCs and operating systems. So, may I offer these general comments.
When a PC is switched on, the BIOS (Basic Iput Output System), permanently
in the computer, tells the PC to go through the necessary steps to the MBR
(Master Boot Record) and get further instructions. The MBR contains the
information about the computer system, such as the hard disk settings and
format, the file system type, the config.sys and the operating system loader.
This is all placed in the PC when a motherboard manufacturer's disk is used
and the PC is first setup, or when a saved 'start-up' (or boot) disk has to
be used. The vital program is 'COMMAND.COM'.
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This meaning for BIOS has always, as far as I know, been in all text books
and PC magazines. It even appears in some computer CMOS Setup Utilities.
The POST, Power On Self Test is but one of many options available in many
CMOS setup utilities, in BIOS Features Setup. You enable or disable it.
The "Vital program"...'COMMAND.COM' is the utility that gets the computer
going after the BIOS is run. My Win98 'Startup Disk', made as a safety net
in case of a Hard Drive failure, shows ONLY the following.....
COMMAND COM 93,890 04-23-99 10:22p
1 file(s) 93,890 bytes
1,071,104 bytes
This 'Startup Disk' can be used to 'boot' the PC and do the job of the boot
record on the Hard Drive. Everyone should have a 'Startup/Boot disk, so run
an editor and look at all the instructions given to the computer.
I hope this clears some misunderstanding that my original bulletin has caused.
73. Dick. VK3ABK.
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