Chapter 2

System Utilities

BIOS Setup Utility

The BIOS Setup Utility is a hardware configuration program built into your computer’s BIOS (Basic Input/

Output System).

Your computer is already properly configured and optimized, and you do not need to run this utility. However, if you encounter configuration problems, you may need to run Setup. Please also refer to Chapter 4

Troubleshooting when problem arises.

To activate the BIOS Utility, press

m

during POST (when “Press <F2> to enter Setup” message is prompted on the bottom of screen).

Press m to enter setup. The default parameter of F12 Boot Menu is set to “disabled”. If you want to change boot device without entering BIOS Setup Utility, please set the parameter to “enabled”.

Press <F12> during POST to enter multi-boot menu. In this menu, user can change boot device without entering BIOS SETUP Utility.

. Info.

PhoenixBIOS Setup Utility

Main Advanced Security Boot Exit

CPU Type:

CPU Speed:

Intel (R) Pentium (R) M processor 1.70Ghz

1700 MHz

HDD1 Model Name:

HDD1 Serial Number:

HDD2 Model Name:

HDD2 Serial Number:

ATAPI Device:

System BIOS Ver:

VGA BIOS Ver:

KBC Ver:

Serial Number

IC25N080ATMR04-0

MPAA01Q2G0746A

MATSHITADVD-RAM UJ-825S

3A01

Montara-GME3360

PQ1A24

1234567890123456789012

Asset Tag Number: 1234567890

Product Aspire1680

Manufacturer Name: Acer

UUID: xxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxx

F1 Help ↑ ↓ Select Item F5/F6 Change Values F9 Setup Defaults

Esc Exit

→

Select Menu Enter Select

4

Sub - Menu F10 Save and Exit

Chapter 2 31

Navigating the BIOS Utility

There are six menu options: Info., Main, System Devices, Security, Boot, and Exit.

Follow these instructions:

T

T

To choose a menu, use the cursor left/right keys (zx).

To choose a parameter, use the cursor up/down keys ( wy).

T

T

T

T

To change the value of a parameter, press por q.

A plus sign (+) indicates the item has sub-items. Press e to expand this item.

Press ^ while you are in any of the menu options to go to the Exit menu.

In any menu, you can load default settings by pressing t. You can also press u to save any changes made and exit the BIOS Setup Utility.

NOTE: You can change the value of a parameter if it is enclosed in square brackets. Navigation keys for a particular menu are shown on the bottom of the screen. Help for parameters are found in the Item

Specific Help part of the screen. Read this carefully when making changes to parameter values. Please

note that system information vary in models.

32 Chapter 2

Information

. Info.

PhoenixBIOS Setup Utility

Main Advanced Security Boot Exit

CPU Type:

CPU Speed:

Intel (R) Pentium (R) M processor 1.70Ghz

1700 MHz

HDD1 Model Name:

HDD1 Serial Number:

HDD2 Model Name:

HDD2 Serial Number:

ATAPI Device:

System BIOS Ver:

VGA BIOS Ver:

IC25N080ATMR04-0

MPAA01Q2G0746A

MATSHITADVD-RAM UJ-825S

3A01

Montara-GME3360

KBC Ver:

Serial Number

PQ1A24

1234567890123456789012

Asset Tag Number: 1234567890

Product Aspire1680

Manufacturer Name: Acer

UUID: xxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxx

F1 Help

↑ ↓

Select Item F5/F6 Change Values F9 Setup Defaults

Esc Exit → Select Menu Enter Select

4

Sub - Menu F10 Save and Exit

NOTE: The system information is subject to different models.

Parameter

Floppy Disk Drive

HDD Model Name

HDD Serial Number

ATAPI Model Name

ATAPI Serial Number

Serial Number

UUID Number

Description

Shows floppy drive type informaiton only when this model has floppy disk drive.

This field shows the model name of HDD installed on primary IDE master.

This field displays the serial number of HDD installed on primary IDE master.

This field displays the mofel name of devices installed on secondary IDE master. The hard disk drive or optical drive model name is automatically detected by the system.

This field shows the serial number of devices installed on secondary IDE master.

This field displays the serial number of this unit.

This will be visible only when an internal LAN device is presenting.

UUID=32bytes

Chapter 2 33

Main

The Main screen displays a summary of your computer hardware information, and also includes basic setup parameters. It allows the user to specify standard IBM PC AT system parameters.

PhoenixBIOS Setup Utility

Info.

Main

Advanced Security Boot Exit

Item Specific Help

System Time:

System Date:

Quiet Boot:

System Memory:

Extended Memory:

Video Memory

Power on Display:

Network boot:

F12 Boot Menu:

D2D recovery:

[05:34:07]

[07/23/2004]

640 KB

<Tab>, <Shift-Tab>, or

<Enter> selects field.

Shows system base memory size

238MB

[16MB]

Shows extended memory size

VGA memory size

[Enabled]

[Auto ]

[Enabled]

[Disabled]

[Enabled]

F1 Help

↑ ↓

Select Item Change Values F9 Setup Defaults

Esc Exit ← Select Menu Enter Select

4

Sub -Menu F10 Save and Exit

NOTE: The screen above is for your reference only. Actual values may differ.

34 Chapter 2

The table below describes the parameters in this screen. Settings in boldface are the default and suggested parameter settings.

Parameter

System Time

System Date

System Memory

Extended Memory

VGA Memory

Fast Boot

Power on display

LCD Auto Dim

Network Boot

F12 Boot Menu

D2D Recovery

Description

Sets the system time. The hours are displayed with 24-hour format.

Sets the system date.

Format/Option

Format: HH:MM:SS

(hour:minute:second) System Time

Format MM/DD/YYYY (month/day/ year)

System Date

This field reports the memory size of the system.

Memory size is fixed to 640MB

This field reports the memory size of the extended memory in the system.

Extended Memory size=Total memory size-1MB

Shows the VGA memory size. VGA Memory size=64/128MB

Determines if Customer Logo will be displayed or not; shows Summary Screen is disabled or enabled.

Enabled: Customer Logo is displayed, and

Summary Screen is disabled.

Disabled: Customer Logo is not displayed, and

Summary Screen is enabled.

Auto: During power process, the system will detect if any display device is connected on external video port. If any external display device is connected, the power on display will be in CRT

(or projector) only mode. Otherwise it will be in

LCD only mode.

Both: Simultaneously enable both the integrated

LCD screen and the system’s external video port

(for an external CRT or projector).

Determines if the system will automatically dim the LCD brightness in order to save power when

AC is not present.

The system will support an automatic dimming of the LCD backlight when the AC power is NOT available (running on battery power).

Enables, disables the system boot from LAN

(remote server).

Enables, disables Boot Menu during POST.

Enables, disables D2D Recovery function. The function allows the user to create a hidden partition on hard disc drive to store operation system and restore the system to factory defaults.

Option:

Enabled

or Disabled

Option:

Auto

or Both

Option:

Enabled

or Disabled

Option:

Enabled

or Disabled

Option:

Disabled

or Enabled

Option:

Enabled

or Disabled

NOTE: The sub-items under each device will not be shown if the device control is set to disable or auto. This is because the user is not allowed to control the settings in these cases.

Chapter 2 35

Advanced

The Advanced menu screen contains parameters involving your hardware devices. It also provides advanced settings of the system.

PhoenixBIOS Setup Utility

Info.

Main Advanced Security Boot Exit

Item Specific Help

Internal Touchpad: [Both]

Infrared Port (FIR): [Enabled]

Configure Infrared Port using options:

[Disable]

No configuration

[Enabled]

User configuration

[Auto]

BIOS or OS chooses

configuration

(OS Controlled)

Displayed when controlled

by OS

F1 Help ↑ ↓ Select Item F5/F6 Change Values F9 Setup Defaults

Esc Exit

← →

Enter

4

Sub - Menu F10 Save and Exit

The table below describes the parameters in the screen. Settings in boldface are the default and suggested parameter settings.

.

Parameter

Infrared Port

Parallel Port

Mode

Base I/O address

Interrupt

DMA channel

Description

Enables, disables or auto detects the infrared port.

Enables, disables or auto detects the parallel port.

Sets the operation mode of the parallel port.

Sets the I/O address of the parallel port.

Sets the interrupt request of the parallel port.

Sets a DMA channel for the printer to operate in

ECP mode. This parameter is enabled only if Mode is set to ECP.

Options

Disabled

/Disabled/Auto

Enabled

/Disabled/Auto

ECP

, EPP, Output only or Bidirectional

378

/278

IRQ7

/IRQ5

DMA3

/DMA1

36 Chapter 2

Parameter

Legacy USB Support

Hard Disk Recovery

Description

Enables, disables USB interface devices support.

(Enable for use with a non-USB aware Operating

System such as DOS or UNIX).

Enables or disables Hard Disk to Hard Disk system

Recovery by pressing Fn+F10 key during POST.

Options

Option:

Disabled

or Enabled

Option:

Disabled

or Enabled

Chapter 2 37

Security

The Security screen contains parameters that help safeguard and protect your computer from unauthorized use.

PhoenixBIOS Setup Utility

Info.

Main Advanced

Security

Boot Exit

Supervisor Password Is:

User Password Is:

Primary HardDisk Security:

HDD Master ID:

Set Supervisor Password

Set User Passord

Set HDD Password

Password on Boot

Clear

Clear

Clear

43883445

[Enter]

[Enter]

[Enter]

[Disabled]

Item Specific Help

When shown as [Locked], the hard drive password currently can not be changed or disabled.

To change or disable it, turn off the system and enter Setup immediately after turning it back on.

Press [Enter] to input, change, or disable hard drive passwords.

F1 Help ↑ ↓ Select Item F5/F6 Change Values F9 Setup Defaults

Esc Exit

← →

Enter

4

Sub -Menu F10 Save and Exit

38 Chapter 2

The table below describes the parameters in this screen. Settings in boldface are the default and suggested parameter settings.

Parameter

User Password is

Supervisor Password is

Set User Password

Set Supervisor Password

Primary Harddisk Security

Password on Boot

Description

Shows the setting of the user password.

Shows the setting of the Supervisor password

Press Enter to set the user password. When user password is set, this password protects the BIOS Setup Utility from unauthorized access. The user can enter Setup menu only and does not have right to change the value of parameters.

Press Enter to set the supervisor password.

When set, this password protects the BIOS

Setup Utility from unauthorized access. The user can not either enter the Setup menu nor change the value of parameters.

This feature is available to user when

Supervisor password is set. Password can be written on HDD only when Supervisor password or user password is set and password on HDD is set to enabled.

Supervisor Password is written to HDD only when Supervisor password is being set. User password is written to HDD when both passwords are set. When both Supervisor and user password are present, both passwords can unlock the HDD.

Defines whether a password is required or not while the events defined in this group happened. The following sub-options are all requires the Supervisor password for changes and should be grayed out if the user password was used to enter setup.

Option

Clear

or Set

Clear

or Set

Disabled

Disabled

or Enabled

or Enabled

NOTE: When you are prompted to enter a password, you have three tries before the system halts. Don’t forget your password. If you forget your password, you may have to return your notebook computer to your dealer to reset it.

Setting a Password

Follow these steps as you set the user or the supervisor password:

1.

Use the w andy keys to highlight the Set Supervisor Password parameter and press the e key. The

Set Supervisor Password box appears:

2.

Type a password in the “Enter New Password” field. The password length can not exceeds 8 alphanumeric characters (A-Z, a-z, 0-9, not case sensitive). Retype the password in the “Confirm New

Password” field.

IMPORTANT:Be very careful when typing your password because the characters do not appear on the screen.

Chapter 2 39

3.

Press e.

After setting the password, the computer sets the User Password parameter to “Set”.

4.

If desired, you can opt to enable the Password on boot parameter.

5.

When you are done, press u to save the changes and exit the BIOS Setup Utility.

Removing a Password

Follow these steps:

1.

Use the w and y keys to highlight the Set Supervisor Password parameter and press the e key. The

Set Password box appears:

2.

Type the current password in the Enter Current Password field and press e.

3.

Press e twice without typing anything in the Enter New Password and Confirm New Password fields.

The computer then sets the Supervisor Password parameter to “Clear”.

4.

When you have changed the settings, press u to save the changes and exit the BIOS Setup Utility.

Changing a Password

1.

Use the w and y keys to highlight the Set Supervisor Password parameter and press the e key. The

Set Password box appears:

40

2.

Type the current password in the Enter Current Password field and press e.

3.

Type a password in the Enter New Password field. Retype the password in the Confirm New Password field.

4.

Press e. After setting the password, the computer sets the User Password parameter to “Set”.

5.

If desired, you can enable the Password on boot parameter.

6.

When you are done, press u to save the changes and exit the BIOS Setup Utility.

Chapter 2

If the verification is OK, the screen will display as following.

The password setting is complete after the user presses u.

If the current password entered does not match the actual current password, the screen will show you the

Setup Warning.

If the new password and confirm new password strings do not match, the screen will display the following message.

Chapter 2 41

Boot

This menu allows the user to decide the order of boot devices to load the operating system. Bootable devices includes the distette drive in module bay, the onboard hard disk drive and the CD-ROM in module bay.

PhoenixBIOS Setup Utility

Info.

Main Advanced Security Boot Exit

Item Specific Help

CD-ROM/DVD Drive

Floppy Devices

+Hard Drive

Network Boot

+ and - indicate device categories. Use <Enter> to expand/collapses.

Boot order is top-down using only the top device in each category.

Use <F6> and <F5> to move highlighted item up and down.

F1 Help

↑ ↓

Select Item F5/F6 Change Values F9 Setup Defaults

Esc Exit

← →

Enter

4 Sub-Menu

F10 Save and Exit

42 Chapter 2

Exit

The Exit screen contains parameters that help safeguard and protect your computer from unauthorized use.

Info.

PhoenixBIOS Setup Utility

Main Advanced Security Boot

Exit

Item Specific Help

Exit Saving Changes

Exit Dicarding Changes

Load Setup Defaults

Discard Changes

Save Changes

Exit System Setup and save your changes to CMOS.

F1 Help ↑ ↓ Select Item F5/F6 Change Values F9 Setup Defaults

Esc Exit

← →

Enter

4 Sub-Menu

F10 Save and Exit

The table below describes the parameters in this screen.

Parameter

Exit Saving Changes

Exit Discarding Changes

Load Setup Default

Discard Changes

Save Changes

Description

Exit System Setup and save your changes to CMOS.

Exit utility without saving setup data to CMOS.

Load default values for all SETUP item.

Load previous values from CMOS for all SETUP items.

Save Setup Data to CMOS.

Chapter 2 43

BIOS Flash Utility

The BIOS flash memory update is required for the following conditions:

T

New versions of system programs

T

T

New features or options

Restore a BIOS when it becomes corrupted.

Use the Phlash utility to update the system BIOS flash ROM.

NOTE: If you do not have a crisis recovery diskette at hand, then you should create a Crisis Recovery

Diskette before you use the Phlash utility.

NOTE: Do not install memory-related drivers (XMS, EMS, DPMI) when you use the Phlash.

NOTE: Please use the AC adaptor power supply when you run the Phlash utility. If the battery pack does not contain enough power to finish BIOS flash, you may not boot the system because the BIOS is not completely loaded.

Fellow the steps below to run the Phlash.

1.

Prepare a bootable diskette.

2.

Copy the Phlash utilities to the bootable diskette.

3.

Then boot the system from the bootable diskette. The Phlash utility has auto-execution function.

44 Chapter 2