BIOS for Dummies

[Vince53]

When you first turn on your computer, it activates the BIOS chip. This chip is independent of Windows. It has its own software program that turns on the hardware in your computer. After Windows is turned on, BIOS continues a few functions, such as controlling your cooling fans.

BIOS is dangerous--idiots who press buttons to see what happens can lock up their computer permanently by going into BIOS. None of the books in the famous "Windows for Dummies" series tell you how to get into BIOS, and that's a good idea. And if you can still get into Windows, System Restore cannot undo changes to BIOS, because it is not part of Windows.

But I used to teach Computer Science, and I can show you an absolutely safe way to learn about BIOS.

 

[Ophiolite]

But I used to teach Computer Science, and I can show you an absolutely safe way to learn about BIOS.

Intriguing. How would you go about this?

 

[GreekOrthodox]

21 years in IT and I am very very careful when in BIOS.

 

[Vince53]

Uh oh! We have two intelligent people onboard! But don't worry--I'll keep everything on the dummy level.

 

[Vince53]

To examine BIOS safely:

Type BIOS into any search engine. When you get there, select Images. You will see three types of pictures:

1) photos of BIOS chips--ignore them
2) photos of blue backgrounds with white letters--these are pre-Windows 10 BIOS screens. Go ahead and look at them
3) photos with dark backgrounds and lettering--these are Windows 10 BIOS screens. Take a look at them

Practice the following with these BIOS screens:

1) Find the dates
2) Notice that some are Easy Mode and some are Advanced Mode--you can switch back and forth safely
3) See if there is a menu in the bottom right corner. If so, the next-to-last item will be Save and Exit. This is the single most dangerous command on your computer. DON'T TOUCH IT! You leave BIOS safely by pressing the ESC key.
4) Notice that BIOS controls the cooling fans.
5) Why are so many functions turned Off or Disabled? Because if you use them, they will launch conflicting commands that can foul up your computer.
6) Some of them have the word UEFI. This is a fancy name for Windows 10 BIOS. If your computer does not have UEFI, you cannot install Windows 11.

If you want to practice more, make a folder on your desktop and save a bunch of the BIOS images to it. You can study them safely (They are only photos and can't do anything) and you can make an interesting screen saver with them.

Tomorrow: Looking at the real BIOS.

 

[Vince53]

If you want to add some danger to your life, you can go into BIOS on your own computer. But before you do:

1) Review what I've already said.
2) When you get into your BIOS, look around to see if you're in Easy Mode or Advanced Mode. It will probably tell you how to switch back and forth. Go ahead; merely looking won't change anything.
3) Locate "Save and Exit." Memorize its location , but DON'T TOUCH IT! When you want to exit, hit the Esc key.
4) If your rig is pre-Windows 10, you probably can't use your mouse. If you are Windows 10, the mouse works, but not very well.
5) Look for the word "UEFI" near the top. That's the fancy name for Windows 10 BIOS. If your machine is upgraded to 10 from Windows 7 or 8, it will not be UEFI.
6) Some items have a filled-in box in front of them. These items are folders and contain sub-folders. Clicking on them opens a list of sub-folders, some of which contain their own sub-folders. You might have to click a few times before your mouse can open them.
7) Do not Enable anything! You will be running conflicting programs if you do.
8) If it wants to upgrade your BIOS, don't. You only do that when you have upgraded your hardware.

There are at least three ways to enter BIOS. Tomorrow I'll explain the best way.

 

[Vince53]

Entering Your Own BIOS

Review my previous articles. Remember that you exit BIOS safely by using the Esc key.

There are at least three ways to enter BIOS through Windows 10. The worst way is to hold down a certain key during start-up. This is difficult to time correctly, is designed only for emergencies (when you can’t get into Windows) and may offer you choices that you don’t understand.

The best way to enter BIOS is to select your Start Button, and then hit the Power button. Now, hold down the Shift key and don’t release it-press Restart and hold down the Shift key until you enter a blue screen. Release the Shift key.

You might want to write this next part down:

Select Troubleshoot. Then select Advanced Options. Then select UEFI Firmware Settings—if you do not have UEFI Firmware Settings, your rig was built for a pre-10 version of Windows; use the back arrow to get out. If you do have UEFI Firmware Settings, select it, and it will ask you to press Restart. Do this, and you will open into your computer’s BIOS system.

 

[Pop D.]

BIOS is dangerous--idiots who press buttons to see what happens can lock up their computer permanently by going into BIOS.

Actually you can usually reset the BIOS to it's default settings by unplugging the computer and removing the CMOS battery (should look silver and round, like an oversized watch battery) from the motherboard for 10-15 minutes (might also want to hold the power button down for a minute). Heck, some modern boards even have a physical button on them you can press for a manual reset.

Won't work on really old boards which have the battery permanently attached, such as my 486 from the 90s. Of course, since the CMOS batteries on those tend to be dead anyway, the BIOS will always reset whether you want it to or not. Oh, and this method probably won't be able to remove a BIOS password since those are usually stored in flash memory.

 

[Vince53]

Let's Get Dangerous!

You cannot install Windows 11 unless your TPM chip is enabled, and only Windows 11 can operate it if it is enabled. Since no current version of Windows (including the first two Windows 11 Previews) can operate TPM, nothing will happen if you turn it on.

1) Review my previous posts, and then enter BIOS.
2) Memorize the location of "Save and Exit," because this time you are going to use it.
3) Enter Advanced Mode, if you're not already in it.
4) Since your mouse is not designed to run in BIOS, you might have to click objects several times to open them.

There are many different BIOS programs, and many different ways to Enable your TPM chip.
1) If you can find "Security," click on it; find TPM and enable it. This usually works if you have an AMD chip.
2) If you can't find Security, select Settings, and then Miscellaneous. Look for either TPM or "Intel Platform Trust Technology (PTT)" enter it, and select Enable
3) Work your way back to "Save and Exit."

When you're safely back in Windows, type tpm.msc into the search bar at the bottom left of your screen. If it can't locate your TPM chip, you messed up somewhere. If it describes the chip, you got it!

If it offers to update your TPM drivers, don't do it.

 

[Vince53]

Did anybody try it?