BIOS Utility

The BIOS Utility is a hardware configuration program built into your computer's BIOS (Basic Input/Ouput 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 Troubleshooting when a problem arises.

To activate the BIOS Utility, press F2 during POST (while the TravelMate logo is being displayed).

Navigating the BIOS Utility

There are seven menu options: System Information, Basic System Settings, Startup Configuration, Onboard Devices Configuration, System Security, Power Management and Load Default Settings.

To enter a menu, highlight the item using the cursor up/down keys; then press Enter.

Within a menu, navigate through the BIOS Utility by following these instructions:

System Information

The System Information screen displays a summary of your computer hardware information

BIOS Main Screen

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

Parameter Description
CPU Described the type of CPU installed in the system.
Floppy Drive Shows the floppy disk drive type (1.44MB 3.5-inch).
Hard Disk

Sets the hard disk type.

 
HDD Serial Number Shows the hard disk drive serial number.
System with

Shows the high-capacity disc drive installed.

Options: CD-ROM, or DVD-ROM
System BIOS Version Shows the system BIOS version.
VGA BIOS Version Shows the video graphics accelerator BIOS version.
Serial Number Shows the serial number of the system.
Asset Tag Number

Shows the asset tag number.
Product Name Shows the official name of the product.
Manufacturer Name Shows the name of the manufacturer.
UUID Shows the universally unique identifier number.

Note: We suggest you set this value to Auto for hassle-free and correct hard disk detection.

Basic System Settings

The Basic System Settings screen contains parameters involving basic computer settings and hardware information

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

Parameter Description Format/Options
Date Sets the system date.

DDD MMM DD YYYY

(day-of-the-week, month, day, year)
Time Sets the system time. HH:MM:SS (hour:minute:second)

 

Startup Configuration

The Startup Configuration screen contains parameters that are related to computer startup.

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

Parameter Description Format/Options
Boot Display Device

Sets the display device on boot-up.

When set to Auto, the computer automatically determines the display device. If an exernal display device (e.g., monitor) is connected, it becomes the boot display; otherwise, the computer's display screen is the boot display. When set to Both, the computer outputs to both the computer display screen and and external display device if one is connnected.
  • Auto
  • Both
USB Function Support Enables or disables the USB (Universal Serial Bus) function.
  • Disabled
  • Enabled
Hotkey Beep When enabled, the computer gives off a beep when a hotkey (key combination is pressed).
  • Enabled
  • Disable
ACPI OS Fast Boot When set to enabled, the Quiet Boot and the PnP OS is disabled or inactive.
  • Enabled
  • Disabl
Quiet Boot When set to enabled, the system will boot to the OS as fast as possible and proceed quickly through POST. This mode will not show any boot progression messages, nor will it perform any memory and diagnostic test.
  • Enabled
  • Disab
PnP OS It is set to Enabled if the computer works on Win95, Win98, or Win NT 5.0. All others OS, it is set to Disabled.
  • Enabled
  • Disabled
Boot Drive Sequence

Allows you to set the sequence wherein the computer will boot 1st, 2nd, and so on. Below are possible boot devices:

1) Boot from CD-ROM or DVD-ROM: Enables boot-up from the CD-ROM drive, if selected as the first option. The computer attempts to boot from the CD-ROM or DVD-ROM drive (looks for a bootable CD-ROM) before following the boot sequence specified in the System Boot Drive parameter.

2) Floppy: Enables boot-up from the floppy disk drive, if selected as the first option (look for a bootable floppy) before following the boot sequence specified in the Boot Drive Sequence.

3) Hard Disk: Enables boot-up from the hard disk drive.

  

Onboard Devices Configuration

The Onboard Devices Configuration screen contains parameters for your hardware connection devices.

Caution: The parameters in this screen are for advanced users only. You do not need to change the values in this screen because these values are already optimized.

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

Parameter Description Options
Serial Port Enables or disables the serial port.
  • Enabled
  • Disabled
   Base address Sets the I/O address of the serial port.
  • 3F8h
  • 2F8h
  • 3E8h
  • 2E8h
   IRQ Sets the interrupt request of the serial port.
  • 4
  • 11
Infrared Port Enables or disables the infrared port.
  • Disabled
  • Enabled
   Base address Sets the I/O address of the infrared port.
  • 2F8
  • 3F8
  • 3E8
  • 2E8
   IRQ Sets the interrupt request of the infrared port.
  • 3
  • 10
   DMA Channel Sets a DMA channel for the infrared port.
  • 3
  • 1
Parallel Port Enables or disables the parallel port.
  • Enabled
  • Disabled
   Base address Sets the I/O address of the parallel port.
  • 378h
  • 3E8h
  • 2E8h
  • 378h
   IRQ Sets the interrupt request of the parallel port.
  • 7
  • 5
   Operation Mode Sets the operation mode of the parallel port.
  • Bi-directional
  • ECP
  • EPP
  • Standard
   ECP DMA Channel Sets a DMA channel for the printer to operate in ECP mode. This parameter is enabled only if Operation Mode is set to ECP.
  • 1
  • 3

System Security

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

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

Parameter Description Options
Setup Password

When set, this password protects the BIOS Utility from unauthorized entry.
  • None
  • Present
Power-on Password

When set, this password protects the computer from unauthorized use during boot-up or resume from hibernation mode.
  • None
  • Present
Hard Disk Password When set, this password prevents the internal hard disk from unauthorized access. Consist of 7 alphanumeric characters.
  • None
  • Present
Disk Drive Control Floppy Drive Lockout Controls the read/write access on the BIOS level. When set to enabled, this feature protects user's data by preventing unauthorized copying onto floppy disk.
  • Disabled
  • Enabled

Setting a Password

Follow these steps:

  1. Use the cursor up/down keys to highlight a password parameter (Setup or Power-on) and press the Enter key. The password box appears:

  2. Type a password. The password may consist of up to seven characters (A-Z, a-z, 0-9).
  3. Press Enter. Retype the password to verify your first entry and press Enter.
  4. After setting the password, the computer automatically sets the chosen password parameter to "Present".
  5. Press Esc to return to the main menu.
  6. Press Esc.
  7. Select Yes and press Enter to confirm saving the password and exit the BIOS Utility.

To change a password, follow the same steps used to set a password.

To remove a password, follow the same steps used to set a password, except type nothing in the password boxes.

Power Management

The Power Management screen contains parameters that are related to power-saving and power management.

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

Parameter Description Format/Options
Advanced Power Management Mode Enables or disables advanced power management mode (for Windows 95 only)
  • Enabled
  • Disabled
Turn Off Display Will blank the display screen after a set amount of inactivity time on the user input devices. This timer will reset when activity occurs on any of the following devices: Keyboard, pointing devices.
  • Never
  • 1
  • 2
  • 3
  • 5
  • 10
  • 15 Minutes
Turn Off Hard Disk Will "spin down" the hard disk after a set amount of inactivity on the disk interface. This timer will reset when activity occurs on any of the following devices: primary disk interface, secondary disk interface.
  • Never
  • 1
  • 2
  • 3
  • 5
  • 10
  • 15
  • 20
  • 25
  • 30 Minutes
System Standby The system will enter into System Standby mode after a set amount of inactivity of time. Timer will be reset once there are activity in the following devices: Keyboard, pointing devices, communication port, floppy and hard disks drive and bus master requests.
  • Never
  • 1
  • 2
  • 3
  • 5
  • 10
  • 15
  • 20
  • 25
  • 30
  • 45
  • 60 Minute
System Hibernation After Standby The system will enter into Hibernation mode after a set amount of inactivity of time. Timer will be reset once there are activity in the following devices: Keyboard, pointing devices, communication port, floppy and hard disks drive and bus master requests.
  • Never
  • 1
  • 2
  • 3
  • 5
  • 10
  • 15
  • 20
  • 25
  • 30
  • 45
  • 60 Minutes
System Resume Timer Mode When enabled and the resume time and date are valid, the computer resumes (wakes up) at the set time and date.
  • Disabled
  • Enabled
Date Sets the date the computer resumes from if Resume on Alarm is enabled. MMM DD,YYYY (month day, year)
Time Sets the time the computer resumes from if Resume on Alarm is enabled. HH:MM:SS (hour:minute:second)
Battery Low Warning Beep When enabled the system emits an audible warning beep when the unit is running low on battery.
  • Enabled
  • Disabled
Sleep Upon Battery-low When enabled the system switches into Sleep mode when the unit is running low on battery.
  • Enabled
  • Disabled

Load Default Settings

When you select this menu item, the following dialog box displays:

To load the factory-default settings for all the parameters in the BIOS Utility, select Yes and press Enter. Otherwise, select No and press Enter.