Bios Details Notes_ File System_ Windows Xp Installation Notes By Harishankar Chourasia Impact _kanpur

Basic Input/Output System Introduction of BIOS BIOS stand for Basic Input/Output System is a vital part of a PC's system, without which nothing can work. BIOS refer to the firmware code run by a Computer whenever it is powered on. The primary function of the BIOS is to prepare the machine in working condition so that other software programs stored on various media (such as hard drives, floppies, and CDs) can load, execute, and assume control of the PC. This process is known as booting up. BIOS can also be said to be a coded program embedded or mini operating system program or OS (the memory resident) stored on PROM / EPROM or a Flash memory chip that recognizes and controls various devices that make up the PC. The term BIOS is specific to personal computer vendors. Among other classes of computers, the generic terms boot monitor, boot loader or boot ROM are commonly used. Working of the BIOS As mentioned above, the firm ware code (BIOS program) is stored in the PROM / EPROM or Flash ROM. This code is used to start the system working automatically and proceed the booting process in the system. Therefore the chip has been termed as BIOS, the type of program it holds. The BIOS performs different tasks before making the system usable. These works includes testing and verifying the devices, their working condition, creation of hand shaking protocol with other electronic sections or devices connected with the system so that each device or section could contribute for the working of the system. We can divide the work of the BIOS in two parts from the study point of view. 1. POST Cycle The POST cycle is also known as Power ON Self Test cycle. This test cycle is executed by the system as per the instructions released by the BIOS program. The same basic sequence is present on all computer architectures. It is the first step of the more general process called initial program load (IPL) / booting / bootstrapping. The POST cycle performs tests related to the presence of the devices as mentioned in the CMOS Setup 1

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program, work ability, their features (for RAM and storage devices), logical connectivity between the various electronic sections located on the motherboard or controller cards, detection of any error in any device or any section and creating the summary of the system configuration after testing each and every important devices in a step by step manner and finally loading the operating system second part from the media authorized. The step by step progress of the POST cycle is given below: 1. After switching ON the system, execute the reset cycle. 2. Testing and connecting logically all the electronic sections of the motherboard. 3. Checking the presence of the RAM on the motherboard. If found proceeds for next step otherwise generate the beep codes and stop further process. 4. Generating the single beep to indicate the user about the initiation of the boot up process. 5. Checking the presence and work ability of the Display controller card. If found move to the next step else generate the error message. 6. Initiating the display the progress on the screen. 7. Conducting the RAM refresh, counting and logical connectivity of the RAM. 8. Checking the presence, the capacity or the type of floppy disk drive. If found move to next step else generate an error message on the screen and stop the further progress of the POST cycle. 9. Check the presence, the parameter of HDDs and CDROMs connected with the system and if already mentioned in the CMOS setup program else auto detects the same and in the event of any error displays the error message on the screen. 10. Check the presence of the keyboard. If found move to next step else display the error message on the screen. 11. Generate the summary of the components or devices found and load a pointer known as boot strap loader in the memory and search for the next part of the operating system or bootable device connected with the system and if finds any device having

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the matching code, starts loading the files by reading them from the respective device automatically else prompts the user to insert bootable disk in the drive. 2. BIOS (CMOS) Setup Program The COMS setup program is an interactive program through which the user can configure the devices and other system settings for the effective working of the system. There are different companies which writes the BIOS program for different type of motherboards depending on the architecture and the chips used on the motherboard but the way of working along with the options in the CMOS setup programs are to some extent similar but not entirely.

CMOS

The CMOS stands for Complementary Metal Oxide Semiconductor. It is a memory located on the motherboard that is used to store the values or the options selected for the BIOS setting. The CMOS has a size of 64 bits. When the system is started the BIOS performs the POST cycle as per the settings stored in the CMOS. One of the major advantages of using the CMOS for preserving the BIOS settings is that the CMOS could be operated with a minor current. Hence, a nickel - cadmium battery also known as button cell is used to supply the required power to the CMOS memory when the system is switched OFF to maintain the options stored in the memory but when the system is in ON condition the CMOS receives the power from the supply and the battery is switched for charging. These options could be removed by shorting the pins with the help of the jumper and the default values are obtained. Normally pin number 2 and 3 in most of the motherboard are used to clear CMOS or it is mentioned on the motherboard with a CMOS setting chart. After clearing the CMOS the jumper should be placed on its original position that is on pin 1 and 2 before switching ON the system. Working with the CMOS / BIOS Setup Program In order to work in the setup program one has to enter in to the setup program to see or work on the various options given in the setup program. In most of the setup program you can enter by pressing DEL, F 1 or F2 key. This key is usually defined on the screen with a key work to enter the

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setup press DEL / F1 / F2. In most of the old BIOS, DEL was used to enter in the setup program. The BIOS setup utility enables you to modify the settings and store them in the CMOS. This utility enables you to control the boot sequence, display features, power management features and also to provide the parameters of the storage media s used in the system. To enter in the BIOS setup utility program: 1. Switch ON the system. 2. Press Delete key / F 1 / F2 key as mentioned on the screen displayed after switching ON the system. After few seconds a screen known as main menu will be displayed on the monitor.

Main Menu

This is the first screen of the setup utility program. This screen shows different BIOS options along with the uses of different keys. In order to get in the desired option you will have to browse to highlight the required option with the help of arrow keys and press Enter key to select the option. In order to return to the main menu from the option selected press Esc key. The main menu options are listed below: 1. Standard CMOS Setup 2. Advanced CMOS Setup 3. Power Management Setup 4. PCI / Plug and play Setup 5. Load Optimal Settings 6. Load Best Performance Settings 7. Features Setup 8. CPU PnP Setup 9. Hardware Monitor 10. Change Password 11. Exit

1. Standard CMOS Setup

The standard CMOS setup page enables you to set the basic settings of the system such as the date and time, type and 4

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number of storage media used along with their parameter, type of floppy disk drive connected with the system etc. One should select the values according to the device connected with the system. 2. Advanced CMOS Setup The Advanced CMOS Setup page enables you to access the advanced functions of the BIOS. In other words we can set the working priority of various devices or sections of the computer. You can modify the settings in this page to increase or decrease the time taken to boot the system. You can also specify the order of the devices that the operating system must search for the system files while the booting of the system. 3. Power Management Setup The Power Management page enables you to control the power setup of the system. The power management enables you to automatically switch off the power supply to the devices such as hard disk or the monitor when the system is not in use for a longer period. This saves power and also increases the life of the system. To return the system to the normal working state you may have to press a key on the keyboard or to move the mouse. However, you must first check that the software that you use support the different power management modes such as the Standby and the Suspend mode, otherwise the software may not work properly. 4. PCI / Plug and play Setup This feature is available on the newer systems and enables the system to automatically search for new hardware connected to the system. When the system finds a new hardware attached to the system, it will automatically search and install the device driver on its own and you don’t need to load the same (not in case of Win 9X operating system). 5. Load Optimal Settings The optimal setting enables to set the BIOS options as per the default options already mentioned in the BIOS program. This program automatically detects the best suitable options as per the devices connected with the system. This keeps the system settings at the minimum level and is recommended when the system does not work properly. In order to activate the optimal values browse to Load optimal settings and press enter key to 5

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select. In the new screen press Y to load default values then press F 10 for Save and Exit option, press Y to save and exit. 6. Load Best Performance Settings This option enables to set the BIOS options to make the system perform at the best level such as increasing the utilization of processing speed. This setting boosts the hardware and makes the system work at the maximum possible level. This setting may put an extra load on the system and is recommended only on systems having high performance hardware installed on them. The process to activate the Best Performance Settings is similar as to activate the optimal settings. 7.

Features Setup

The motherboard has numerous built - in components such as the serial port, parallel port, sound card etc. The Features Setup enables to control these components by setting their properties. You can also enable or disable the components that you do not intend to use, such as if you connect your keyboard and mouse to the serial port on the system then you can disable the PS / 2 ports that are not being used. This allows you to free up IRQ lines that can be used by the other devices.

8. CPU PnP Setup

The Central Processing Unit (CPU) Plug and play setup page has the information related with the details of the processor installed on the motherboard. In general this page uses a default setting for normal CPU functions but in case if you want to extract the maximum benefit of the processor feature and speed then you can make changes in the settings of the options shown in this page. It is strongly recommended not to change the default settings until unless you have technical specifications of that processor as any wrong selection of option may lead to stop your system or there will be no actions of the system not even the running of the POST. 9.

Setting the Hardware Monitor

The Hardware Monitor displays the system hardware details such as the voltage used by the system, the system and the CPU fan speeds, the power, system and the CPU temperature etc. These 6

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options are useful as they enable you to monitor the system to check that the system does not get overheated. These values must be monitored especially when you overclock the system.

10. Setting the BIOS Password

The BIOS Password setting is used to prevent unauthorized access either of the system or the changes in the settings stored in the CMOS. In order to activate this feature you will have to first enable/select the type of security feature you want from Advanced CMOS Setup option in Main Menu. You can either choose from two options Setup or Always/System. Then in this option one can type the password and save the same. On choosing the Setup option under Security options in Advanced CMOS. Setup then the system will let you enter in the BIOS Setup Utility only if you provide the correct password else will stop there only. On choosing the Always/System option, the computer will require the password even before starting the POST cycle and will proceed for the booting process on getting the correct password only. Similarly it will also ask for the correct password for entering in to the BIOS Setup Utility program.

11. Exit BIOS Setup Program

The BIOS setup program gives two options to come out of the setup utility program. You can also quit the setup program by pressing Esc key. On pressing the Esc key. the system will ask you to confirm quitting the Setup Program without saving the changes made in the Setup. Pressing Y will quit the program without saving the changes in the CMOS whereas pressing N will continue the setup program session. Incase if you want to quit the program and also wants to save the changes made then you can either press F 10 followed by Y and pressing Enter key or selecting Save and Exit option then press Y followed by Enter key.

File System FAT16: This is the 16 bit file system widely used by DOS and windows. FAT 16 tracks where file are stored on a disc using a file allocation

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table. The disadvantage of FAT 16 are that it only support partition up to 2 GB and & it does not offer the security feature of NTFS. The advantage of Fat 16 that it is backward compatible, which is important if the computer will be dual booted with any Operating system. Fat 16 support capacity of 16 MB to 2 GB. FAT 32: This is the 32 bit version of FAT which was first introduced in 1996 with WIN 95. FAT 32 many advantage over FAT 16 include the following: • Disc partition can be large as two TB. • More safeguard were added to provide fault tolerance in the event of Disc failure. If the partition is over 2 GB, it will be automatically partitioned as FAT 32. • FAT 32 == 512 MB – 2 TB NTFS: The ability to set local security on files & folder. The option to compress data. This feature reduce disc storage requirement. The flexibility to assign disc quotas. Disc quota is used to limit the amount of disc space a user can use. The option to encrypt files. Encryption offers an additional level of Security. NTFS offers the following features: Redundancy Backward compatibility Recoverability Security [ Note:- Windows 2000/XP come with a new type of NTFS called NTFS 5.0 (The NTFS that come with WINDOW NT 4.0 was called NTFS 4.0)

Partition, Formatting & Installation After installation of Hard disk with proper jumper setting we have to do two things respectively a) Partitioning b) Formatting A) Partitioning – It is used to partition the hard disc. Partitions

are logical division of hard disc that provide tremendous

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flexibility in hard disc. A Computer might have only one physical hard disc or more. There are two types of partition: 1) Primary partition 2) Extended partition 1) Primary partition – It stores the operating system. If we

want to boot from hard disc it must have primary partition. 2) Extended Partition – Hard disc may or may not have the other partition type called extended partition. Extended partitions are not bootable and one hard disc can have only one extended partition. When we create an extended partition it does not automatically get a drive letter. When we have to divide the extended partition in to the logical drive it get drive letter. Maximum (23+1) 24 logical drives on one hard disc. Only A and B are reserve for Floppy i.e. C, D, E……….Z (24) is used for logical drive. Condition for partition First Condition: Primary

Extended

Extended

Extended

One primary & rest reserved for Extended this is commonly used for partitioning. Second Condition: Primary

Primary

Extended

Extended

Primary

Extended

Two primary & two extended Third Condition: Primary

Primary

Three primary & one extended Fourth Condition:

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Primary

Primary

Primary

Primary

Only four primary partitions & extended zero. c) Formatting – The formatting of hard disc perform two major

functions, creating and configuring the file system allocation table (FAT) and creating Root directory. After partition next step is to format the drive. Formatting creates a file system for the drive – essentially big spreadsheets that track what piece of data are stored in which location. Window support three type of file system FAT16, FAT 32 & NTFS.

INSTALLATION OF WINDOWS 98 Go to CMOS setup ↵ Advance BIOS Feature ↵ First Boot device – CD ROM ↵ Second Boot Device – Hard Disc ↵ Press Esc to continue ↵ Press F10 for save the setting and insert window 98 disc in CD ROM System will reboot and boot from CD ROM Start computer with CD ROM Support A:\>fdisk ↵ = for make partition

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[Do you wish to enable large disc support, Press y↵, it means, the disc size is over 2 GB and it support FAT 32. If you press N ↵ then it supports FAT 16 and you can’t create Partition up to 2 GB]

At this point, the fdisk menu will appear Current fixed disc drive: Choose one of the following: 1. Create DOS partition or logical drive. 2. Set active partition. 3. Delete partition or logical drive. 4. Display partition information. 4 = For Display partition ↵ Press Esc to continue. ↵

1 = Create DOS partition. ↵ 1 = Create primary DOS Partition. ↵ The message “Do you wish to use the maximum available size for a primary DOS partition and the make the partition active (Y/N)”. Press N and press Enter. Type in the size of the primary partition (in MB). Then press Enter. Press Esc to continue. ↵

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2↵ = for activate the primary partition. 1↵ = To activate the primary partition. 2↵ = to create extended DOS Partition Give the rest space & define drives Press Esc to continue. ↵ Pres Ctrl+Alt+Del = to restart the computer After rebooting the computer, we will boot again from CD ROM Boot from CD ROM ↵ Start computer with CD ROM Support ↵ A:\>e: ↵ E:\dir ↵ E:\>cd win98 ↵ E:\win98>format c:/s ↵ For format(Y/N): Y ↵ Volume label:……… ↵ E:\win98>md c:\win_98 ↵ E:\win98>copy *.* c:\win_98 ↵ [Note: check 101 file copied message] C:\>cd win_98 ↵ C:\win_98>setup ↵ The system will automatically scan the drives for an error and then will proceed for loading GUI interface of installation wizard. This is a guided installation program which enables the user to install the operating system with ease. The setup program may ask you to provide an authentic setup key consisting of alphanumeric characters to proceed further. Follow the instructions displayed on the screen. You may select from one of the three type of installation parameters like

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Typical Installation On selecting this option the system will load some general features related files automatically. Compact Installation This option is meant for laptops or the drive having limited or low disk space. On choosing this option, the setup will load some minimal set of software components. Custom Installation This option is meant for advanced users or professionals having good experience. In this option one can select or deselect various windows components as per requirement or desire. The requirement of the hard disk space changes with the options selected on this screen. 4. The setup may ask you for the regional settings for date, time and the country (for time zone) . Make adequate changes and press next. 5. Setup will search for the required free disk space and will make a copy for uninstall information and then will ask to insert a blank preferably a new floppy disk in the

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floppy drive to create the startup disk. However you can cancel this operation and may continue the installation. 6. Setup may also ask you to choose the destination directory (by default shows C:\windows). Choose the default directory is recommended and press Next to continue.

Now fill the information and install win 98 And That’s it! you are Done!

Product key: WM79C-BMFBQ-HWPTP-R7GGD-FXPJ6 RY4Y2-8674F-4TR8C-W3YM8-RT2BY J6HF2-9T26B-63T6Y-GRVHK-W2VH6 MDVPT-YV7XF-37BDV-JK63V-GKV93 Q8R3H-M2GPM-X4P47-XJ86K-H4QWD VXWTR-R3JB3-8KTG3-TMTB8-DJF36D W3WW7-P8949-KYGK2-VC2VY-PQG9W (UNIV) 14

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HMG77-W8WX4-TRF26-FD67B-MC3HD DIM98-Q7R3D-27RPM-RTRRQ-DGM4W (OLD)

WIN XP PROFFESIONAL As a Microsoft Windows XP Professional support professional, one of your tasks may be to install the operating system. Step #1: Plan your installation When you run the Windows XP Professional Setup program, you must provide information about how to install and configure the operating system. Thorough planning can make your installation of Windows XP Professional more efficient by helping you to avoid potential problems during installation. An understanding of the configuration options will also help to ensure that you have properly configured your system. I won't go into that part right now but here are some of the most important things you should take into consideration when planning for your XP installation: Check System Requirements Check Hardware and Software Compatibility Determine Disk Partitioning Options Choose the Appropriate File System: FAT, FAT32, NTFS Decide on a Workgroup or Domain Installation Complete a Pre-Installation Checklist After you made sure you can go on, start the installation process. Step #2: Beginning the installation process You can install Windows XP in several methods - all are valid and good, it all depends upon your needs and your limitations. 1. Start the computer from the CD. 2. You can press F6 if you need to install additional SCSI adapters or other mass-storage devices. If you do you will be asked to supply a floppy disk with the drivers and you CAN

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NOT browse it (or a CD for that matter). If you plan to install a new copy of XP - don't do anything. 3. If you want, you can press F2 to run the ASR sequence. For that you need a good backup created by the Windows XP backup program, and the ASR floppy disk. If you plan to install a new copy of XP - don't do anything. 4. Setup will load all the needed files and drivers.

5. Select To Setup Windows XP Professional Now. If you want, and if you have a previous installation of XP, you can try to fix it by pressing R. If not, just press ENTER. 6. Read and accept the licensing agreement and press F8 if you accept it. 7. Select or create the partition on which you will install Windows XP Professional. Depending upon your existing disk configuration choose one of the following: a. If the hard disk is unpartitioned, you can create and size the partition on which you will install Windows XP Professional. b. If the hard disk is already partitioned, but has enough unpartitioned disk space, you can create an additional partition in the unpartitioned space. c. If the hard disk already has a partition that is large enough, you can install Windows XP Professional on that partition. If the partition has an existing operating system, you will overwrite that operating system if you accept the default installation path. However, files 16

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other than the operating system files, such as program files and data files, will not be overwritten. d. If the hard disk has an existing partition, you can delete it to create more unpartitioned space for the new partition. Deleting an existing partition erases all data on that partition. e. If you select a new partition during Setup, create and size only the partition on which you will install Windows XP Professional. After installation, use Disk Management to partition the remaining space on the hard disk.

8. Select a file system for the installation partition. After you create the partition on which you will install Windows XP Professional, you can use Setup to select the file system with which to format the partition. Windows XP Professional supports the NTFS file system in addition to the file allocation table (FAT) and FAT32 file systems. Windows Server 2003, Windows XP Professional, Windows 2000, and Windows NT are the only Microsoft operating systems that you can use to gain access to data on a local hard disk that is formatted with NTFS. If you plan to gain access to files that are on a local Windows XP Professional partition with the Microsoft Windows 95 or Windows 98 operating systems, you should format the partition with a FAT or FAT32 file system. We will use NTFS.

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9. Setup will then begin copying necessary files from the installation point. 10.The computer will restart in graphical mode, and the installation will continue. Step #3: The GUI-based portion of the Setup program The setup process reboots and loads a GUI mode phase. It will then begin to load device drivers based upon what it finds on your computer. You don't need to do anything at this stage. 1. Click Customize to change regional settings, if necessary. o Current System Local - Affects how programs display dates, times, currency, and numbers. Choose the local that matches your location, for example, India. o Current Keyboard Layout - Accommodates the special characters and symbols used in different languages. Your keyboard layout determines which characters appear when you press keys on the keyboard. If you don't need to make any change just press next. If you do need to make changes press Customize and add your System Local etc. You can now go to the Regional Options tab and select India in the Location drop-down list and Hebrew in the Standards and Formats drop-down list. Click Ok. 2. Type your name and organization. 3. Type the product key.

VGBRV-X2DDM-JYDFW-22MQW-3G39Y 4. Type the computer name and a password for the local Administrator account. The local Administrator account resides in the same of the computer, not in Active Directory. If you will be installing in a domain, you need either a preassigned computer name for which a domain account has been created, or the right to create a computer account within the domain. 5. Select the date, time, and time zone settings. 18

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6. Setup will now install the networking components. After a few seconds you will receive the Networking Settings window. If you have a NIC and XP cannot detect it, or if you don't have a NIC at all, setup will skip this step and you will immediately go to the final phase of the setup process. Press next to accept the typical settings option if you have one of the following situations: Otherwise select Custom Settings and press next to customize your network settings. 7. Next the setup process will finish copying files and configuring the setup. You do not need to do anything. 8. After the copying and configuring phase is finished, if XP finds that you have a badly configured screen resolution it will advise you to change it and ask you if you see the new settings right. 9. The minimum supported screen resolution in XP is 800X600. 10. Setup finishes and boots Windows XP. A Welcome screen is the first thing you see. The computer checks your Internet connectivity (required for the mandatory Activation and voluntary Registration processes). You will be asked to register your copy of XP. You can decline if you want. XP will ask you for the default username that will log onto this computer. You can enter as many as 5 users, but you can create more after the installation is finished. 11.That's it! You’re done!

Installation of the Device Drivers A driver is a program that interacts with a particular device or special (frequently optional) kind of software. The driver contains the special knowledge of the device or special software interface that programs using the driver do not. In personal computers, a driver is often packaged as a dynamic link library (DLL) file. 19

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A driver is a program that controls the behavior of the devices connected to a computer. It provides a connection between peripheral devices and the operating system. All devices such as monitors, modems, LAN cards, scanners and printers require drivers for their functioning. Drivers for certain devices such as the keyboard form a part of the operating system where as the other devices mentioned above require unique drivers provided by their manufacturer to be loaded in the system separately. When the operating system is loaded first time or as a fresh copy, then the system itself asks to provide the driver disk under the New Hardware Found just before showing the desktop screen. All you have to do is to insert the proper disk in the CDROM drive and follow the screen instructions.

Product key: WINDOW XP PROFESSIONAL 1. 2. 3. 4.

VGBRV-X2DDM-JYDFW-22MQW-3G39Y M3QCY-2XKCV-KQHXV-JR42T-DQX6D X3WJB-3B2BH-3MPM6-8F6GR-X9HBJ HRXTR-FKTCV-X8QCP-D7PTH-KYYPB

WINDOW XP HOME EDITION 1. 2.

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VQGJ8-4T8GB-83M2Y-GFBYX-T22MP KYPBB-D3243-6P2MB-VTCMQ-VTWYM

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