Archive for the ‘Bios’ Category

Group Command Sequences

Posted: June 13, 2010 in Commands, System Information
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When you combine multiple commands, you may need a way to group commands to prevent conflicts or to ensure that an exact order is followed. You group commands using a set of parentheses. To understand why grouping may be needed, consider the following example. Here, you want to write the host name, IP configuration, and network status to a file, so you use this statement:

hostname & ipconfig & netstat -a > current-config.log

When you examine the log file, however, you find that it contains only the network status. The reason for this is that the command line executes the commands in sequence as follows:

  1. hostname
  2. ipconfig
  3. netstat – a > current_config.log

Because the commands are executed in sequence, the system host name and IP configuration are written to the command line, and only the network status is written to the log file. To write the output of all the commands to the file, you would need to group the commands as follows:

(hostname & ipconfig & netstat -a) > current_config.log

Here, the output of all three commands is collected and then redirected to the log file. You can also use grouping with conditional success and failure. In the following example, both Command1 and Command2 must succeed for Command3 to execute:

(cd C:\working\data & xcopy n:\docs\*.*) && (hostname >
n:\runninglog.txt)

What Happens When You Start Your Computer

Posted: May 22, 2010 in Bios, System Basics, System Information
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As stated earlier in this chapter, the Windows XP/Windows Server 2003 boot sequence closely resembles that of Windows NT/2000. Listed below are the processes that take place when Windows NT-based operating system successfully starts on an x86-based computer:

  • Power On Self Test (POST)
  • Initial startup process
  • Boot loader process
  • Operating-system selection (if you have a multi-boot system)
  • Hardware detection
  • Hardware-profile selection
  • Kernel-loading process
  • Kernel-initialization process
  • User-logon process
Note The startup sequence quoted above applies to systems started or restarted after a normal shutdown. The startup processes begin when you do one of the following:

  • Turn on the computer
  • Reboot the system

However, this startup sequence does not apply when resuming from hibernate or standby modes.

When you log on, the process of loading Windows NT/2000, Windows XP, or Windows Server 2003 is completed, as well as are most of the initialization procedures. However, the startup can only really be considered as successfully completed after you log on to the system.

The following requirements need to be met to successfully begin the Windows NT/2000/XP/Windows Server 2003 startup:

  • Correct initialization of all the hardware.
  • Presence of all required files for starting the OS. If any of these files aren’t present in the correct folder or are corrupt, the startup will fail.

Power-on self-test ( P.O.S.T)

Posted: January 7, 2010 in Bios, System Basics, System Information
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Power-on self-test (POST) is the common term for a computer, router or printer’s pre-boot sequence. 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, or bootstrapping. The term POST has become popular in association with and as a result of the proliferation of the PC. It can be used as a noun when referring to the code that controls the pre-boot phase or when referring to the phase itself. It can also be used as a verb when referring to the code or the system as it progresses through the pre-boot phase. Alternatively, this may be called “POSTing.”

For embedded systems power-on self-test (POST) refers to the testing sequence that occurs when a system is first powered on. POST is software written to initialize and configure a processor and then execute a defined series of tests to determine if the computer hardware is working properly. Any errors found during the self-test are stored or reported through auditory or visual means, for example through a series of beeps, flashing LEDs or text displayed on a display. Once the POST sequence completes, execution is handed over to the normal boot sequence which typically runs a boot loader or operating system. POST for embedded systems has been around since the earliest days of computer systems.

On power up, the main duties of POST are handled by the BIOS, which may hand some of these duties to other programs designed to initialize very specific peripheral devices, notably for video and SCSI initialization. These other duty-specific programs are generally known collectively as option ROMs or individually as the video BIOS, SCSI BIOS, etc.

The principal duties of the main BIOS during POST are as follows:

  • verify the integrity of the BIOS code itself
  • find, size, and verify system main memory
  • discover, initialize, and catalog all system buses and devices
  • pass control to other specialized BIOSes (if and when required)
  • provide a user interface for system’s configuration
  • identify, organize, and select which devices are available for booting
  • construct whatever system environment that is required by the target OS

The BIOS will begin its POST duties when the CPU is reset. The first memory location the CPU tries to execute is known as the reset vector. In the case of a hard reboot, the northbridgewill direct this code fetch (request) to the BIOS located on the system flash memory. For a warm boot, the BIOS will be located in the proper place in RAM and the northbridge will direct the reset vector call to the RAM.

During the POST flow of a contemporary BIOS, one of the first things a BIOS should do is determine the reason it is executing. For a cold boot, for example, it may need to execute all of its functionality. If, however, the system supports power savings or quick boot methods, the BIOS may be able to circumvent the standard POST device discovery, and simply program the devices from a preloaded system device table.

The POST flow for the PC has developed from a very simple, straightforward process to one that is complex and convoluted. During POST, the BIOS must integrate a plethora of competing, evolving, and even mutually exclusive standards and initiatives for the matrix of hardware and OSes the PC is expected to support. However, the average user still knows the POST and BIOS only through its simple visible memory tests and setup screen.

Steps to Reset Vista Password

Posted: November 12, 2009 in Bios, Registry, Tricks, Vista
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1. Reboot the Windows Vista and boot up with Windows Vista installation DVD.

2. While the Windows Vista installation interface pops up, click the Repair You Computer link at the bottom-left corner.

3. Next, the System Recovery Options dialog box appears. There are few

options that related to repairing Windows Vista, looks like Recovery Console in Windows XP:

Startup Repair options are used to automatically fix problems that are preventing Windows Vista from starting.

System Restore to restore Windows Vista setting to an earlier point in time.

Windows Complete PC Restore to restore Windows Vista from a full system backup.

Windows Memory Diagnostic Tool could be the first Microsoft memory

tester toolkit that bundled with Windows setup media.

Command Prompt is the target option of this Vista hacking guide. Click

on this option now.

4. In the Vista Command Prompt, type mmc.exe and press ENTER key to

bring up the Microsoft Management Console.

5. Click on the File menu, select Add / Remove Snap-in option, locate and

select the Local Users and Groups on the left panel, and click Add button to

add it to the right panel.

6. Now, the Choose Target Machine dialog box pop up. Keep the default setting by clicking the Finish button – that means using the Local Users an

d Groups snap-in to manage this local computer, and not another computer in network.

7. Click OK button and return to MMC windows. Under the Root Console in

left panel, double-click Local Users and Group that was added earlier. Click on User folder, locate and right-click the target Vista logon account that found in the right panel.

Guess you should know what to do now. Select the Set Password from the right-click menu to set a new password / reset old password.

Hardware devices you can disable to Increase Boot up Time

Posted: August 27, 2009 in Bios, System Information, System Modifications, Vista
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Each user uses (or May not use) devices differently depending on the system setup. Nonetheless, some classes of devices are more commonly disabled than others. Knowing which ones will help you make your decision as to which devices you should disable. The following classes of devices are frequently disabled:

  • Network adapters: Especially on notebook computers, there is often more than one network device. Disabling the network devices that you do not use will definitely save you some booting time.
  • FireWire: If you have 1394 connections, otherwise known as FireWire, you might consider disabling them. Unless you are using your FireWire port to connect your digital video recorder to your computer, or have other external FireWire devices, you have no need to have this device enabled.
  • Biometrics: Some of the latest computer hardware includes biometric sensor equipment such as a fingerprint scanner. If you do not use these security features, you can save time by disabling these devices, too.
  • Modems: Do you have a broadband connection? If so, consider disabling your modem. If you rarely use it, why not disable it? If you ever need to use it again, just re-enable it.
  • TPM security chips: Does your computer have a Trusted Platform Module (TPM)? These chips are typically used as a secure place to store an encryption key that would be used for something such as hard drive encryption. If you are not using any of these advanced security features of Windows Vista, disable these devices, too.
  • Multimedia devices: Your computer has lots of multimedia devices. Take a look at the “Sound, video, and game controllers” section in Device Manager. You will find a lot of device drivers that are loaded during your boot. Some are used by all users, but you will find a few that you do not use. For example, I do not use my game port or my MIDI device, so I disabled both of those.
  • PCMCIA cards: If you are a laptop user, consider disabling your PCMCIA card controller located under “PCMCIA adapters.” The PCMCIA (Personal Computer Memory Card International Association) slot is a special expansion slot that is rarely used today on laptops except for wireless and wired network cards and card reader attachments for compact flash and other solid-state memory cards. Most laptops now have built-in network adapters, and some even have built-in wireless adapters. If you do not use your PCMCIA adapter, it is yet another device you can safely disable.

Important

Do not disable any hardware devices located under the Disk Drives, Computer, Display Adapters, IDE Disk Controllers, and the System sections (except for the system speaker). These hardware devices are critical to the operation of your system.

Quick Boot feature of the BIOS

Posted: August 27, 2009 in Bios, System Information, System Modifications, Vista
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All systems initialize in more or less the same way. During the POST mentioned earlier, the BIOS checks the hardware devices and counts the system memory. Out of all the different types of system memory, the random access memory, better known as RAM, takes the longest to be checked. Checking the RAM takes time, and on a machine that has large amounts of RAM, this calculation can take several seconds. For example, a machine that has 512MB of RAM may take up to 3 seconds just to check the memory. On top of the RAM counting, a few other tests need to be done because your computer wants to make sure that all the hardware in your computer is working properly.

The complete version of these tests is not needed every time that you boot and can be turned off to save time. Most system BIOSs offer a feature called Quick Boot. This feature enables the user to turn off the full version of the test and sometimes enables you to run a shorter quick check test instead. Other BIOSs allow you to turn off the Memory Check only, which will still cut down on a lot of time.

To turn on the Quick Boot feature or to turn off the Memory Check, just do the following:

  1. Enter the system BIOS again by pressing F2 or the correct system setup Enter key on the POST screen for your system.
  2. After you are in the BIOS setup, locate the text “Quick Boot” or “Memory Check,”. Navigate with the arrow keys until the option is highlighted.
    Use the Change Value keys to cycle through the options and select Enable for the Quick Boot feature or Disable if your system’s BIOS has the Memory Check feature.
  3. After you have made the change to the setting, exit the system BIOS by pressing the Escape key. Make sure you save the changes upon exit.

Use of the Quick Boot feature or the disabling of the Memory Check will not do any harm your system. In fact, some computer manufacturers even ship their computers with these settings already optimized for performance. The only downside to disabling the tests is in the rare situation in which your RAM self-destructs; the BIOS will not catch it, and you might receive errors from the operating system or your system could become unstable. If you notice that your system becomes unstable and crashes frequently or will not even boot, go back into the BIOS and re-enable the tests to find out whether your system’s memory is causing the problems.

Different BIOS Entry Passwords

Posted: August 21, 2009 in Bios, System Basics
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Acer – CTL ALT ESC

AMI BIOS – DEL, F1 or F2

AST, Advantage, Award, Tandon – CTL ALT ESC

Award BIOS – DEL or CTL ALT ESC

Compaq – F10

DELL – F1 or DEL or CTL ALT ENTER

DTK BIOS – Esc

Gateway 2000 – F1

Hewlett Packard – F1

IBM
Older Models – In order to get into the configuration of the IBM setup screen CMOS screen you need to hold down both mouse buttons during bootup.
Aptiva – F1
PS/2 – CTL ALT INS after CTL ALT DEL
PS/2 with reference partition – INS

NEC – F2

Olivetti PC Pro – SHIFT CTL ALT Numpad DEL

Packard Bell – F1 or F2

Phoenix BIOS F1 or F2, or CTL ALT ESC or CTL ALT S or CTL S or CTL ALT INS

Sharp Laptop 9020 – F2

Sony – F3 at switchon, then F2 or F1

Tandon – CTL SHIFT ESC

Toshiba – ESC at switchon

Zenith – CTL ALT INS

Miscellaneous – CTL ESC or CTL ALT +

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