Configuration of Basic Computer

 

Configuration of Basic Computer

·         CONFIGURATION is the way a system is set up or the assortment of components that make up the system. Configuration can refer to either hardware or software, or the combination of both.

CMOS – It is the term usually used to describe the small amount of memory on a computer motherboard that stores the BIOS settings.

Basic Input/output System (BIOS)

  • The Basic Input Output System, usually referred to as BIOS, is software stored on a small memory chip on the motherboard. BIOS instructs the computer on how to perform several basic functions such as booting and keyboard control. BIOS is also used to identify and configure the hardware in a computer such as the hard drive, optical drive, CPU, memory, etc.

 

  • The BIOS is accessed and configured through the BIOS Setup Utility. The BIOS Setup Utility is, for all reasonable purposes, the BIOS itself. All available options in BIOS are configurable via the BIOS Setup Utility. The BIOS Setup Utility is accessed in various ways depending on your computer or motherboard make and model.
  • BIOS access and configuration on PC systems is independent of any operating system because the BIOS is part of the motherboard hardware. It doesn’t matter if a computer is running Windows 7, Windows Vista, Windows XP, Linux, Unix, or no operating system at all – BIOS functions outside of the operating system environment and is no way dependent upon it.
  • BIOS contain several hardware configuration options that can be changed through the setup utility. Saving these changes and restarting the computer applies the changes to the BIOS and alters the way BIOS instructs the hardware to function. The following list shows the things you can do in most BIOS systems:

·         Change the Boot Order

·         Load BIOS Setup Defaults

·         Remove a BIOS Password

·         Create a BIOS Password

·         Change the Date and Time

·         Change Floppy Drive Settings

·         Change Hard Drive Settings

·         Change CD/DVD/BD Drive Settings

·         View Amount of Memory Installed

·         Change the Boot Up NumLock Status

·         Enable or Disable the Computer Logo

·         Enable or Disable the Quick Power On Self Test (POST)

·         Enable or Disable the CPU Internal Cache

·         Enable or Disable the Caching of BIOS

·         Change CPU Settings

·         Change Memory Settings

·         Change System Voltages

DEVICE DRIVERS

Drivers are small software programs that help the operating system use or “drive” the device. Whenever a device doesn’t work properly, ask if the proper driver has been installed.

Now that you successfully installed the operating system, you’ll need to configure the devices such as Video Cards, Network Interface Cards, Sound Cards, etc by installing the device drivers of each. In many cases, if Windows recognizes the device, drivers will be installed automatically. In some cases, generic drivers are installed so that the devices will work properly.

Step 1: Determine the Hardware Manufacturer

If you do not know the manufacturer of the device for which you want to install the driver, follow these steps to determine the manufacturer:

1.     On the desktop, right-click My Computer, and then click Manage.

 

 

 

 

2.       Under System Tools, click Device Manager. The devices that are installed on the computer are listed in the right pane.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

3.       In the right pane, expand the category of the device that you want to configure. For example, expand Display adapters.

NOTE: The device may be listed under other devices.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

4.       Right-click the device for which you want to install the driver, and then click Properties.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

5.       Click the General tab. Make a note of the manufacturer and model of the device.

6. Click Cancel, and then quit Computer Management.

NOTE: If the device is not displayed in Device Manager, or the device is listed as an “Unknown device,” contact the computer or device manufacturer to obtain more information about the device.

Step 2: Obtain the driver

To obtain the latest driver, use the following list of possible sources for the driver, in the order in which they are presented.

·         Original Computer Manufacturer

If the device was installed by your computer manufacturer, contact the manufacturer of your computer to find out how to obtain, download, and install the latest drivers for the device.

·         Device Manufacturer

Contact the manufacturer of the device to inquire about how to obtain, download, and install the latest drivers for the device.

·         Chipset Manufacturer

Contact the chipset manufacturer of the device to find out how to obtain, download, and install the latest drivers for the device. It is best to first contact the manufacturer of the device for the drivers before you contact the chipset manufacturer.

For example, if your display adapter uses an NVIDIA chipset, first contact the manufacturer of the display adapter. If you cannot contact the display adapter manufacturer or if the manufacturer does not have a driver, contact NVIDIA.

Some examples of chipset manufacturers (and their Web sites) include:

NVIDIA (display adapters)

PCTEL, Inc. (modems)

·         Installation CD or Floppy Disks

If you have the original driver CD or floppy disks that were included with the computer or device, and if no other source for the drivers is available, use the original driver that is included with the computer or device.

NOTE: Whenever possible, try to first contact the Original Equipment Manufacturer (OEM), device manufacturer, or chipset manufacturer to obtain the latest version of the driver.

Step 3: Install the Driver

The driver files that you download from the OEM, device manufacturer or chipset manufacturer differ depending on how the driver is packaged by the manufacturer.

If the file is an executable program, run the program to extract the files. If the file is in .zip format, you can use a third-party utility such as WinZip to extract the files. For more information about how to extract the driver files, see the instructions that are provided by the manufacturer of the driver.

The driver may use a setup program. The driver package may contain raw driver files, or it may contain only raw driver files. Some examples include .inf files, and .sys files. To install the driver, use one of the following methods as appropriate to your situation.

  • Driver with a Setup or Installation Program

If the driver uses a setup or installation program, run the program to install the driver. For more information about how to do this, see the documentation or contact the driver manufacturer.

  • Device Is Displayed in Device Manager

1.     On the desktop, right-click My Computer, and then click Manage.

2.     Under System Tools, click Device Manager. The devices that are installed on the computer are listed in the right pane.

3.     Expand the category of the device that you want to configure. For example, expand  Modems.
NOTE: The device may be listed under Other devices.

4.     Right-click the device for which you want to install the driver, and then click Properties.
NOTE: The device may be displayed as Unknown device, or as a generic device.

5.     Click the Driver tab, and then click Update Driver. The Upgrade Device Driver wizard starts.

6.     Click Next.

7.     Do one of the following:

Click Search for a suitable driver for my device (recommended), and then click Next. – OR –

Click Display a list of the known devices for this device so that I can choose a specific driver, and then click Next. Click Have Disk, click Browse, locate the .inf files that you downloaded in Step 2: Obtain the Driver, click a .inf file, and then click Open.

8.     Follow the wizard instructions to install the driver.

9.     Restart the computer.

Use the Add New Hardware wizard in Control Panel to install drivers for non-Plug and Play devices. You may have to use this method to install certain modems, serial ports, or printer ports.

1.     Click Start, point to Settings and then click Control Panel.

2.     Double-click Add/Remove Hardware.

3.     Click Next.

4.     Click Add/Troubleshoot a device, and then click Next.

5.     Do one of the following:

·         Click Yes, search for new hardware, and then click Next. – OR –

·         Click No, I want to select the hardware from a list, and then click Next.

6.     Follow the wizard instructions to install the driver.

7.     Restart the computer.

 

Reference:

https://baictchs09.wordpress.com/2019/01/26/basic-computer-configuration/

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