COMPUTER

HARDWARE
Lecture 7
 OUTLINE
• INTRODUCTION TO COMPUTERS
• COMPUTER AND
COMMUNICATION
• AN OVERVIEW OF COMPUTERS
• COMPUTER CHASIS
• MOTHERBOARDS AND EXPANSION
BUSES
• SUPPLYING POWER TO A
COMPUTER
• THE CENTRAL PROCESSING UNIT
(CPU)
 OUTLINE…
• STORAGE
• PRIMARY (MEMORY)
• SECONDARY (BASIC DISK
DRIVES AND HIGH-CAPACITY
DISK DRIVES)
• NETWORKING AND CONFIGURATION
• SOFTWARE:
• System
• application
CMOS/BIOS
BIOS and CMOS
 Overview

• In this lecture, you will learn to

– Explain the function of BIOS

– Distinguish among various CMOS setup utility options

– Describe option ROM and device drivers

– Troubleshoot the power-on self test (POST)

 Bridge Introduction

• Data flows through the computer

– Between CPU and RAM
– Between CPU and video
– Between CPU and other devices

• Bridges are used to connect the pieces

– Northbridge
• Bridge closest to the CPU
– Southbridge
• The farther bridge
 Northbridge & Southbridge

• A chipset is a set of Northbridge and

Southbridge chips that work together

• Northbridge • Southbridge
– Chip or chips that – Handles all of the
connect the CPU to inputs and outputs to
video and/or memory the many devices in
the PC
Data Flow

– Northbridge and Southbridge

have connectivity with all devices
– Not the same in all systems
 Chipset

Northbridge

Southbridge
 Basic Input/Output System
(BIOS)

• Bridges connect the devices

– But without a program, they don’t know how to
communicate

• A special kind of program is required to enable the CPU

to talk to other devices

• A Flash ROM chip stores these programs

• These programs are collectively known as the basic

input/output service (BIOS)
 Talking to the Keyboard

• The keyboard talks to the external data

bus
– Uses the keyboard controller chip (8042)

10100011
Marvin Marvin
 BIOS
• Each program is called a service
• Programs stored on Flash ROM chips are known as firmware
• Programs stored on erasable media are called software

Keyboard Firmware is
controller
chip software that is
embedded in a
piece
of hardware.
You can think of
firmware simply
as "software for
hardware."
CMOS
 CMOS

• Separate chip from ROM BIOS

• Volatile (kept alive by battery)

• Stores only changeable data

– Not programs
– Acts as clock to keep data current

• Customizable via SETUP program

• Often on Southbridge
 BIOS vs. CMOS
• BIOS • CMOS
– The BIOS, or "Basic Input/Output System", – When you make changes to your BIOS
is special firmware stored in a chip on your configuration, the settings are not stored
computer's motherboard. It is the on the BIOS chip itself. Instead, they are
first program that runs every time you turn stored on a special memory chip, which is
on your computer. referred to as "the CMOS." CMOS stands
– The BIOS performs the POST, which for "Complementary Metal-Oxide-
initializes and tests your computer's Semiconductor."
hardware. Then it locates and runs – It holds a small amount of data, usually
your boot loader, or loads your operating 256 bytes.
system directly. – The information on the CMOS chip
– The BIOS also provides a simple interface includes what types of disk drives are
for configuring your computer's hardware. installed on your computer, the current
When you start your computer, you may date and time of your system clock, and
see a message like "Press F2 for setup." your computer's boot sequence.
This setup is your BIOS configuration – it is integrated with the real-time clock
interface. (RTC) on the southbridge.
– BIOS memory is non-volatile
 Updating CMOS

• Updated via BIOS program

• Three primary BIOS brands
– American Megatrends (AMI), Award,
Phoenix
– To enter setup, press key combination
(may be Del, ESC,
F1, F2,
CTRL-ALT-ESC,
CTRL-ALT-INS,
CTRL-ALT-Enter,
or CTRL-S)
 CMOS Setup

• Main menu
– Access to all submenus
 Standard CMOS Features
• Clock, hard drives, floppy drives
•Bios-pw.org
 SoftMenu Setup

• Normally set to Default or Auto for all

 Advanced Features

• POST, boot order

 Power Management

• Use to enable/disable power-saving features

 PnP/PCI

• Rarely need to manipulate on today’s PCs

 Set Password

• Locks access to CMOS settings

– Prevents non-techs from changing key settings
Option ROM and Device Drivers
 Device Drivers

• A device driver is a file that contains the BIOS

commands necessary to communicate with the devices
they support
– Loaded into RAM when the system boots

• All devices come with their own device drivers

Power-On Self Test (POST)
 Power-On Self Test (POST)

• The power-on self test (POST) is a special program

stored on the ROM chip

– Initiated when the computer is turned on or is reset

– Checks out the system every time the computer boots

• Communicates errors
– Beep codes

– Text errors
 Beep Codes

• If video is determined to be missing or faulty

– One long beep followed by three short beeps

• If everything checks out

– One or two short beeps

• If RAM is missing or faulty

– Buzzing noise that repeats until power turned off

• More complicated beep codes may be found in legacy

computers
– Check motherboard manual for meaning
Text-Based Error Message
 The Boot Process

• The CPU is the first component initialized when the

computer is turned on

• It reads a special wire called power good once the

power supply provides the proper voltage to the CPU

• Every CPU has a built-in memory address with the first

line of the POST program on the system ROM
 The Boot Process

• The last BIOS function called by POST is the bootstrap

loader

• The bootstrap loader loads the operating system from

the boot sector
– Searches the floppy, CD-ROM, or the hard drive
– Boot order set in CMOS

• The bootstrap loader generates an error if it cannot

find the boot sector on the bootable disk
 Losing CMOS Settings

• Common errors
– CMOS configuration mismatch
– CMOS date/time not set
– No boot device available
– CMOS battery state low

• Common reasons for losing CMOS data

– Jiggling the battery while doing other work
– Dirt on the motherboard
– Electrical surges
– Faulty power supplies
– Chip creep
 Losing CMOS Settings

• If your system keeps resetting

– Replace the battery

• Common symptoms of low battery

– Slow running clock

– Clock resetting to January 1st

 CMOS Battery
• The CMOS battery is a Lithium-ion battery about the size
of a coin. It can hold a charge for up to ten years before
needing to be replaced. If your CMOS battery dies, your
BIOS settings will reset to their defaults when your
computer is turned off.
• Some motherboards, including most modern ATX
motherboards, will continue to provide power to the CMOS
if the battery is replaced while the computer is powered
on.

Warning: If you want to replace your CMOS battery, make

sure to consult your motherboard documentation for details
and safety information.
 Computer Software
What we’ll cover for this lecture topic:
• Software categories
–Applications software
–Systems software
•What is an operating system?
–What does it do for me?
–What does it do for application
programs?
•What is a translator?
 * The Big Picture *
• Application software
– It is the reason that one wants to buy a computer:
• printout out paychecks • play Mortal Kombat
• watch porn/series • do your taxes
• generate a fancy newsletter • guide robots
• to learn • draw a flowchart
• browse the Web • design a car
• System software
– Helps computer carry out its basic tasks.
– Includes:
• Operating systems (OS) - master control programs
• BIOS (Basic Input/Output System)
• Some utilities are built into OS
• Translators (program language translators/compilers)
 Application software
• Includes many executable files and data files:
– Installer program (eg: setup.exe)
– Uninstaller program (why important?)
– Main executable file (eg: winword.exe)
– Support modules (eg: .dll files)
•Called by the PROGRAM, not by the user
– Data modules (eg: MS Word dictionary)

• “Installing” has gotten easy…most use wizards

 SYSTEMS Software…
I. The Operating System
• A type of system software that underlies all other
software.
• It manages all software and hardware tasks.
• It provides a common set of computer functions
such as input from a keyboard and output to a
monitor.
• It provides the user interface……that is:
• How can something as simple-minded as a processor
and memory present you with something as rich as
the Mac or Windows GUI?
 • What does an OS do for me? LOTS!
In general terms……
– Provides user interface ...as we saw.
– Allows applications to run.
– What are some tasks you need done even when no apps are
running?
– Does nearly half of what we ask an application program to do!
• Common tasks useful to all programs —put those in the OS
(the most basic are put in BIOS) so each app doesn’t have to
handle those tasks.
• So what are some of these tasks?
 Manages windows

–What do you do with windows?

–What does that involve?
 Manages files and folders
– What do you do with files and folders?
– You Create a new file or folder….
– You Move files and folders; you “nest” folders
– You Open a document file… whoa! Let’s see:
– OS looks at file extension
– OS checks if enough free memory space
– OS finds and loads the APP (if not loaded)
– OS finds and loads the document
– OS keeps track of what data goes with what program (all sharing same
RAM)
– OS turns control over to the APP
 –What do you do with files and folders…cont’d

– You Start an app from Start Menu ...

– You Copy a file or a folder.
– You Print a file.
– You Save, or Save As (see FAT, later) …
– You Exit from an app (What does OS do???)

– User file management and viewing tools are

provided by OS: SUCH AS?
– My Computer
– Windows Explorer
 – Many universal file management operations [under File menu]
are done by OS:
– New, Open, Close, Save, Save As, Print, Exit…
– Again, great for users: Consistency!
Digression: Disk & file management is critical!
– OS keeps track of disk drives by assigning names
– Windows OS: uses letters (A, B, C, D, …..)
– During disk formatting: each track & sector is labeled, and the FAT is created.
– FAT: log that contains location (cluster #) of each filename. (FAT is updates
each time a file is created, moved, renamed, or deleted.)

Filename Start End Pointers

Lab4.doc Cluster 5 Cluster 9 XYZ clusters
 FAT eliminates a real problem ….
You Save a file.

Later, ADD several pages to the

FAT (copy 2)
file.
YOU SAVE AGAIN (same name).
No free clusters nearby! What
FAT (copy 1) now? OS checks FAT for open
clusters, stores rest of file there,
adds pointers to FAT which will
link these non-contiguous clusters
to that file.
BUT! what will happen to your disk over time? So what?
FRAGMENTATION
 IMPORTANT digression:
WHAT HAPPENS when you SHUT DOWN
improperly? Why should you care?

“Shutting down incorrectly is a little like

stopping your car by driving it into a
wall. It works, but it can cause some
damage.” (author unknown)
 Provides (and loads) Device Drivers

• Small programs that control a peripheral device

(printer, hard disk, tape drive, modem …)
– Allow OS & applications to activate (drive) the hardware
device.
– The driver accepts commands from the operating system
and converts them into a form that a particular device can
understand.
– Newer OSs: provide most device drivers.
– Else: find and download device driver program from
manufacturer’s web site.
QUESTIONS
??