BIOS

(Basic Input Output Service)

Contains system data used by the ROM
BIOS service routines.
Serves as a standardized communication
interface between the computers hardware
and the operating system.

BIOS
Is a small ROM chip on the PCs motherboard.
A basic software program containing all BIOS
functions is permanently stored in the ROM.
This software functions as a basic operating
system.
Is responsible for starting the PC.
This hardware integrated with software is also
referred to as firmware.

BIOS History
Intel developed the 8086 and 8088 in the
end of the 70s.
IBM decided to make an affordable
computer out of the 8088.
Microsoft created the operating system
(DOS).

DOS
(Disk Operating System)
Fundamentals
Consisted of two parts
The BIOS itself is one part of the operating
system.
The other part consists of the operating system
program files.
Program files consist of
Utilities
A kernel that is loaded into the main memory when
the computer boots.

Cloning
IBM introduced the complete PC with the
operating system in 1981.
IBM owned copyrights to the BIOS.
IBM published all the assembly language
source code for the IBM PC/XT BIOS.
Peter Norton wrote the landmark book
Inside the IBM-PC.
Microsoft made DOS available to other
licensees.

Clones
Compaq developed a BIOS by 1983. Also
introduced their own PC.
Phoenix Technologies released a BIOS
package (IBM-compatible BIOS and a
version of DOS).
Manufacturers of today, such as AMI,
Award and MR-BIOS, all developed their
own source code for an IBM-compatible
BIOS.

Functions of the BIOS

When you first turn on your PC
Your PC requires information
to detect PC components
To find the operating system(floppy disk, hard
drive, or a CD-ROM)

This information is stored in the BIOS

Flow Chart of BIOS Functions

Turn on Computer

Pass through POST Error Free

NO

Output to Monitor

YE
S
PlugnPlay
Pass through POST Error Free

Test Boot Drive

Bootable media found

Load boot program

Start operating system

NO

Pass through POST Error Free

YE
S
Pass through POST Error Free

NO

POST
(Power On Self Test)
Takes place right after you power on.
Contains diagnostic routines for
initializing the hardware and peripherals
the video card, the main memory, the processor, the
keyboard, etc.

Checking their functions

Error message on screen if an error is

detected. If monitor cannot be detected, the
beep codes are output by the system loud
speaker.

Plug and Play

Bios next looks for additional BIOS
memory chips might be on a Plug and
Play card such as video card or a SCSI
controller.
If present, they run their routines and
supplement or replace some functions of the
system BIOS.

If components no longer match the data

stored in the CMOS (i.e. hardware change),
message appreas on screen to update.

Plug and Play

After all hardware components have been
found and checked, Plug and Play goes to
work.
Interrupts and DMA channels of the plug-in
cards in the ISA and PCI buses are queried
and distributed.
Onboard hardware, located on motherboard
and in its ISA/PCI slots, are configured for
operation.

Bootstrap Loader
BIOS next accesses the first sector of the
hard drive, alos termed the boot sector, and
starts the bootstrap loader
A small program that knows the file structure of
the storage medium and can call the operating
systems start routine.

Operating System Kernel

Next, the operating system kernel is read
into main memory and control of the
hardware passes onto the operating system.

An Interpreter
In old operating systems (DOS 6.2), the
BIOS acts as a mediator (or interface)
between the hardware and the software.
New operating systems, circumvent the
BIOS and communicate directly with the
hardware through the appropriate drivers.

BIOS Updating
The BIOS is manufactured on FLASH
technology. It is easily updated.
Previous versions of BIOS were developed
on ROM, EPROM,and EEPROM chips.

DOS
(Disk Operating System)
Fundamentals
Consisted of two parts
The BIOS itself is one part of the operating
system.
The other part consists of the operating system
program files.
Program files consist of
Utilities
A kernel that is loaded into the main memory when
the computer boots.

Microsoft Kernels
Kernel of a Microsoft operating system consists of
Msdos.sys
Io.sys

MSDOS.sys controls the keyboard input and the

screen output.
IO.sys communicates with the BIOS and contains
the actual program code of the operating system
and a process control for the hardware.

BIOS Data Area, at Segment

0040h
HEX OFFSET
0000 - 0007
0008 - 000F
0010 - 0011
0012
0013 - 0014
0015 - 0016
0017 -0018
0019
001A - 001B
001C - 001D
001E - 003D
003E - 0048
0049
004A - 004B
004C - 004D
004E - 004F
0050 - 005F
0060
0061
0062
0063 - 0064
0065
0066
0067 - 006B
006C - 0070

Description
Port addresses, COM1 - COM4
Port addresses, LPT1 - LPT4
Installed hardware list
initialization flag
memory size, in Kbytes
Memory in I/O channel
keyboard status flags
alternate key entry storage
Keyboard buffer pointer (head)
keyboard buffer pointer (tail)
Keyboard typeahead buffer
Diskette data area
Current video mode
Number of screen columns
Regen buffer length, in bytes
Regen buffer starting offset
Cursor positions, video pages 1 -8
Cursor end line
Cursor start line
Currently displayed video page number
Active display base address
CRT mode register
Register for color graphics adapter
Cassette data area
Timer data area

Other BIOS chips in Your PC

They have the same functionality as the
system BIOS
Control the corresponding device

Contain software similar to the system

BIOS.
Manufactured with FLASH technology to
be upgraded easily.

Video BIOS-ROM
Contains the basic data
Initialization routines
BIOS functions
Character sets

Initializes the registers of the VGA chip

Sets the interrupt vectors for the interrupts

Video Interrupt
There is a software interrupt that permits the
software to communicate with the video card.
INT 10h
Can access the registers through it
Can control the mode, character input/output,
and read/write pixels.