Chapter 3
BIOS Configuration
hard drive types, such as SCSI drives. Note: We recommend that you select type auto for all drives.
The BIOS can automatically detect the specifications and optimal operating mode of almost all IDE hard drives. When you select type auto for a hard drive, the BIOS detects its specifications during POST, every time the system boots. If you do not want to select drive type auto, other methods of selecting the drive type are available:
1.Match the specifications of your installed IDE hard drive(s) with the preprogrammed values for drive types 1 through 45.
2.Select User and enter values into each drive parameter field.
3.Use the IDE HDD Auto Dectection function in Setup.
Here is a brief explanation of drive specifications:
Type: The BIOS contains a table of
Size: Disk drive capacity (approximate). Note that this size is usually slightly greater than the size of a formatted disk given by a
Head: Number of heads
Precomp: Write precompensation cylinder
Landz: Landing zone
Sector: Number of sectors
Mode: Auto, Normal, large, or LBA
Auto: The BIOS automatically determines the optimal mode.
Normal: Maximum number of cylinders, heads, and sectors supported are 1024, 16, and 63.
Large: For drives that do not support LBA and have more than 1024 cylinders.
LBA (Logical Block Addressing): During drive accesses, the IDE controller transforms the data address described by sector, head, and cylinder number into a physical block address, significantly improving data transfer rates. For drives with greater than 1024 cylinders.
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