Computer Setup—Storage

NOTE: Support for specific Computer Setup options may vary depending on the hardware configuration.

Table 2-3Computer Setup—Storage

Option

Description

 

 

Device Configuration

Lists all installed BIOS-controlled storage devices.

 

When a device is selected, detailed information and options are displayed. The following options

 

may be presented:

 

Hard Disk: Size, model, firmware, serial number, connector color, SMART, emulation type.

 

Emulation type has the following choices:

 

● None (prevents BIOS data accesses and disables it as a boot device)

 

● Hard Disk (treated as a hard disk)

 

CD-ROM: Model, firmware, serial number. No emulation options available.

 

 

Storage Options

SATA Emulation

 

Allows you to choose how the SATA controller and devices are accessed by the operating

 

system. There are two supported options: AHCI and IDE.

 

AHCI (default option) - Allows operating systems with AHCI device drivers loaded to take

 

advantage of more advanced features of the SATA controller.

 

IDE - This is the most backwards-compatible setting of the two options. Operating systems usually

 

do not require additional driver support in IDE mode.

 

NOTE: The AHCI device driver must be installed prior to attempting to boot from an AHCI

 

volume. If you attempt to boot from an AHCI volume without the required device driver installed,

 

the system will crash (blue screen).

 

 

DPS Self-Test

Allows you to execute self-tests on ATA hard drives capable of performing the Drive Protection

 

System (DPS) self-tests.

 

NOTE: This selection will only appear when at least one drive capable of performing the DPS

 

self-tests is attached to the system.

 

 

Boot Order

Allows you to:

 

● Specify the order in which attached devices (such as a USB flash media device, hard drive,

 

optical drive, or network interface card) are checked for a bootable operating system image.

 

Each device on the list may be individually excluded from or included for consideration as a

 

bootable operating system source.

 

● Specify the order of attached hard drives. The first hard drive in the order will have priority in

 

the boot sequence and will be recognized as drive C (if any devices are attached).

 

NOTE: MS-DOS drive lettering assignments may not apply after a non-MS-DOS operating

 

system has started.

 

Shortcut to Temporarily Override Boot Order

 

To boot one time from a device other than the default device specified in Boot Order, restart the

 

computer and press F9 before the computer boots to the operating system. After POST is

 

completed, a list of bootable devices is displayed. Use the arrow keys to select the preferred

 

bootable device and press Enter. The computer then boots from the selected non-default device

 

for this one time.

 

 

6

Chapter 2 Computer Setup (F10) Utility