Hardware Management Features, Security Passwords

Desktop Board Features

Serial ATA and IDE Auto Configuration

If you install a Serial ATA or IDE device (such as a hard drive) in your computer, the auto-configuration utility in the BIOS automatically detects and configures the device for your computer. You do not need to run the BIOS Setup program after installing a Serial ATA or IDE device. You can override the auto-configuration options by specifying manual configuration in the BIOS Setup program.

PCI and PCI Express* Auto Configuration

If you install a PCI/PCI Express add-in card in your computer, the PCI/PCI Express auto-configuration utility in the BIOS automatically detects and configures the resources (IRQs, DMA channels, and I/O space) for that add-in card. You do not need to run the BIOS Setup program after you install a PCI/PCI Express add-in card.

Security Passwords

The BIOS includes security features that restrict whether the BIOS Setup program can be accessed and who can boot the computer. A supervisor password and a user password can be set for the BIOS Setup and for booting the computer, with the following restrictions:

•The supervisor password gives unrestricted access to view and change all Setup options. If only the supervisor password is set, pressing <Enter> at the password prompt of Setup gives the user restricted access to Setup.

•If both the supervisor and user passwords are set, you must enter either the supervisor password or the user password to access Setup. Setup options are then available for viewing and changing depending on whether the supervisor or user password was entered.

•Setting a user password restricts who can boot the computer. The password prompt is displayed before the computer is booted. If only the supervisor password is set, the computer boots without asking for a password. If both passwords are set, you can enter either password to boot the computer.