Chapter 2 Installation and Configuration
© National Instruments Corporation 2-5 NI PXI-8108 User Manual
BIOS Setup
You can change the NI PXI-8108 configuration settings in the BIOS setup
program. The BIOS is the low-level interface between the hardware and
operating system software that configures and tests your hardware when
you boot the system. The BIOS setup program includes menus for
configuring settings and enabling NI PXI-8108 controller features.
Most users do not need to use the BIOS setup program, as the NI PXI-8108
controller ships with default settings that work well for most
configurations.
Caution Changing BIOS settings may lead to incorrect controller behavior and possibly
an unbootable controller. If this happens, follow the instructions for restoring default
settings in the System CMOS section. In general, do not change a setting unless you are
absolutely certain what it does.

Accessing BIOS Setup Utility

Complete the following steps to start the BIOS setup program.
1. Power on or reboot your NI PXI-8108 controller.
2. When the message <DEL> = BIOS Setup Menu appears, press the
<Del> key. The setup program loads after a short delay.
The Main menu is displayed when you first enter the BIOS setup
program.
Use the following keys to navigate through the BIOS setup program:
•Left Arrow, Right Arrow—Use these keys to move between the
different setup menus. If you are in a submenu, these keys have no
effect, and you must press <Esc> to leave the submenu first. (To use
the arrows on the numeric keypad, you must turn off Num Lock.)
•Up Arrow, Down Arrow—Use these keys to move between the
options within a setup menu. (To use the arrows on the numeric
keypad, you must turn off Num Lock.)
•<Enter>—Use this key either to enter a submenu or display all
available settings for a highlighted configuration option.
•<Esc>—Use this key to return to the parent menu of a submenu.
At the top-level menus, this key serves as a shortcut to the Exit menu.
•<+> and <–>—Use these keys to cycle between all available settings
for a selected configuration option.