BIOS When your computer is first turned on, it automatically loads a program called the BIOS, or Basic Input/Output System, which is stored on a special chip on your computer’s motherboard. The BIOS is essentially a combination of software and hardware in that it consists of software, but the contents of that software is stored in a hardware chip. One of the first things we should see on your computer’s monitor when we start the PC is some type of message like "Hit Esc to enter Setup" although instead of Esc it may say For For any number of other keys and instead of Setup it may say CMOS Setup or BIOS Setup or just CMOS. Make note of the key required to enter the Setup program because we may need that later (some startup problems can only be solved by changing some BIOS/CMOS settings via the Setup program.
