How to properly reset the BIOS

One of the differences between a personal computer (PC) and a laptop is the availability of some additional features to adjust the operation of all hardware components. Manufacturers of portable computers are doing everything possible to reduce the percentage of users accessing their service centers, but in the field of stationary technology, the situation is completely opposite. The reason for this injustice is historical. The first PCs were quite expensive devices, and their users, for the most part, are real enthusiasts. This is now a call to the support service for help has become a familiar phenomenon, and at the dawn of computer technology, this service was available only to units. The desire to understand the work of the PC and gain access to the settings caused the appearance in the BIOS of the computer of the settings for the operation of components. Here was later realized the possibility of overclocking (unofficial increase in performance). On many motherboards, special copper pins-pins were decoupled, which, being closed jumpers in a certain order, allowed to expose the necessary frequencies and multipliers, and also allowed to reset the BIOS to a jumper.

The basic input / output system (BIOS) is a small firmware, located in one of the chips of the motherboard. Each time the PC is turned on, this program starts, tests the components, performs their configuration, and gives control to the loader. The user can make his own adjustments to this process, for example, set frequencies, adjust voltages, boot priority, set a password, etc. In the PC, to enter the settings, you need to press DEL immediately after turning it on. Errors in the settings, for example, an overestimated frequency, can lead to the inability to boot the computer (and even the black screen after power on). In this case, you need to reset the BIOS. Now it is gradually being replaced by a newer solution - UEFI, but this is a completely different story.

On modern motherboards there are still such pins, but with each new generation of the socket (processor socket) they are getting smaller. This is quite natural: CPU manufacturers are increasingly blocking overclocking, and the rest of the components are automatically adjusted (or with minimal adjustments from the BIOS). But one thing remains, as before, are the pins that are used to reset the BIOS. They are installed on most boards, although there are options with a small button.

Why do I need to reset the BIOS? The main reasons are two: the need to reset the password and return to the factory settings. Making changes in the BIOS, it is necessary to understand what and for what it is done. Otherwise, it is very easy to get an inoperative system and will have to completely reset the BIOS. All data settings are stored in the BIOS chip thanks to the battery-tablet on the board. Closing of these pins by a bridge (or any other metal object) should be short-lived. In this case, the chip loses all user-made settings, returning the BIOS to its original state. If you want to reset the BIOS, then you can safely do this, because the possibility itself is provided by the motherboard manufacturer.

In addition to resetting the settings, the update may be required after the BIOS has been flashed with a newer version. In spite of the fact that after such an operation it is possible to reset the changes made to the settings in the BIOS itself, the hardware reset by a jumper is more preferable. In some cases, this is the only way to ensure a stable computer after updating the BIOS.

The procedure for zeroing is as follows: turn off the computer - find the required pins on the board (they are signed, for example, Clear CMOS) - close the jumper or metal object for 1-5 seconds - return the jumper to its original place - turn on the computer. What exactly needs to be closed, you can see the instructions to the motherboard.