Answer:
In normal operation, you don't need to know which BIOS your PC has, but you will need to know the BIOS' version number and its developer if a BIOS upgrade becomes necessary. There are several ways you can find out this information.
One easy way to check the BIOS make and model is to review the PC's specifications directly from the computer manufacturer. Refer to the PC's documentation or the manufacturer's Web page to look up the product details or system specifications. (Not all PC manufacturers provide this information.)
If the BIOS information doesn't appear in the system's printed or online documentation, look for the BIOS banner on-screen just after you turn on your computer. Press the BREAK key when you see a little bit of cryptic white text against the black screen. For example, one of our PCs uses an Award BIOS, which lists its information as:
Award Modular BIOS v6.000PG
AK72 R1.00 Mar.08.2000
Don't worry about what these characters mean; they just identify a particular BIOS version. Write down the BIOS information in your users manual or on a sheet of paper you plan to keep with your system documents and CD-ROMs. Sometimes, you may need to enter the system setup menu to locate the BIOS information. For instance, many PCs require users to press F2 or F10 (the particular key for your system usually appears on-screen with the BIOS banner) to enter the setup menu. |