Award BIOS

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Award BIOS

Award BIOS is a type of firmware used to initialize a computer’s hardware and boot its operating system, providing the basic settings and functionality necessary for the computer to operate. It is commonly used in older computers and is responsible for tasks such as setting the clock, configuring boot devices, and managing system resources.

What does Award BIOS mean?

Award BIOS, short for Award Basic Input-Output System, is a graphical user interface (GUI) firmware that initializes and configures hardware components on a personal computer (PC) during the boot-up process. It is responsible for loading the operating system (OS) into memory and providing a user interface for configuring hardware settings, such as memory speed, boot order, and Integrated peripherals.

Award BIOS is based on the Phoenix Technologies BIOS, which was the most popular BIOS implementation in the 1980s and early 1990s. Award Software International licensed the Phoenix BIOS in 1988 and released the first version of Award BIOS in 1991. It quickly became the dominant BIOS implementation on PCs, due to its ease of use, high stability, and extensive hardware support.

Applications

Award BIOS is an essential component of a PC’s firmware and is used in a wide Variety of applications, including:

  • Initializing and configuring hardware components: During boot-up, Award BIOS initializes and configures hardware components, such as the CPU, memory, and storage devices. It also detects and initializes expansion cards, such as graphics cards, Sound cards, and network cards.
  • Loading the operating system: Award BIOS loads the operating system into memory from a hard disk drive, optical disc drive, or other storage device.
  • Providing a user interface for hardware configuration: Award BIOS provides a user interface for configuring hardware settings, such as memory speed, boot order, and integrated peripherals. This allows users to customize their PC’s hardware configuration to meet their specific needs.
  • Debugging hardware problems: Award BIOS includes various diagnostic tools that can be used to troubleshoot hardware problems. These tools can help users identify and resolve hardware issues, such as memory errors, CPU overheating, and hard drive failures.

History

Award Software International was founded in 1989 by Michael G. Boettcher and Douglas W. Jackson. The company’s first product was Award BIOS, which was released in 1991. Award BIOS quickly became the dominant BIOS implementation on PCs, due to its ease of use, high stability, and extensive hardware support.

In 1998, Award Software International was acquired by Phoenix Technologies, the original developer of the Phoenix BIOS. Phoenix Technologies continued to develop and market Award BIOS, and it remains one of the most popular BIOS implementations on PCs today.

Over the years, Award BIOS has evolved significantly. The latest versions of Award BIOS include support for UEFI (Unified Extensible Firmware Interface), which is a new standard for firmware interfaces. UEFI provides a more modern and user-friendly interface, and it supports new features, such as secure boot and Faster boot times.