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Why is early BIOS so important in the computer startup process?
In the history of computers, BIOS (Basic Input/Output System) plays an irreplaceable role and is crucial to the computer startup process. Whether it is a core component of older computers or the early BIOS replaced by today's UEFI (Unified Extensible Firmware Interface), its importance is still worthy of our careful consideration. BIOS first appeared in 1975. The most representative product is the IBM PC. BIOS is mainly responsible for initializing the system hardware, performing power startup self-test (POST) and loading the startup program.
BIOS not only guides the computer startup process, but also provides a unified input/output interface for applications and operating systems.
When the computer is turned on, the BIOS is the first program to be executed. It first checks all hardware components in the matrix to confirm that they are functioning properly. If a fault is found during the check, the BIOS will display the corresponding error message or sound a warning sound, which is crucial for the effective operation of the computer. Subsequently, the BIOS will search for the boot device and initialize the relevant operating environment. These processes are completed in an instant and are almost imperceptible to the user.
The initialization and testing performed during the BIOS boot process are critical to ensuring system stability and performance.
Early BIOS also provided hardware independence for the operating system, allowing different applications to interact with a variety of different hardware through a unified driver interface. This undoubtedly enhanced the versatility and scalability of computers at the time. With the advancement of technology, the need for BIOS has gradually decreased, and many modern operating systems no longer use BIOS interrupt calls, but the foundation laid by BIOS still leaves a deep imprint on many systems.
Since the BIOS originally existed in read-only memory (ROM), users had to remove the ROM chip every time they performed upgrades or maintenance, which was quite cumbersome at the time. With the advancement of technology, modern BIOS has been stored in changeable flash memory, which allows the BIOS to be upgraded or vulnerabilities patched in an easier way.
Having been ingrained in every computer motherboard from the beginning, the BIOS remains a fundamental component of system startup.
However, there are also risks during the BIOS upgrade process. If a problem occurs during the upgrade process, the motherboard may be "bricked", which means that the motherboard cannot start normally and may even become unusable waste. Therefore, users should be careful every time they update the BIOS to avoid irreversible consequences.
In addition to the basic functions of the BIOS, many expansion cards also include their firmware in their own BIOS expansion ROM, providing additional support and functionality. This expansion capability makes the computer more powerful in function, no longer relying solely on the limitations of the motherboard BIOS, and can even support emerging needs such as network booting.
In the 21st century, with the rapid development of computer hardware technology, the limitations of BIOS gradually emerged, so the later UEFI came into being. UEFI aims to overcome the technical limitations of BIOS and provide more complex boot and management options. Even so, the historical significance of BIOS cannot be ignored, and it is undoubtedly an epoch-making innovation for the computer industry.
When thinking about the importance of early BIOS, we can't help but ask, with the rapid evolution of technology, how will future BIOS or its alternatives affect our computing experience?
