BIOS Settings - Auto Configuration and Defaults



In addition to the automatic configuration options offered in 
several specific areas of the BIOS setup (memory timing, hard 
disk autodetection, etc.) most BIOSes also offer a menu selection 
to automatically set all options in the BIOS to 
predefined settings.

	Note: Auto configuration selections will not generally 
replace the settings in the Standard Setup section, in order not 
to wipe out any specific settings you have entered for your 
floppy or hard disk drives, or the current date and time.

	Warning: It is prudent to record your system's current 
settings on paper before loading any default settings so that 
you know what you have changed and can undo the automatic 
settings if necessary. You may also find it useful to reference 
this procedure to help set your key settings again after doing 
a default load.


Auto Configuration with BIOS Defaults / Failsafe Settings

Select this option to replace most of the current BIOS settings 
with predefined settings (coded into the BIOS) that are intended 
to put the system into as stable a state as possible. This means 
in most cases the slowest memory timings, performance enhancing 
features turned off, etc. In general, you will want to use this 
setting if your system becomes unstable after you make many 
changes, to return it to a known good state. 

This will not be an optimal setting in the vast majority of 
cases; you will want to make modifications after you do this, to 
improve performance. It is very useful for troubleshooting; if 
your system doesn't work before you run this and then it does 
work afterwards, you know that an incorrect BIOS setting was 
likely your problem.


Auto Configuration with Optimal Settings

Select this option to replace most of the current BIOS settings 
with predefined settings (coded into the BIOS) that are intended 
to put the system into what the designers consider an optimal 
state. You can use this when you first start up your system to 
get it "close" to what you want it to be when you have made all 
the changes you feel are necessary for maximum performance. 
Don't expect these optimal settings to truly be optimal however; 
the designers can't possibly anticipate how you specifically are 
going to use your system.
