What are two settings that can be modified in the BIOS setup program. (Choose two.)
- device drivers
- swap file size
- enabling and disabling devices
- drive partition size
- boot order
The correct answers are: enabling and disabling devices and boot order.
The BIOS (Basic Input/Output System) setup program allows users to configure essential system settings that control the hardware at a low level before the operating system is loaded. Two of the common settings that can be modified in the BIOS are enabling and disabling devices and boot order. Let’s explore why these options are correct and how they function, as well as why the other options are incorrect.
1. Enabling and Disabling Devices (Correct)
The BIOS setup program allows users to enable or disable certain hardware components that are integrated into the motherboard. For example, users can control devices like integrated sound cards, network adapters, USB controllers, and onboard graphics. This can be useful for troubleshooting hardware conflicts, conserving system resources, or preventing unnecessary devices from being active.
Examples:
- Onboard Audio: You can disable the integrated audio controller if you are using a dedicated sound card.
- Integrated Network Adapter: If you have a separate network card, you can disable the onboard network adapter.
This setting gives users control over which hardware components are active, helping to customize the system configuration based on their needs.
2. Boot Order (Correct)
The boot order determines the sequence in which the BIOS searches for bootable devices when starting the computer. The user can set the priority of different devices, such as the hard drive, SSD, optical drive, USB, or network boot. This is particularly useful when installing an operating system from a USB drive or booting into recovery tools.
Examples:
- You might set the USB drive as the first boot device when installing a new operating system.
- Setting the hard drive as the primary boot device after the OS installation ensures that the system boots into the OS without checking other devices unnecessarily.
This setting is crucial for controlling how the system boots and ensuring that the correct device is used to load the operating system.
3. Why the Other Options are Incorrect
Device Drivers (Incorrect)
Device drivers are software programs that allow the operating system to communicate with hardware components. Drivers are installed and managed within the operating system (such as Windows, macOS, or Linux) and cannot be modified or managed through the BIOS setup program.
Why This is Incorrect:
- Drivers are managed at the operating system level, not through the BIOS. The BIOS deals with hardware-level settings, while drivers are software installed after the OS is loaded.
Swap File Size (Incorrect)
The swap file (or page file) is a space on the hard drive that the operating system uses as virtual memory when physical RAM is full. The size of the swap file is managed by the operating system and cannot be modified in the BIOS.
Why This is Incorrect:
- Swap file size is a setting managed within the operating system’s memory management, typically in system settings, and has no configuration options within the BIOS.
Drive Partition Size (Incorrect)
Drive partition size refers to the way the hard drive is divided into logical sections, which is managed during operating system installation or through disk management tools in the OS. Partitioning cannot be controlled or modified in the BIOS setup program.
Why This is Incorrect:
- Drive partitioning is handled by the operating system or partition management software, not through BIOS settings.
Conclusion
The correct answers are enabling and disabling devices and boot order because these settings can be configured in the BIOS setup program to control hardware functionality and boot preferences. The other options, like managing device drivers, swap file size, and drive partition size, are handled within the operating system and cannot be modified through the BIOS.