ASUS m4a785t-m User Manual

2-4

Chapter 2: BIOS information

This motherboard supports a programmable Serial Peripheral Interface (SPI) chip that you 

can update using the provided utility described in section 2.1 Managing and updating your 

BIOS.

Use the BIOS Setup program when you are installing a motherboard, reconfiguring your 

system, or prompted to “Run Setup.” This section explains how to configure your system 

using this utility.

Even if you are not prompted to use the Setup program, you can change the configuration of 

your computer in the future. For example, you can enable the security password feature or 

change the power management settings. This requires you to reconfigure your system using 

the BIOS Setup program so that the computer can recognize these changes and record them 

in the CMOS RAM of the SPI chip.

The SPI chip on the motherboard stores the Setup utility. When you start up the computer, 

the system provides you with the opportunity to run this program. Press <Del> during the 

Power-On Self-Test (POST) to enter the Setup utility; otherwise, POST continues with its test 

routines. 

To enter BIOS Setup at startup:

•  Press <Delete> during the Power-On Self Test (POST). If you do not press <Delete>, 

POST continues with its routines.

To enter BIOS Setup after POST:

•  Press <Ctrl>+<Alt>+<Del> simultaneously. 
•  Press the reset button on the system chassis. 
•  Press the power button to turn the system off then back on. Do this option only if you 

failed to enter BIOS Setup using the first two options.

Using the power button, reset button, or the <Ctrl>+<Alt>+<Del> keys to force 

reset from a running operating system can cause damage to your data or system. We 

recommend that you always shut down the system properly from the operating system.

•  The default BIOS settings for this motherboard apply to most conditions to ensure 

optimum performance. If the system becomes unstable after changing any BIOS 

settings, load the default settings to ensure system compatibility and stability. Select the 

Load Setup Defaults item under the Exit menu. See section 2.8 Exit Menu.

•  The BIOS setup screens in this chapter are for reference only. They may not exactly 

match what you see on your screen. 

•  Visit the ASUS website at www.asus.com to download the latest BIOS file for this 

motherboard.