Weekly Subject -07- BIOS

Jaak,

In regard to shadowing, bypassing the bios, etc, etc, you may find this little statement from MS interesting. Though the statement is in regards to NT, it is true of other Windows OSes. I would have preferred if in the statement they had said "almost never uses the bios" (or the like), because it isn't true that all Windows OSes (or applications within them) never use bios routines. There is or can be some usage.


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[This message has been edited by DrMDJ (edited 07-02-2001).]

Jaak,

Another excerpt (from the Bios Companion) you might find interesting. At a point in talking about the bios it says it is

Quote:

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active all the time your computer is switched on. In this way, software doesn't have to talk to a device directly, but can call a BIOS routine to do the job instead. However, these days the BIOS is often bypassed by 32-bit software - in fact, there are moves afoot to place its functions into the operating system, starting with Power Management (see ACPI).

For the moment, though, the BIOS will work in conjunction with the chipset, which is really what manages access to system resources such as memory, cache and the data buses...

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Maybe the question needs clarification. We have mentioned different things that you see on the monitor as a result of problems arising and in a relationship with BIOS. I was just looking for "if you have this indication do this" type of thing. Very simple and not elaborate.

For example; when you turn on the power to a computer, power is applied to the Mobo and then thru the Mobo to the Bios. At this time the BIOS does its job and if what it checks is ok you get a Windows Starting indication. To me that is a diagnostic checkpoint. You will get something or you won't. Just thought it might be something to capitalize on.

Hope this clears up the question on the question. https://discussions.virtualdr.com/


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[This message has been edited by greengoose1 (edited 07-02-2001).]

Hi DrMDJ.

it kinda figures.
I still have system BIOS shadowed, but left video BIOS shadowing off a few times, and wondered why I saw no ill effects.
(I hadn't seen that Nvidia article and my systems have TNT cards. Thanks. Their shadowy days are gone... Errm, anything on ATI 128 rage pro? )

Anyway, (most software and) Windows itself has been progressing away from direct harware calls.
Where were the days when one heard blu screeches from frustrated users because some DOS app made a direct-call to hardware, and the memory range this call was made to had been released to windows-apps by windows, causing BSOD.
(A well known cure was in system.ini > [386enh]EmmExclude=A000-C7FF One also made DOS memory manager or Quemm not release the EGA/CGA range to TSR's...)

I wish NT4 were happy with my hardware, since I have wasted a good deal of money on the package, and gave up on it because, well, because..

ME wont even boot to native DOS, far from allowing direct calls? a good deal of NT technology krept in.
Heck, one runs a few major updates on win98SE and finds win2000 stuff in the system... https://discussions.virtualdr.com/

makes sense, in a way, because I haven't seen a BSOD on my machines for a while...
But I am not a gamer
I still do a bit of poking around in DOS, tho https://discussions.virtualdr.com/

I bet hard core gamers weep bitter tears when the classics won't run on their new superduper systems...

Hmmm, I write this, start thinking about this, and get to wonder if that actually pertains to BIOS shadowing...
I wish I were a micro-engineer or programmer.
I'm not. I would be lousy at it too.
Electronics? Its like Quantum Physics...
I can read about it, but you would not want me to work on it.
Doesn't mean I should not try gain an insight, though.

it Must be caused by my Flemishness!
Jaak

Not to change the topic, but you mentioned quantum physics. Read an article just last week where they've just jumped a major hurdle in building a quantum computer. Basically, there are two states in computer language (binary): OFF and ON (0 and 1). Well, seems they have developed a tiny chip that actually has 5 states now (states "in between" OFF and ON). Won't go into details, but here's what a quantum computer will be capable of: To break the current telecommunications coding with a 2ghz CPU PC running 24/7, it would take approximately a quadrillion years. A quantum computer will do it in a matter of minutes. This recent development has the telecommunications industry on its ear.... https://discussions.virtualdr.com/ I WANT one of those.... https://discussions.virtualdr.com/

[This message has been edited by bistro (edited 07-02-2001).]

YES
NO
MAYBE NO
MAYBE YES

What's the fifth?
I believe its BOTH yes and no
talk about fuzzy logic https://discussions.virtualdr.com/


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Isn't There Always "something entirely different" we'll need to reconsider?
Kind regards, Jaak.

Jaak, Fuzzy logic? https://discussions.virtualdr.com/

Consider this. 1s and 0s, True - False, And gate - Or gate, And/Or gate, Yes - No, etc. What you have and what you don't have are equally important. https://discussions.virtualdr.com/



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Last time I read about the quantum computer project was many months ago...

the way you describe it jogged me memory.

Totall Recall!
Now, I wish Arnie was more like Fuzzy Sapiens. (H. Beam Piper)
But then again, one could say P.K.Dick had plenty good "fuzzy" yarns.
Sooner or later fuzzy logic is going to be UBIK-uitous. https://discussions.virtualdr.com/
I was told there is plenty fuzzy logic used in current computing.
comes the day where the tunnel effect is controlled, and photonic relays are used.
or when Asimov's positronic brain is a reality...

lets dream of a better world, and not forget that each utopian story had its dystopian background.
Nite all. I'll dream about this.

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Isn't There Always "something entirely different" we'll need to reconsider?
Kind regards, Jaak.

Now that the breakout has happened https://discussions.virtualdr.com/ , Wonder what the encore will be.

Thanks folks, the information is very usable.
Plus answered a bunch of ??'s that I did not have time to research.
Scatched them off the list. https://discussions.virtualdr.com/

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It is unbelievable the rate at which things change in this industry these days, particularly over the last few years. And on so many fronts.

A quantum computer. Good, that means before long many people will be able to have that much more horsepower sitting largely idle on their desktops. It's all a plot by the SETI folks.

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DrMDJ
Got to admit, they are looking. https://discussions.virtualdr.com/

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I know it's prolonging staying off the topic at hand, but...

When ya start dealing with stuff like quantum computers it's kinda like having to switch one's few from one dimensional to two dimensional. Or maybe, more appropriately, multi-dimensional. I had always thought though that the quantum computer stuff was based on the idea of 4 states. Instead of just 1->0 (on/off), you could had in between states, states reflecting the degree of one or off. So the states would be like (1,1)->(1,0)->(0,1)->(0,0). Then again, I guess quantum physics (not that I know) is so obscure that one can make it up as they go along.

One things for sure, I don't want to even think about what the posts will be like when GG1 revives these threads for the building of a quantum computer. https://discussions.virtualdr.com/

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GG1,

Question for ya. I know I keep bringing this up. But from what I see (and that's all I have to go on), my curiosities only keep growing.

Are you getting any feedback lately on things? Good, bad, indifferent? I continue to be bewildered by the minimal, and seemingly shrinking, participation in these threads. I know you have said people are sitting back and taking things in. Are they? Something just keeps seeming like it isn't right. So few questions, so few comments, and not even the occassional post from some people around these boards I thought might post.

Your input/feedback would be appreciated oh Threadmaster.

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DrMDJ
One things for sure, I don't want to even think about what the posts will be like when GG1 revives these threads for the building of a quantum computer.

I agree. LOL LOL I'll duck out.

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Oh ye of little faith. Read the weekly VirDr newsletters. Look at the increasing numbers of posts in the Hardware Forum from when we took up residence here. I think that Train said there were a couple of thousand posts last week alone. These eyeballs have seen the posts of other members as well as the posts on other than the Virtual Dr Forums referring readers to us. And this is summertime. We have seen new names pop up here and their. I feel we have a good draw considering most people are here looking for a specific answer. https://discussions.virtualdr.com/ Later



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