BIOS, or Basic Input/Output System, is also known as Built-in Operating System. A BIOS chip is called a motherboard. This is the basic structure of your computer, to which other chips and utilities are added. BIOS actually refers to the operating system of the chip. American Megatrends Inc. produces the AMIBIOS, a motherboard controller software. This is the most widely sold BIOS.
Features
AMI has produced a limited number of motherboards for direct sale; however, its marketing strategy precludes direct sales, and it only produces components to be sold as part of other companies' products. AMI motherboards are anonymous; the company does not print its name anywhere on the product. It can only be identified by decoding the serial number printed on the motherboard.
Function
The BIOS program is called automatically when a computer is switched on. It invokes all the other programs the computer needs to function.
Development
Allthough BIOS systems are still produced. This function is has been superseded by the Extensible Firmware Interface, or EFI, which is managed by the Unified EFI Forum.
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