bios

2 definitions found

bios - Free On-line Dictionary of Computing (26 May 2007) :

  Basic Input/Output System
  BIOS
  ROM BIOS
  
     <operating system> (BIOS, ROM BIOS) The part of the system software
      of the IBM PC and compatibles that provides the
     lowest level interface to peripheral devices and controls
     the first stage of the bootstrap process, including
     installing the operating system.  The BIOS is stored in
     ROM, or equivalent, in every PC.  Its main task is to load
     and execute the operating system which is usually stored on
     the computer's hard disk, but may be loaded from CD-ROM or
     floppy disk at install time.
  
     In order to provide acceptable performance (e.g. for screen
     display), some software vendors access the routines in the
     BIOS directly, rather than using the higher level operating
     system calls.  Thus, the BIOS in the compatible computer must
     be 100% compatible with the IBM BIOS.
  
     As if that wasn't bad enough, many application programs
     bypass even the BIOS and address the screen hardware directly
     just as the BIOS does.  Consequently, register level
     compatibility is required in the compatible's display
     electronics, which means that it must provide the same storage
     locations and identification as the original IBM hardware.
  
     (1999-06-09)
  

bios - V.E.R.A. -- Virtual Entity of Relevant Acronyms (June 2006) :

  BIOS
         Basic Input Output System / Support (PC)