1. Access BIOS settings
The first step in adjusting hardware settings for a Windows system is accessing the BIOS settings. This can be done by restarting your computer and pressing the appropriate key on the keyboard when the message prompts appear on the screen. Depending on the computer hardware, the key may be F2, Delete, or some other special key. After pressing the required key, the Basic Input/Output System (BIOS) settings page appears on the screen.
2. Change boot order
Once in the BIOS settings page, the next step is to change the boot order. This controls which device your computer will look to first while starting-up. Normally, you have the option to select either CD-ROM, Hard Drive or USB drive. Make sure to set the boot order properly or else it would be difficult to access the hard drive to install a new operating system or device drivers.
3. Make changes to memory settings
Next, you can make changes to the system memory settings. This includes setting the proper amount of RAM according to your computer’s capabilities. The amount of RAM is usually measured in megabytes or gigabytes. Once decided, you can manually adjust the settings accordingly. This can also be modified using the BIOS setup program.
4. Adjust power settings
The next step is to adjust the power settings. This includes enabling or disabling the ACPI (Advanced Configuration and Power Interface) feature, as well as setting up the behaviour of the computer when the power button is pressed. You can also set the automatic power-on timing according to your needs.
5. Set up hard drives
Once the power settings are adjusted, you can set up the hard drives. This includes setting up the master and slave IDE configuration, setting up the disk partition, as well as creating and formatting partitions in the hard drive. You can also change the boot order of the IDE devices and configure RAID (Redundant Array of Independent Disks) and SCSI (Small Computer Systems Interface) devices.
6. Edit video settings
After setting up the hard drives, you can proceed to edit the video settings. This includes setting the resolution and colour depth according to your preferences. You can also choose the type of graphics card and set up the appropriate driver and settings.
7. Install system devices
The next step is to install any system cards, such as modems, sound cards, etc. You can install these using the BIOS setup program or the Device Manager utility in Windows.
8. Enable and configure USB
The final step is to enable and configure the Universal Serial Bus (USB). This includes setting the proper speed for the USB port and enabling the transfer of data between two USB devices. After this, your hardware settings are now complete and you can use your computer with its new configurations.