How to clear the BIOS...

[Heat]

My friend says that clearing the BIOS or ESCD should be mandatory when installing a new OS to let it set better IRQs. I was wondering ahout that. If you guys do this all the time, or it depends on ____ And how do you go about this? I see the escd settings, but all it really say is "BIOS auto update", I'll do some more checking later.

[Da Whip]

Clearing the Bios is simply, clearing the Cmos. It is a jumper on the mobo. Look it up in your manual and follow their instructions.
It is a good idea to start a clean install w/ the bios a defaults, which you can do w/o clearing the Cmos.

[el]

like da whip said hold down del and select defaults and save and reboot to the install and you will be cool.

[Heat]

Well, isn't that called using the factory settings or fail safe settings. I know how to set that! :D

My friend said that when an OS installed, windows would write a part of itself to the BIOS like the hardware configuration, IRQ controllers, etc. I can't really explain it as well as I'd like to.

[Bull]

Windows will not write anything to the bios. Windows will change the Irq's etc. when you select plug and play in the bios settings. If the bios is not set for plug and play the bios will set your cards etc. to defaults that are in the bios.

[Heat]

Ah, thanks guys! I was thinking the same thing but needed some confirmation. Clearing the BIOS really is setting the fail safe defaults. Check.