AlphaBIOS is a program used to help initialize and configure the Personal Workstation a-Series system. The AlphaBIOS code resides in the system flashROM.
When the system is powered on, and POST finishes its tasks, AlphaBIOS is loaded and started. AlphaBIOS continues the system-initialization process by initializing the I/O system. This includes the PCI bus and connected devices such as SCSI disk controllers, video display controller, floppy drive, and keyboard.
The video and keyboard devices are initialized first. If either the keyboard or the video device is not present or not functioning, AlphaBIOS directs its output to the COM1 serial port. This feature exists primarily to support the manufacturing process for the computer, but you may find it useful during the troubleshooting process. If AlphaBIOS does not start on your computer, first check that the keyboard is plugged in and operational. Ensure that the video card and monitor are properly connected and working.
After the video and keyboard are initialized, AlphaBIOS displays a windowed, graphical-style user interface. As initialization continues, progress is displayed on the screen.
Next, memory is tested. While running, the memory test shows its progress for each megabyte (MB) of memory tested. Memory testing can be disabled at the Advanced CMOS Setup screen. You can also cancel the memory test while it is running by pressing the spacebar.
After memory is tested, AlphaBIOS detects and initializes SCSI disk controllers connected to the system. AlphaBIOS probes each controller's SCSI bus and reports each of the detected devices.
Finally, after the SCSI initialization is complete, AlphaBIOS closes the initialization window and displays the boot screen. The boot screen lists each of the operating systems that have been set up on the system. Boot by choosing the desired operating system.
AlphaBIOS boots Windows NT in two stages. The first stage involves reading an OS Loader program from a disk (OSLOADER.EXE). The selection parameters for the operating system must describe the path AlphaBIOS uses to find OSLOADER.EXE. The OS Loader program must be located in a FAT-formatted partition.
Once the OS Loader program executes, it uses the services provided by AlphaBIOS to load the operating system components. After the operating system is loaded, the OS Loader starts execution of the operating system.