• AMI BIOS - beeps (error codes)

    If you need to open the AMI BIOS settings menu, you need to access it. To do this, press the appropriate key when starting to boot the system. Depending on the motherboard manufacturer, this will be F2, F10 or DEL. It is recommended to press several times to be sure of the result.

    Main section

    We will consider working with AMI BIOS based on version 02.61. In general, then only the interface changed, but the capabilities remained the same. Below is the appearance of the main section.

    Here you can perform a certain minimum of settings. This may include setting the date and time, as well as some other points.

    Hard Drive Settings

    To be able to start setting your settings, you need to change the “Type” parameter to User (by default it is Auto). Once this is done, opportunities to make adjustments open up.

    Under Type there are other parameters whose values ​​can be changed. You should not do this because it significantly reduces the speed of data exchange with the hard drive or other indicators.

    System information

    A visit to this section will allow you to familiarize yourself with exactly what indicators this device has. The amount of RAM, processor frequency and type, as well as information about the BIOS version itself are indicated. The following items are available:

    • Storage Configuration. This is where the disk subsystem is installed. The most important is the ability to provide compatibility with older versions of Windows OS (95 and 98).
    • Configure SATA as. Two modes are available: IDE and AHCI. Setting the second option will allow you to take advantage of new technologies for computer equipment.
    • Hard Disk Write Protect. Sets the ability to write to the hard disk or does not allow such actions.
    • SATA Detect Time out. Provides the ability to reduce the time required to boot the operating system. Do not set the value too low, otherwise you will encounter failures.

    Advanced settings

    The appearance of this section is presented below.

    JumperFree Configuration

    Going to JumperFree Configuration will allow you to access options that specify some important BIOS AMI settings. This includes automatic or manual processor overclocking (AI Overclocking), setting the memory bus frequency (DRAM Frequency), as well as changing the supply voltage (Memory Voltage and NB Voltage parameters).

    CPU Configuration

    Here are all the parameters that are responsible for changing the settings of the CPU. Additionally, you can clarify information about the device you are using.

    Onboard Devices Configuration

    The parameters of the presented section are responsible for the functioning of ports, as well as controllers.

    USB Configuration

    Here are the tools for changing the operation of the device’s USB connectors. For example, you can disable them.

    Power

    BIOS settings are available here, which provide for setting the supply voltage parameters for various elements of the device.

    When you visit Hardware Monitor, you can get a variety of information. They relate to the current temperature of the central air, as well as the number of revolutions of the cooling fan. It is possible to familiarize yourself with the performance of other sensors. It is possible to set new power values, but this must be done extremely carefully. Below is a screenshot of the main computer parameters.

    Boot

    This section provides for setting the features of booting the device.

    It becomes possible to specify the sequence of execution of these activities.

    Boot Setting Configuration

    Among all the available sections, this one deserves the most attention. There are ample opportunities to speed up the OS boot process. Here you can make adjustments to the following parameters:

    • Quick Boot. If you activate it, the RAM will be tested when the OS boots. Such events allow us to say that some acceleration has been achieved.
    • Full Screen Logo. Allows you to display a picture with information about the characteristics of the device. It will appear during each boot.
    • Add On ROM Display Mode. Displays information regarding other connected devices that have their own BIOS available.
    • Bootup Num-Lock. Sets the state in which the key of the same name will be when the device starts.
    • Security Setting. Security settings are set here.
    • Supervisor Password. Allows you to make changes to the process of entering an administrator access code to enter the BIOS.

    The main parameters are listed, and their full list is somewhat larger.

    Tools

    In this section, you can set two options, and its appearance is presented in the screenshot.

    • ASUS EZ Flash. Allows you to use BIOS from external drives.
    • AINET. Displays information about the cable connected to the network controller.

    Exit

    There are several points here that determine the order in which you exit the BIOS.

    • Exit & Save Changes. The exit will occur and the adjustments will be saved.
    • Exit & Discard Changes. An exit will occur and the adjustments will be reset.
    • Discard Changes. The adjustments are reset.
    • Load Setup Defaults. The parameters are reset to the state set by the manufacturer.

    A number of PC users, when turning on their computer, may encounter the “American Megatrends” message appear on the screen, after which the computer stops booting. The system either freezes completely, or starts to boot only after pressing the F1 key, or continues to work only after going to the BIOS and loading the factory settings. In this article I will tell you what to do if American Megatrends appears when you turn on your computer, what are the reasons for this message to appear, and how to get rid of it.

    So what are these American Megatrends? The name "American Megatrends" (translated as "American Megatrends") is an American company for the production of computer hardware and programmable equipment, founded in 1985 by P. Sarma and S. Shankar.

    American Megatrends became known to a wide range of users thanks to the release of AMIBIOS - a version of BIOS for PCs, which is widespread among personal computer owners. "Amibios" was widely used by the world's motherboard manufacturers, so many of our readers are quite familiar with it.

    Accordingly, the inscription “American Megatrends” itself should not confuse you, it is simply the logo (author’s mark) of the manufacturer of your BIOS version.

    Why does American Megatrends appear when I turn on my PC?

    In most cases, the “American Megatrends” inscription does not linger on the monitor screen, as the system undergoes a quick blitz test of its hardware and begins loading the operating system. If this inscription (logo) lingers on the screen of your PC, then this means that there is something wrong with the hardware (less often software) of your computer.

    Typically, the cause of PC dysfunction is displayed at the very bottom, on the last bottom lines (and in English). For those who know the language of Shakespeare, finding out about the essence of the error is not difficult, but for other users, all that remains is to rewrite the last lines on a piece of paper (or film the monitor screen with a mobile device camera) and ask competent specialists about the essence of the problem that has arisen.

    In particular, the reasons for the emergence of “American Megatrends” may be as follows:

    How to remove the American Megatrends message that appears when you turn on your computer

    As I wrote above, specific advice for solving the problem directly depends on the type of error, which is described in the corresponding row at the bottom of the screen. Generally speaking, then I would recommend doing the following:

    1. Press the F1 key, this will allow the operating system to boot into standard mode, applying the default settings. This advice is most relevant in cases where the failure was random;
    2. Load factory BIOS settings. Go to the BIOS (when you turn on the PC, quickly press the Del, F2, F10 or other keys), load the default settings (options - “Load optimized Defaults”, “Load Optimized Settings”), save the settings by clicking on “Save”, and then on “Exit”;

    3. Replace the battery on the motherboard responsible for storing BIOS settings (usually a CR2032 element); battery replacement is also required if an error occurs. Open the lid of your PC, find this element on the motherboard, remove it, and install a new element in its place. After installing a new element, you may usually need to load the factory BIOS settings and save them as described above;

    4. If you see “Cpu Fan Error” in the error description, then it is quite possible that the CPU cooler has failed and may need replacement. After removing the PC cover, try disconnecting the cooler from the motherboard and then connecting it again, this may be the answer to the American Megatrends question. If this does not help and the cooler does not spin when you turn on the computer, try replacing it;
    5. Go to the BIOS and set the correct boot order from devices connected to the PC (usually the hard drive with the system installed on it comes first). Click on “Save” and restart your computer;

    6. If you managed to boot, then it’s worth checking the system for a virus; there is a small chance that malware is to blame for the described dysfunction. Dr. will help you find the latter. Web CureIt!, Trojan Remover, Malwarebytes Anti-Malware and a number of other analogues;
    7. Disconnect all USB devices previously connected to the PC, and then try pressing F1 and loading the operating system. Also try turning off the computer, opening its case (if it is a stationary PC), then disconnect the video card, memory, hard drive and other devices from the motherboard, and, connecting them in series to the motherboard, try to find the culprit of the problem;
    8. If nothing helps, then take your computer to the nearest service center; it is quite possible that the problem is of a complex hardware nature, which an ordinary user will not be able to fix.

    Conclusion

    If American Megatrends appears when you turn on your computer, I recommend paying close attention to the bottom lines of the screen, where the essence of the problem that has arisen is usually indicated. After determining the essence, it is necessary to take appropriate actions to correct the situation, ranging from the trivial pressing of the F1 key to replacing the CR2032 element and other alternatives described above. This will help you solve the American Megatrens startup problem and continue to enjoy the stable and reliable operation of your PC.

    If you were looking for BIOS settings in pictures, then you have come to the right address.

    The changes made will be protected by a lithium battery built into the motherboard and maintaining the required parameters in the event of a loss of voltage.

    Thanks to the program, it is possible to establish stable interaction between the operating system (OS) and PC devices.

    Attention! The present Boot network configuration section allows you to adjust parameters related to system boot speed and keyboard and mouse settings.

    After finishing work or familiarizing yourself with the Bios Setup Utility menu, you need to press the hot Exit key, which automatically saves the changes made.

    Section Main - Main Menu

    Let's start working with the MAIN section, which is used to modify settings and adjust timing indicators.

    Here you can independently configure the time and date of your computer, as well as configure connected hard drives and other storage devices.

    To reformat the operating mode of the hard drive, you need to select the hard drive (for example: “SATA 1”, as shown in the figure).

    • Type - This item indicates the type of connected hard drive;
    • LBA Large Mode- is responsible for supporting drives with a capacity of more than 504 MB. So the recommended value here is AUTO.
    • Block (Multi-Sector Transfer) - For faster operation here, we recommend selecting the AUTO mode;
    • PIO Mode - Enables the hard drive to operate in legacy data exchange mode. It would also be best to select AUTO here;
    • DMA Mode - gives direct memory access. To get faster read or write speed, select AUTO;
    • Smart monitoring - this technology, based on an analysis of the drive’s operation, can warn of a possible disk failure in the near future;
    • 32 bit Data Transfer - The option determines whether the 32-bit data exchange mode will be used by the standard IDE/SATA controller of the chipset.

    Everywhere, using the “ENTER” key and arrows, the Auto mode is set. The exception is subsection 32 Bit Transfer, which requires the Enabled setting to be fixed.

    Important! It is required to refrain from changing the “Storage Configuration” option, which is located in the “System information” section and not to allow correction “SATADetectTimeout."

    Advanced section - Additional settings

    Now let's start setting up the basic PC components in the ADVANCED section, which consists of several sub-items.

    Initially, you will need to set the necessary processor and memory parameters in the system configuration menu Jumper Free Configuration.

    By selecting Jumper Free Configuration, you will be taken to the Configure System Frequency/Voltage subsection, where you can perform the following operations:

    • automatic or manual overclocking of the hard drive - AI Overclocking;
    • changing the clock frequency of memory modules - ;
    • Memory Voltage;
    • manual mode for setting chipset voltage - NB Voltage
    • changing port addresses (COM,LPT) - Serial and Parallel Port;
    • setting controller settings - Onboard Devices configuration.

    Power Section - PC Power

    The POWER item is responsible for powering the PC and contains several subsections that require the following settings:

    • Suspended Mode- set automatic mode;
    • ACPI APIC- set Enabled;
    • ACPI 2.0- fix the Disabled mode.

    BOOT section - boot management

    Here you can determine the priority drive, choosing between a flash card, disk drive or hard drive.

    If there are several hard drives, then in the Hard Disk sub-item the priority hard drive is selected.

    The PC boot configuration is set in the Boot Setting subsection, which contains a menu consisting of several items:

    Selecting a hard drive

    The PC boot configuration is set in the Boot Setting subsection,

    • Quick Boot– acceleration of OS loading;
    • Logo Full Screen– disabling the screen saver and activating the information window containing information about the download process;
    • Add On ROM- setting the order on the information screen of modules connected to the motherboard (MT) via slots;
    • Wait For 'F1' If Error- activation of the function of forced pressing “F1” at the moment the system identifies an error.

    The main task of the Boot section is to determine boot devices and set the required priorities.

    • ASUS EZ Flash– using this option, you have the opportunity to update the BIOS from such drives as: floppy disk, Flash disk or CD.
    • AINET– using this option, you can obtain information about the cable connected to the network controller.

    Exit section - Exit and save

    Particular attention should be paid to the EXIT item, which has 4 operating modes:

    • Save Changes– save the changes made;
    • Discard Changes + EXIT– leave the factory settings in effect;
    • Setup Defaults– enter default parameters;
    • Discard Changes– we cancel all our actions.

    The following step-by-step instructions explain in detail the purpose of the main BIOS sections and the rules for making changes to improve PC performance.

    Bios setup

    Bios Settings - Detailed instructions in pictures

    American Megatrends began in 1985. Its founders are Pat Sarmoy and Samuel Shankar. The company has come a long way in its development. She is now considered one of the key BIOS developers. Second place in this market was achieved in 2002 and since then the situation has not changed. BIOS has been released on boards from other companies since 2007.

    Recently, the BIOS from American Megatrends has gained a second wind. This is due to the fact that ASUS, Gigabyte, MSI, as well as a number of other large manufacturers began to use it.

    AM Policy Features

    There is a mandatory sale or customization of the source code for each specific OEM project. The required business model does not play any role. There are no plans to sell chips with BIOS to consumers. Technical support and release of documentation is carried out by those who have a patent for such actions. This did not stop us from releasing two books where the released BIOS is discussed in detail.

    If we compare with other BIOS versions, we can note the similarity with AWARD. For example, there are many identical section names, as well as ways to find them. This point does not manifest itself in all situations. It is impossible to talk about the specific features of AMI, since there is a fairly large number of motherboard manufacturers. Each of them uses a different approach, which provides the existing diversity.

    Another point is the differences between the versions. This is clearly shown in the screenshots below.

    The first is BIOS version 2.5x, and the second is 3.31. As you can see, the interface has been seriously refined and improved. The new approach simplified the implementation of user-defined tasks.

    After you upgrade your computer to Windows 10, if your American Megatrends BIOS/Motherboard Drivers are not working, you can fix the problem by updating the drivers. It is possible that your BIOS / Motherboard driver is not compatible with the newer version of Windows.

    Download American Megatrends BIOS/Motherboard Driver Update Utility

    How to Update Device Drivers

    There are two ways to update drivers.

    Novice computer users can update drivers using trusted software in just a few mouse clicks. Automatic driver updates are fast, efficient and elimate all the guesswork. Your old drivers can even be backed up and restored in case any problems occur.

    Find the correct driver for your BIOS / Motherboard and operating system, then install it by following the step instructions below. You'll need some computer skills to use this method.

    Option 1: Update drivers automatically

    The for American Megatrends devices is intelligent software which automatically recognizes your computer’s operating system and BIOS / Motherboard model and finds the most up-to-date drivers for it. There is no risk of installing the wrong driver. The Driver Update Utility downloads and installs your drivers quickly and easily.

    You can scan for driver updates automatically with the FREE version of the Driver Update Utility for American Megatrends, and complete all necessary driver updates using the premium version.

    Tech Tip: The will back up your current drivers for you. If you encounter any problems while updating your drivers, you can use this feature to restore your previous drivers and configuration settings.

    Option 2: Update drivers manually

    To find the latest driver, including Windows 10 drivers, choose from ours or for the driver that fits your specific BIOS / Motherboard model and your PC’s operating system.

    Find American Megatrends BIOS / Motherboard Device Drivers by Model Name or Number

    If you cannot find the right driver for your device, you can . We will find it for you. Or, try the option instead.

    Tech Tip: If you are having trouble finding the right driver update, use the . It is software which finds, downloads and installs the correct driver for you - automatically.

    After downloading your driver update, you will need to install it. Driver updates come in a variety of file formats with different file extensions. For example, you may have downloaded an EXE, INF, ZIP, or SYS file. Each file type has a slighty different installation procedure to follow. Visit our Driver Support Page to watch helpful step-by-step videos on how to install drivers based on their file extension.

    How to Install Drivers

    After you have found the right driver, follow these simple instructions to install it.

    1. Power off your device.
    2. Disconnect the device from your computer.
    3. Reconnect the device and power it on.
    4. Double click the driver download to extract it.
    5. If a language option is given, select your language.
    6. Follow the directions on the installation program screen.
    7. Reboot your computer.
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