Printing BIOS Settings

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Help!
Can someone out there tell me how to print out the current bios settings without the tedium of writing it all out by hand?

Thanks in adfvance.

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Just a guess, but have you tried using PrintScreen when the BIOS is open ??? It started out as a DOS function and might work in this instance.

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Thanks Doc
That would be acceptable if I could figure out how to get into BIOS while Windows is running. Any ideas?

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I have seen (long ago!) BIOS flashing programs from a vendor or two that have either a SAVE or PRINT function, but it has been a long time ago. You should probably start with the manufacturer of YOUR BIOS to see if their utility programs do it. Meanwhile, if I remember correctly, a key combination for sending the “screen” to the printer used to be CTRL-P, did it not? I dunno, I may be thinking of something else.

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I have seen (long ago!) BIOS flashing programs from a vendor or two that have either a SAVE or PRINT function, but it has been a long time ago. You should probably start with the manufacturer of YOUR BIOS to see if their utility programs do it. Meanwhile, if I remember correctly, a key combination for sending the “screen” to the printer used to be CTRL-P, did it not? I dunno, I may be thinking of something else.

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Hi Don,

My thought was to hit the PrintScreen key when the BIOS settings screen was open, thus saving the image to the clipboard, and then opening Windows and pasting the clipboard contents (if they survive the process) into Paint or other graphics program. I’m just not sure if the PrintScreen key functions the same way outside Windows (saving to the clipboard) as it does with Windows open. Like I said, just a guess.

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Hi Don,

My thought was to hit the PrintScreen key when the BIOS settings screen was open, thus saving the image to the clipboard, and then opening Windows and pasting the clipboard contents (if they survive the process) into Paint or other graphics program. I’m just not sure if the PrintScreen key functions the same way outside Windows (saving to the clipboard) as it does with Windows open. Like I said, just a guess.

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It would appear that my “guess” was pretty good.

I found this info here

I have heard that it is possible with some BIOSes to get the BIOS setup screens to print out on the printer. Turn on the PC, and boot up DOS. Then hit {Ctrl}+{Alt}+{Delete} to reset the PC, and go into BIOS setup. On some systems, the routine that handles the {Print Screen} key will still function, and you can use it on each of the BIOS screens as a nifty shortcut! It won’t work on all systems, and it won’t work when you first cold start the PC, since the Print Screen handler hasn’t been installed yet at all.

and this here

There are a few methods that one can save the current settings. You can use the flashing utility to save the current BIOS into a file or you can use printscreen to print each of the BIOS setup screens. With this method, a parallel printer is required and must be attached to the systems parallel port. A network printer will not work, nor will nor will a USB printer. Within each of the BIOS setup screens, you can press the print screen key on the keyboard (this is actually a BIOS service your calling) and the output of the current screen will be sent to the printer port.

Hope it works for you.

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It would appear that my “guess” was pretty good.

I found this info here

I have heard that it is possible with some BIOSes to get the BIOS setup screens to print out on the printer. Turn on the PC, and boot up DOS. Then hit {Ctrl}+{Alt}+{Delete} to reset the PC, and go into BIOS setup. On some systems, the routine that handles the {Print Screen} key will still function, and you can use it on each of the BIOS screens as a nifty shortcut! It won’t work on all systems, and it won’t work when you first cold start the PC, since the Print Screen handler hasn’t been installed yet at all.

and this here

There are a few methods that one can save the current settings. You can use the flashing utility to save the current BIOS into a file or you can use printscreen to print each of the BIOS setup screens. With this method, a parallel printer is required and must be attached to the systems parallel port. A network printer will not work, nor will nor will a USB printer. Within each of the BIOS setup screens, you can press the print screen key on the keyboard (this is actually a BIOS service your calling) and the output of the current screen will be sent to the printer port.

Hope it works for you.

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I used to have a program for that… now to find it.

I DON’T think you want this type of information, but this is something called Bios Wizard. Let me see if I can find what you want.
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Well, not on this computer. It must be at work… What you want is a “CMOS utility” — one that can Save and Restore the CMOS (Bios) data. I previously located one that I THINK would partially work in Windows. All the ones I can easily find on Google are really not that user friendly. Sorry.

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I used to have a program for that… now to find it.

I DON’T think you want this type of information, but this is something called Bios Wizard. Let me see if I can find what you want.
___________________

Well, not on this computer. It must be at work… What you want is a “CMOS utility” — one that can Save and Restore the CMOS (Bios) data. I previously located one that I THINK would partially work in Windows. All the ones I can easily find on Google are really not that user friendly. Sorry.

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Thanks Doc
That would be acceptable if I could figure out how to get into BIOS while Windows is running. Any ideas?

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You might try Aida32…I think it lists at least some of the bios settings, although not in particularly the same order you see in the BIOS screen. It might be overkill in the information it provides though. You might can limit the Aida32 report to just what you are looking for however.

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You might try Aida32…I think it lists at least some of the bios settings, although not in particularly the same order you see in the BIOS screen. It might be overkill in the information it provides though. You might can limit the Aida32 report to just what you are looking for however.

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Prnt Scrn to Clipboard is a Windows-only function — Windows must be running. In DOS, this used to, eh, simply print the screen — via your printer. But, this may only work with DOS commands and not while viewing the CMOS data… (obviously, since no one has said differently…)

I will be back at work today and see if I can find that Windows-based CMOS utility…

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I have a stack of paper that I created by using Print Screen to send each BIOS screen to an attached printer. This was quite a long time ago and I can’t remember what PC it was at the time, I guess I could go get the paper out and see

StuartR

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I have a stack of paper that I created by using Print Screen to send each BIOS screen to an attached printer. This was quite a long time ago and I can’t remember what PC it was at the time, I guess I could go get the paper out and see

StuartR

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R2,

From my post #309319, the second source states that the PrintScreen key is “calling a BIOS function” and will print to a printer on a parallel port. I can’t even test this theory any longer (not having a parallel port printer available), but it sounds like a reasonable assumption.

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R2,

From my post #309319, the second source states that the PrintScreen key is “calling a BIOS function” and will print to a printer on a parallel port. I can’t even test this theory any longer (not having a parallel port printer available), but it sounds like a reasonable assumption.

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Prnt Scrn to Clipboard is a Windows-only function — Windows must be running. In DOS, this used to, eh, simply print the screen — via your printer. But, this may only work with DOS commands and not while viewing the CMOS data… (obviously, since no one has said differently…)

I will be back at work today and see if I can find that Windows-based CMOS utility…

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If your PC is a Dell, I believe they have a utility for doing what you need – a search of the KB should locate it…

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If your PC is a Dell, I believe they have a utility for doing what you need – a search of the KB should locate it…

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Well, I just rebooted & went into BIOS setup (pressing F2 on my Micron). I was able to use the PrtScn button to send each page to the printer. The printer didn’t print automatically, the way it usually does. I had to press the Start (or Go) button on the printer. And there’s no spooling. I had to wait until one page was completely done before I could send the next screen to the printer. Don’t know if this will work for you. I’m using an old parallel port HP Laserjet 5P printer.
Cheers,

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Thanks for the info. Here is an image of this Windows-based program. Is this what you guys are looking for??

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Thanks for the info. Here is an image of this Windows-based program. Is this what you guys are looking for??

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Well, I just rebooted & went into BIOS setup (pressing F2 on my Micron). I was able to use the PrtScn button to send each page to the printer. The printer didn’t print automatically, the way it usually does. I had to press the Start (or Go) button on the printer. And there’s no spooling. I had to wait until one page was completely done before I could send the next screen to the printer. Don’t know if this will work for you. I’m using an old parallel port HP Laserjet 5P printer.
Cheers,

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It the raw data from the CMOS chip — exactly as it is stored, I suspect. Your image shows the ‘parsed’ data — so it is easier to read.

It depends on what you want to do with the information. This program allows you to back-up the CMOS data, and then restore it. Yes, it is the raw data — but I am not sure that matters, as long as it works!
______________________________

Since CMOS Memory Viewer allows you to archive BIOS settings (and stores date information in the files), you can use CMOS Memory Viewer as a BIOS setting management program (especially usefull when tweaking BIOS settings, and you wan’t to restore an old BIOS setup).
Steps

1. Load your CMOS onto the ‘pasteboard’ (click on “Load from CMOS”)
2. Save your CMOS into a file (click on “Save to File”)
3. Later, to restore your old settings, Load your old CMOS onto the pasteboard (click on “Read from File”)
4. Save these restored settings into your BIOS (click on “Write to CMOS”)
5. When you reboot, make sure that you fix up your clock settings (quickly whilst in BIOS or in Windows setup)

When managing your CMOS saves, you can check the date they were read by clicking on “Read Date Time Stamp” in “Aggregate”.

Accidental Erasure
CMOS Memory Viewer can also create a disk for restoring an old BIOS setup, in case of a CMOS battery failure.
(This is extremely useful, all BIOS’s should be backed up on either paper (hand written settings) or by floppy disk. This is also useful when tweaking BIOS, but make a disasterous mistake.)
Steps

1. Load your current CMOS settings onto the ‘pasteboard’ (click on “Load from CMOS”)
2. Save your CMOS into a file (click on “Save to File”)
3. Create a disk image of the emergency repair program (click on “Generate Emergency Restore Image”). This will create an image and save it in CMOSViewer’s own special file.
4. Write the image to a disk (click on “Write Emergency Restore Image to Disk”) this will create a boot disk which can rewrite your old BIOS settings.

Remember that when you have created an emergency restore disk, it will not be readable by Windows, but will still be bootable. To test a disk, reboot and choose no when the program asks to rewrite the CMOS. If you do ever need to use the disk, all you need to do is make sure that your floppy drive is the first drive in the boot sequence (most commonly this is the default if CMOS is erased; if not you will need to set up the settings which activate the disk drive, and set it to boot first (this is not that hard, compared with setting up and entire system)).

Forgotten Passwords
As an extra, CMOS Memory Viewer can be used to erase a CMOS of which you have forgotten the password.
Steps

1. Make sure the ‘pasteboard’ is ‘zeroed’ (click on “Clear Cells” in Aggregate)
2. Save this ‘zeroed’ CMOS into your BIOS (click on “Write to CMOS”)

Also you could save the ‘zeroed pasteboard’ to a file and create a disk image so that a floppy disk can erase a CMOS, if another system does not boot to a hard disk, and the password is unknown (I don’t endorse its use for malicious purposes – I take absolutely no blame for your actions).
______________________________

Load from CMOS

Loads the CMOS memory, and displays it on the ‘pasteboard’.

Write to CMOS

Writes the current ‘pasteboard’ values into CMOS memory, erasing the current CMOS values.

Read from File

Loads the ‘pasteboard’ with values previously saved.

Save to File

Writes the current ‘pasteboard’ values into the file you select.

Generate Emergency Restore Image

Takes a saved CMOS data file, and converts it into an image that will work with “Write Emergency Restore Image to Disk” function.

Write Emergency Restore Image to Disk

Takes the image generated by “Generate Emergency Restore Image”, and saves it to a floppy disk, for emergencies.

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Oh, I should have quoted. Most of the above is from the Help file that comes with the program. In case some one is interested, I attached the program here.
_____________

Nope… too big to attach. Send me an IM or email if you want it…

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Oh, I should have quoted. Most of the above is from the Help file that comes with the program. In case some one is interested, I attached the program here.
_____________

Nope… too big to attach. Send me an IM or email if you want it…

Reply | Quote

It the raw data from the CMOS chip — exactly as it is stored, I suspect. Your image shows the ‘parsed’ data — so it is easier to read.

It depends on what you want to do with the information. This program allows you to back-up the CMOS data, and then restore it. Yes, it is the raw data — but I am not sure that matters, as long as it works!
______________________________

Since CMOS Memory Viewer allows you to archive BIOS settings (and stores date information in the files), you can use CMOS Memory Viewer as a BIOS setting management program (especially usefull when tweaking BIOS settings, and you wan’t to restore an old BIOS setup).
Steps

1. Load your CMOS onto the ‘pasteboard’ (click on “Load from CMOS”)
2. Save your CMOS into a file (click on “Save to File”)
3. Later, to restore your old settings, Load your old CMOS onto the pasteboard (click on “Read from File”)
4. Save these restored settings into your BIOS (click on “Write to CMOS”)
5. When you reboot, make sure that you fix up your clock settings (quickly whilst in BIOS or in Windows setup)

When managing your CMOS saves, you can check the date they were read by clicking on “Read Date Time Stamp” in “Aggregate”.

Accidental Erasure
CMOS Memory Viewer can also create a disk for restoring an old BIOS setup, in case of a CMOS battery failure.
(This is extremely useful, all BIOS’s should be backed up on either paper (hand written settings) or by floppy disk. This is also useful when tweaking BIOS, but make a disasterous mistake.)
Steps

1. Load your current CMOS settings onto the ‘pasteboard’ (click on “Load from CMOS”)
2. Save your CMOS into a file (click on “Save to File”)
3. Create a disk image of the emergency repair program (click on “Generate Emergency Restore Image”). This will create an image and save it in CMOSViewer’s own special file.
4. Write the image to a disk (click on “Write Emergency Restore Image to Disk”) this will create a boot disk which can rewrite your old BIOS settings.

Remember that when you have created an emergency restore disk, it will not be readable by Windows, but will still be bootable. To test a disk, reboot and choose no when the program asks to rewrite the CMOS. If you do ever need to use the disk, all you need to do is make sure that your floppy drive is the first drive in the boot sequence (most commonly this is the default if CMOS is erased; if not you will need to set up the settings which activate the disk drive, and set it to boot first (this is not that hard, compared with setting up and entire system)).

Forgotten Passwords
As an extra, CMOS Memory Viewer can be used to erase a CMOS of which you have forgotten the password.
Steps

1. Make sure the ‘pasteboard’ is ‘zeroed’ (click on “Clear Cells” in Aggregate)
2. Save this ‘zeroed’ CMOS into your BIOS (click on “Write to CMOS”)

Also you could save the ‘zeroed pasteboard’ to a file and create a disk image so that a floppy disk can erase a CMOS, if another system does not boot to a hard disk, and the password is unknown (I don’t endorse its use for malicious purposes – I take absolutely no blame for your actions).
______________________________

Load from CMOS

Loads the CMOS memory, and displays it on the ‘pasteboard’.

Write to CMOS

Writes the current ‘pasteboard’ values into CMOS memory, erasing the current CMOS values.

Read from File

Loads the ‘pasteboard’ with values previously saved.

Save to File

Writes the current ‘pasteboard’ values into the file you select.

Generate Emergency Restore Image

Takes a saved CMOS data file, and converts it into an image that will work with “Write Emergency Restore Image to Disk” function.

Write Emergency Restore Image to Disk

Takes the image generated by “Generate Emergency Restore Image”, and saves it to a floppy disk, for emergencies.

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Just found this webpage, which might have some utilities to help you out.

Alan

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Just found this webpage, which might have some utilities to help you out.

Alan

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