Tyan Computer GX21 - Manual (Page 73)

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OS Select For DRAM > 64MB
This BIOS feature determines how systems with more than
64MB of memory are managed. A wrong setting can cause
problems like erroneous memory detection.
If you are using an older version of the IBM OS/2 operating
system, you should select OS/2.
If you are using the IBM OS/2 Warp v3.0 or higher operating
system, you should select Non-OS/2.
If you are using an older version of the IBM OS/2 operating
system but have already installed all the relevant IBM Fix-
Paks, you should select Non-OS/2.
Users of non-OS/2 operating systems (like Microsoft Win-
dows XP) should select the Non-OS2 option. The choices
are:
Non-OS2 / OS2
HDD S.M.A.R.T. Capability
This BIOS feature controls support for the hard disk's
S.M.A.R.T. (Self Monitoring Analysis and Reporting Technol-
ogy) capability.
S.M.A.R.T. is supported by all current hard disks and it allows
the early prediction and warning of impending hard disk
disasters. You should enable it if you want to use S.M.A.R.T.-
aware utilities to monitor the hard disk's condition. Enabling it
also allows the monitoring of the hard disk's condition over a
network.
While S.M.A.R.T. looks like a really great safety feature, it
isn't really that useful or even necessary for most users. For
S.M.A.R.T. to work, it is not just a matter of enabling it in the
BIOS. You must also keep a S.M.A.R.T.-aware hardware
monitoring utility running in the background all the time.
This is okay if the hard disk you are using has a spotty repu-
tation and you need advanced warning of any impending fail-
ure. However, hard disks these days are mostly reliable
enough to make S.M.A.R.T. redundant. Unless you are run-
ning mission-critical applications, it is very unlikely that
S.M.A.R.T. will be of any use at all.
S.M.A.R.T. is still useful in providing some protection against
data loss by continuously monitoring hard disks for signs of