IBM PC BIOS interface standard

E719544

The IBM PC BIOS interface standard is a foundational specification that defines the low-level firmware services and software interface between a computer’s hardware and operating system in IBM-compatible personal computers.

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Statements (48)

Predicate Object
instanceOf firmware interface specification
software‑hardware interface standard
alsoKnownAs IBM PC BIOS NERFINISHED
IBM-compatible BIOS NERFINISHED
PC BIOS NERFINISHED
assumes 16‑bit real mode at boot
basedOn x86 real mode execution environment
category IBM PC architecture
computer firmware standards
compatibleWith IBM PC compatible systems
IBM PC/AT NERFINISHED
IBM PC/XT NERFINISHED
definedFor IBM PC compatible computers NERFINISHED
defines low-level firmware services
software interface between hardware and operating system
goal provide a stable low‑level interface across compatible hardware
influenced MS‑DOS system programming model
PC‑compatible hardware design
later BIOS implementations by clone manufacturers
introducedBy International Business Machines Corporation NERFINISHED
introducedInYear 1981
originatedWith IBM Personal Computer model 5150 NERFINISHED
predecessorOf ACPI‑based firmware interfaces
PC/AT BIOS extensions NERFINISHED
UEFI firmware interface NERFINISHED
provides bootstrapping services
hardware abstraction services
interrupt-driven service routines
runtime services for DOS and DOS‑like systems
specifies POST (power‑on self‑test) behavior
bootstrap loader behavior
disk services via INT 13h
keyboard services via INT 16h
printer services via INT 17h
register conventions for calling BIOS services
serial port services via INT 14h
standard interrupt numbers for system services
system configuration services via INT 15h
time and date services via INT 1Ah
video services via INT 10h
storesCodeIn ROM or flash memory on motherboard
targetArchitecture Intel 8088 NERFINISHED
x86 family NERFINISHED
usedBy DOS operating systems
early versions of Microsoft Windows
many boot loaders
uses interrupt vector table at low memory
software interrupts as service entry points

Referenced by (1)

Full triples — surface form annotated when it differs from this entity's canonical label.

ROM BIOS associatedWith IBM PC BIOS interface standard