Module 5: Firmware
Week of Thu, Sep 3 · module closes Tue, Sep 8 · 10 points
Take Meerk's quiz for Module 5
This module's items
- M5 Discussiondue Tue, Sep 8 · 10 pts
Exact due times are in Canvas.
Know these cold
- UEFI replaces legacy BIOS — it supports GPT disks, drives over 2 TB, and Secure Boot.
- POST (Power-On Self-Test) runs at every boot to verify CPU, RAM, and storage before the OS loads.
- The CMOS battery (CR2032) keeps BIOS settings and the real-time clock alive without AC power.
- Secure Boot blocks unsigned bootloaders — required for Windows 11.
- Boot order: set in UEFI — specifies which device (NVMe, USB, optical) is tried first.
- Never power off during a BIOS flash — partial writes corrupt firmware and can brick the board.
Meerk's quiz — open the Module 5 gate
10 questions, no time limit. 85% on your first attempt in a 24-hour window opens the gate. Retakes inside the window are practice — they help you learn, they don't count. Work alone; the point is to know it, not to have seen it.
Dinner Table Question
Ask at home: After a board swap, the clock resets to 2000 and BIOS settings are lost every power cycle. Which component is failing?
En español: Tras cambiar la tarjeta madre, el reloj vuelve al 2000 y la BIOS se reinicia en cada ciclo. Que componente falla?