During start-up. the BIOS programs are read from a ROM chip. BIOS is abbreviation of Basic Input Output System and those are programs, which are linked to specific hardware systems. For example, there is a BIOS routine, which identifies how the PC reads input from the keyboard.
BIOS is a typical link in the IBM compatible PC design. The BIOS programs control hardware, the user (programmer) controls hardware via a call to BIOS.
BIOS typically occupy 1 MB, and the programs are saved ROM chips on the system board.
During start-up, BIOS is read from ROM chips. That information is supplemented with the system data saved in CMOS. Furthermore, there is BIOS code on the expansion cards. The expansion cards are external hardware, as interpreted by the system board, and the BIOS code, which is linked to the expansion card, must be included in the configuration.
Therefore, this expansion card ROM is read during start-up, and the program code is woven together with other BIOS data. It is all written into RAM, where it is ready for the operating system, as you can see here:
Otherwise, the BIOS routines are not always in use. They can be regarded as basic program layers in the PC. Many programs routinely bypass BIOS. In that case, they “write direct to hardware”, as we say. Windows contains program files, which can be written directly to all kinds of hardware – bypassing BIOS routines. One example is the COM ports. If you use the BIOS routines connected with them, you can transmit only at max. 9600 baud on the modem. That is insufficient. Therefore, Windows will assume control over the COM port.