Extended System Configuration Data

What Does Extended System Configuration Data Mean?

Extended system configuration data (ESCD) is a portion of the nonvolatile basic input/output system (BIOS) memory (also known as complementary metal-oxide-semiconductor (CMOS) memory) on a personal computer motherboard. This is also where the ISA PnP device data is located. ESCD is employed by the BIOS to assign resources for hardware extensions, commonly called expansion cards.

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Techopedia Explains Extended System Configuration Data

With each ESCD hardware configuration change, a corresponding BIOS memory change is established after the processor determines how to locate sufficient resources i.e. interrupt request line (IRQ) and memory mapping ranges. Once the ESCD is updated, there is no need to repeat this decision process until the user decides to make the next hardware configuration change. This automation creates prompt and efficient results obtained from a faster startup without any conflicts.

An ISA configuration utility (ICU) is also dedicated to update the ESCD through PnP BIOS interfaces. The Microsoft Windows operating system device manager allows a user to view the ICU configuration and make the needed or desired changes. For example, any PC motherboard hardware expansion card may be disabled from the device manager.

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Margaret Rouse

Margaret Rouse is an award-winning technical writer and teacher known for her ability to explain complex technical subjects to a non-technical, business audience. Over the past twenty years her explanations have appeared on TechTarget websites and she's been cited as an authority in articles by the New York Times, Time Magazine, USA Today, ZDNet, PC Magazine and Discovery Magazine.Margaret's idea of a fun day is helping IT and business professionals learn to speak each other’s highly specialized languages. If you have a suggestion for a new definition or how to improve a technical explanation, please email Margaret or contact her…