I use 2k all the time, and it never shuts down, so i can only say you may well have a crapped install or you have some software causing the shutdown (its damn easy to shut the pc down). Oh and MS do NOT write anything to the "BIOS" the bios are ROMS or flashable ROMS which are manurfacturer specific. The bios is also completely redundent once the OS gets a hold, since it doesnt really want to run any of the 16bit code in it, thats why ya need drivers for all the hardware in the machine, to replace the bios once its got you off the ground.
PS: any bios featured cmos values settable to do with powersaving are handled by the OS once its got control (excluding a small group of hardwired machines)
Now im going back to watching MS tell there test pilot to pull harder on his bootlaces and he well lift off the ground. Haha there telling him Its just a matter of faith!
