Manuals

System Setup: Dell Dimension� XPS 66/100 MDT II

System Setup: Dell Dimension XPS 66/100 MDT II

In the MS-DOS� operating system, enter the System Setup program from the MS-DOS prompt by pressing <Ctrl><Alt><Enter>.

NOTE: OS/2� and UNIX� operating systems do not recognize this key combination. To enter the System Setup program under those operating systems, reboot the system and press <Ctrl><Alt><Enter> immediately after it beeps. Or, reboot the system from an MS-DOS diskette.

Time

Time resets the time on the computer's internal clock. Time is kept in a 24-hour format (Hours:Minutes:Seconds). A change to the Time category becomes effective immediately. Rebooting the system is not required.

Date

Date resets the date on the computer's internal calendar. Date is displayed in the format Month, Day of Month, Year. A change to the Date category becomes effective immediately. Rebooting the system is not required.

Diskette Drive A and Diskette Drive B

Diskette Drive A and Diskette Drive B identify the type of diskette drives installed.

The options are as follows:

5.25 Inch, 360 KB
5.25 Inch, 1.2 MB
3.5 Inch, 720 KB
3.5 Inch, 1.44 MB
3.5 Inch, 2.88 MB
Not Installed

NOTE: Tape drives are not reflected in the Diskette Drive A and Diskette Drive B categories. Set the category for a tape drive to Not Installed.

Hard-Disk Drives: Drive 1 and Drive 2

Hard-Disk Drive 1 and Hard-Disk Drive 2 identify the non-SCSI hard-disk drives installed in the computer.

The options are as follows:

Auto Config — Automatically determines the type of IDE drive installed. Some drives may not work with Auto Config. If experiencing problems with a drive, highlight the drive type number, and choose one that matches the drive.
User Config –—Used if there is no drive type number that matches exactly.
Not Installed.

SCSI Drives

The drive type information in the Drive 0 and Drive 1 categories does not apply to SCSI drives. When choosing settings for the Drive 0 and Drive 1 categories, consider only the non-SCSI hard-disk drives in the computer.

However, if either Drive 0 or Drive 1 is available (that is, not already assigned to a non-SCSI drive), this category must be set to Not Installed if there are SCSI drives in the computer.

For example, if the computer has one IDE drive and one or more SCSI drives, set the Drive 0 category according to the characteristics of the IDE drive and set the Drive 1 category to None. If the computer has only SCSI hard-disk drives, set both Drive 0 and Drive 1 categories to None.

Board Memory

Board Memory displays the amount of memory available to MS-DOS programs that do not use expanded or extended memory.

640 KB is the only setting for this category.

Extended Memory

Extended Memory displays the amount of memory available (in kilobytes) as extended memory. This category has no selectable options.

Fast System BIOS and Fast Video BIOS

Fast System BOIS and Fast Video BIOS offer the option of shadowing and/or caching the system and video BIOS for improved performance.

These are separate categories; however, each offers the following set of options.

On and Cached* — BIOS is copied into RAM. Caching is allowed. Uses 32 KB of RAM.
On — BIOS is copied into RAM only. No caching of this memory block is done. Uses 32 KB of RAM.
Off — No shadowing or caching of BIOS. 32 KB of RAM free for other uses.

Cache

Cache can be set to Enabled or Disabled.

The microprocessor contains 8 KB (IntelDX2�) or 16 KB (IntelDX4�) of internal cache memory, which decreases the average memory cycle time to boost system performance. To aid in troubleshooting software problems, Cache can be set to Disabled.

NOTE: This category turns all cache memory in the system (both internal to and external to the microprocessor) on or off at the same time.

System Speed

System Speed specifies the processor speed at which the system boots and runs.

The options are as follows:

Normal* — Full rated system speed
Slow — Slower computability speed for speed-sensitive application programs.

Keyboard Errors

Keyboard Errors enables or disables reporting of keyboard errors during the POST.

The options are as follows:

Report* — Any keyboard errors are replaced.
Do Not Report — Useful for self-starting servers or hosts with no keyboards attached. Suppresses error messages related to the keyboard during POST. An attached keyboard will still operate normally.

System Password

System Password displays the current status of the system's password security feature.

The options are as follows:

Disabled* — No password used.
Enabled — A password is assigned at the next boot, and will be used from then on, until changed or disabled.

On Board Floppy

The On Board Floppy category enables and disables the built-in diskette/tape drive controller.

The options are as follows:

Enabled* — Built-in controller is used.
Disabled — Built-in controller is not used.

Primary IDE

Primary IDE enables, disables, or selects the fast mode for the primary IDE port (connector IDE1 on the system board).

The options are as follows:

Enabled* — IDE1 enabled.
Disabled — IDE1 disabled.
Fast — Enables a read-ahead function for newer IDE drives, which increases throughput. Refer to the documentation for the drive to see if it supports this function.

NOTE: There are no provisions to enable, disable, or control the speed of the secondary IDE port (IDE2). It is always enabled, and operates in the Compatible speed mode. For further information, see Master Speed.

Master Speed and Slave Speed

Master Speed and Slave Speed set the bus access speed of the master (first) and slave (second) IDE drives attached to the primary IDE port, IDE1.

Check the documentation for the drive to determine the proper setting for this category.

The options are as follows:

Fast* — Default for newer drives; uses the local bus controller
Normal — For older drives; uses the ISA bus speed

Serial Port 1

Serial Port 1 configures serial port 1. Always uses IRQ4.

The options are as follows:

COM1*
COM3
Disabled

Serial Port 2

Serial Port 2 configures serial port 2. Always uses IRQ3.

The options are as follows:

COM2*
COM4
Disabled

Parallel Port

Parallel Port configures the system's built-in parallel port. Uses IRQ7.

The options are as follows:

LPT1* — Standard parallel port output
LPT2 — Alternate designation, to avoid conflict with other peripherals
Disabled — Disabling if not used can avoid conflicts

Parallel Port Mode

Parallel Port Mode controls whether the system's built-in parallel port acts as an AT-compatible (unidirectional) or PS/2-compatible (bidirectional) port.

The options are as follows:

AT* — Unidirectional (output only)
PS/2 — Bidirectional

NOTES: EPP and ECP parallel port modes are enabled by software, which is provided with devices that use one of these modes. In ECP mode, the parallel port controller uses DMA channel 3 by default. DMA channel 1 can be selected instead with jumpers W37 and W38.

Non-Cacheable Area

Non-Cacheable Area specifies an area of memory that should not be cached.

The options are as follows:

Size field settings — Undefined*, 64 KB, 128 KB, 256 KB, 512 KB, 1 MB, 2 MB, 4 MB
Address field settings — 000000h*; any address from 000000h to 3FF000h. Only the first 3 numbers in the address can be changed.

CAUTION: Normally leave this category set to Undefined. It should only be needed in the case of an expansion card that contains memory, and the card doesn't work properly (indicating that the card's memory is being cached along with and confused with system memory). Refer to the OEM instructions for the card to find and change its memory addresses.

System Setup Commands

Keys	Action
Up arrow, down arrow	Move between categories
<PgUp>, <PgDn>	Switch between Page 1 and Page 2
<+>, <->	Change the setting for a category
<F1>	Help
<F2>	Display current settings
<Esc>	Display the Exit Menu

Exit Menu

Keys	Action
<Esc>	Continue using System Setup program
<F4>	Save settings, exit System Setup program, reboot system
<F5>	Exit System Setup program with no changes