Time resets the time on the computer’s internal clock.
Time is kept in a 24-hour format (hours:minutes:seconds). To change the time, press the right-arrow key to increase the number in the highlighted field or press the left-arrow key to decrease the number. If you prefer, you can type numbers in each of the appropriate fields.
Date resets the date on the computer’s internal calendar.
Your system automatically displays the day of the week corresponding to the settings in the three fields that follow (month, day-of-month, and year).
To change the date, press the right-arrow key to increase the number in the highlighted field or press the left-arrow key to decrease the number. If you prefer, you can type numbers in the month and day-of-month fields.
Diskette Drive A and Diskette Drive B identify the type of diskette drives installed in your computer. With the standard cabling configuration, Diskette Drive A (the boot diskette drive) is the 3.5-inch diskette drive installed in the top externally accessible drive bay; Diskette Drive B is any drive installed in the bottom externally accessible drive bay that is connected to the system’s diskette/tape drive interface.
The option settings always match the physical locations of the drives in your computer—the first drive listed on Page 1 of the System Setup screens is the top drive in your computer.
The options are:
Use ZIP as A or B is used to control the operation of an internally installed Advanced Technology Attachment Packet Interface (ATAPI) Zip drive. The options are On and Off. When set to On, the Zip drive operates as a diskette drive and can be booted. When set to Off, the Zip drive operates as a normal ATAPI device.
You can have a total of two diskette devices, either diskette drives or Zip drives.
 |
NOTE: Tape drives are not reflected in the Diskette Drive A and Diskette Drive B options. For example, if you have a single diskette drive and a tape drive attached to the diskette/tape drive interface cable, set the Diskette Drive A option to match the characteristics of the diskette drive and set the Diskette Drive B option to Not Installed. |
Primary identifies drives attached to the primary enhanced integrated drive electronics (EIDE) interface connector (labeled "IDE1") on the system board; Secondary identifies drives connected to the secondary EIDE interface connector (labeled "IDE2"). Dell recommends that you use the secondary EIDE interface connector for EIDE CD-ROM and EIDE tape drives.
The System Setup program reports hard-disk drives in one of two ways:
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NOTE: For all Dell-installed hard-disk drives, set the appropriate drive option to Auto. |
Use one of the following options if you have an older EIDE hard-disk drive not shipped with the system from Dell and with less than 528 megabytes (MB) in capacity:
For each drive, you can choose the seven parameters as a group by drive-type number or you can enter the parameters individually from the keyboard. A drive-type number specifies the parameters of a hard-disk drive, based on a table recorded in the system’s basic input/output system (BIOS).
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NOTE: Operating systems that bypass the system BIOS may not obtain optimum hard-disk drive performance |
If you choose the Usr1 or Usr2 option, you must supply the following parameters for the drive:
Reserved Memory allows you to designate a region of system board memory that can be supplied by an expansion card. You should not enable the reserved memory feature unless you are using an expansion card that requires special addressing.
For example, you may have a memory expansion card that needs to be addressed starting at 15 MB. Selecting the 15M - 16M option in the Reserved Memory option specifies that the base memory from 15 to 16 MB comes from the memory expansion card (the base memory below the 15-MB address comes from the dual in-line memory modules [DIMMs] on the system board).
The Reserved Memory option has the following settings:
CPU Speed indicates the processor speed at which your system boots.
Press the left- or right-arrow key to toggle the CPU Speed option between the resident microprocessor’s rated speed (the default) and a lower compatibility speed, which lets you accommodate speed-sensitive application programs. A change to this option takes effect immediately (rebooting the system is not required).
You can also toggle between the rated processor speed and the compatibility speed while the system is running in real mode by pressing <Ctrl><Alt><\>. (For keyboards that do not use American English, press <Ctrl><Alt><#>.)
Num Lock determines whether your system boots with the Num Lock mode activated on 101- or 102-key keyboards (it does not apply to 84-key keyboards).
When Num Lock mode is activated, the rightmost bank of keys on your keyboard provides the mathematical and numeric functions shown at the tops of the keys. When Num Lock mode is turned off, these keys provide cursor-control functions according to the label on the bottom of each key.
Chassis Intrusion displays the status of the system chassis intrusion monitor. The settings for this option are Enabled, Enabled-Silent, or Disabled. The default is Enabled.
If the computer cover is removed while the intrusion monitor is set to Enabled, the setting changes to Detected, and the following message appears during the boot sequence at the next system start-up:
Alert! Cover was previously removed.
If the computer cover is removed while the intrusion monitor is set to Enabled-Silent, the setting changes to Detected, but the alert message is not displayed during the boot sequence at the next system start-up.
If the intrusion monitor is set to Disabled, no intrusion monitoring occurs and no messages are displayed.
To reset the Detected setting, enter the System Setup program during the system’s power-on self-test (POST). Highlight the Chassis Intrusion option and press the left- or right-arrow key to choose Enabled, Enabled-Silent, or Disabled.
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NOTE: When the setup password is enabled, you must enter the setup password before you can reset the Chassis Intrusion option. |
DAC Snoop lets you correct video problems that may occur when certain video add-in cards are used. The default is Off. If you are using a video add-in card and problems such as incorrect colors or blank windows occur, set DAC Snoop to On.
This option controls the operation of the system’s Advanced Configuration and Power Interface (ACPI) feature.
When ACPI is set to On, momentarily pressing the power button places the system in a power-saving mode. To turn the system off completely, press the power button for more than 4 seconds. When ACPI is set to On, interrupt request (IRQ) line 9 is not available for use by an expansion card.
When ACPI is set to Off, momentarily pressing the power button turns off the system completely. With this setting, IRQ9 is available for use by an expansion card.
Keyboard Errors enables or disables reporting of keyboard errors during the POST, which is a series of tests that the system performs on the hardware each time you turn on the system or press the reset button.
This option is useful when applied to self-starting servers or host systems that have no permanently attached keyboard. In these situations, selecting Do Not Report suppresses all error messages relating to the keyboard or to the keyboard controller during POST. This option does not affect the operation of the keyboard itself if a keyboard is attached to the computer.
System Password displays the current status of your system’s password security feature and allows you to assign and verify a new password. No one can assign a new password unless the current status is Not Enabled, which is displayed in bright characters.
The settings for the System Password option are:
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NOTE: See "Using the System Password Feature" for instructions on assigning a system password and using or changing an existing system password. See "Disabling a Forgotten Password" for instructions on disabling a forgotten system password. |
When Setup Password is set to Enabled, Password Status allows you to prevent the system password from being changed or disabled at system start-up.
To lock the system password, you must first assign a setup password in the Setup Password option and then change the Password Status setting to Locked. In this state, the system password cannot be changed through the System Password option and cannot be disabled at system start-up by pressing <Ctrl><Enter>.
To unlock the system password, you must enter the setup password in the Setup Password option and then change the Password Status setting to Unlocked. In this state, the system password can be disabled at system start-up by pressing <Ctrl><Enter> and then changed through the System Password option.
Boot Sequence can be set to Diskette First (the default), Hard Disk Only, CD-ROM First, or Device List.
The term boot refers to the system’s start-up procedure. When turned on, the system "bootstraps" itself into an operational state by loading into memory a small program, which in turn loads the necessary operating system. Boot Sequence tells the system where to look for the files that it needs to load.
Selecting Diskette First causes the system to try booting from drive A first. If the system finds a diskette that is not bootable in the drive or finds a problem with the drive itself, it displays an error message. If it does not find a diskette in the drive, the system tries to boot from the hard-disk drive (drive 0), then from the CD-ROM drive, and finally from the Plug and Play network adapters in the order found.
Selecting Hard Disk Only causes the system to attempt to boot first from the hard-disk drive and then from the Plug and Play network adapters in the order found.
Selecting CD-ROM First causes the system to try booting from the CD-ROM drive first. If the system finds a CD that is not bootable in the drive or finds a problem with the drive itself, it displays an error message. If it does not find a CD in the drive, the system tries to boot from drive A, then from drive C, and finally from the Plug and Play network adapters in the order found.
Device List provides access to the Device List screen where you can choose from a list of available boot devices to boot from and specify the order in which your computer attempts to boot from these devices. To view the Device List screen (see Figure 1), press <Ctrl> and the right-arrow key. Table 2 lists other navigation keys used on the Device List screen.
Table 2. Device-List Screen Navigation Keys
| Keys | Action |
|---|---|
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Returns the boot device lists to the default settings |
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Moves the selected item up or down in the boot sequence |
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Exits to Page 2 of the System Setup screens |
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Moves the selected item from one Boot Device Priority list to the other |
NOTICE: Only a technically knowledgeable person should change the settings in the Device List screen.
The Device List screen (see Figure 1) provides three options for listing and prioritizing the available boot devices in your system.
Figure 1. Sample Device List Screen
The Boot Device Priority option lists all bootable devices (hard-disk drives, CD-ROM drives, and so on) that are controlled by the system BIOS and any Plug and Play network adapters installed in the computer.
The Exclude From Boot Device Priority option allows you to remove from the Boot Device Priority option any boot devices that you want the system to ignore during system start-up.
The Device Controller Priority option lists the system BIOS controller; any non-Plug and Play devices, such as network adapter cards; and any secondary controller cards, such as a small computer system interface (SCSI) adapter, installed in the computer.
NOTE: Non-Plug and Play devices appear in this list as Adapters without ID support.
When determining the order of devices to boot from, the system first considers the order of the devices listed under the Device Controller Priority option, then the order of devices under Boot Device Priority.
To specify your priority preferences, order the devices under these options so that the highest-priority controller is at the top of the Device Controller Priority option and the highest-priority device is at the top of the Boot Device Priority option. Order the remainder of the devices in the Boot Device Priority option according to your preferences. Move any devices that you want the system to ignore during system start-up into the Exclude From Boot Device Priority option.
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NOTE: The system defines drive C in the Boot Device Priority option as the first hard-disk drive attached to the highest-priority device controller. Therefore, if you have a SCSI adapter installed in your computer and you want the SCSI drive 0 to be drive C, you must move the SCSI adapter item to the top of the Device Controller Priority option. |
To change the order of the devices, press <Ctrl> and the up- or down-arrow key. If you want to revert to the original Boot Device Priority option settings, press <Ctrl><Del>.
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NOTE: If you exit the Device List option by pressing <Esc> or <Alt><b> without making any changes, the Boot Sequence option is set to the Device List option. |
Setup Password indicates whether a password is required before you can change option settings on the System Setup screen. The settings for this option are normally Enabled or Not Enabled. A third setting, Disabled By Jumper, displays if the Setup Password option is deactivated. (You can set a jumper on the system board to deactivate the Setup Password option.)
If Setup Password is set to Enabled, you must enter the correct setup password before you can change the settings for the majority of the System Setup options. If you do not enter the correct password in three tries, the system lets you view, but not change, the settings on the System Setup screen, with one exception: if Password Status is Unlocked, you may change the system password.
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NOTE: See "Using the Setup Password Feature" for instructions on assigning a setup password and using or changing an existing setup password. See "Disabling a Forgotten Password" for instructions on disabling a forgotten setup password. |
Auto Power On allows you to set the time and days of the week to turn on the computer system automatically. You can set Auto Power On to turn on the system either every day or every Monday through Friday.
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NOTE: This feature does not work if you turn off your system using a power strip or surge protector. |
Time is kept in a 24-hour format (hours:minutes). To change the start-up time, press the right-arrow key to increase the number in the highlighted field or press the left-arrow key to decrease the number. If you prefer, you can type numbers in both fields.
The default for Auto Power On is Disabled. For more information, see the System Utilities on the Dell ResourceCD.
This section explains the following topics:
For certain types of monitors and most EIDE hard-disk drives, you can reduce system power consumption by enabling the power management feature. With Power Management enabled, these monitors and drives automatically switch into low-power mode during periods of system inactivity.
Power Management can be implemented at three levels—Maximum, Regular, and Minimum. (The different levels apply to the monitor only; hard-disk drive operation is the same for all three.) The default for this option is Disabled.
If you have a Video Electronics Standards Association (VESA®) Display Power Management Signaling (DPMS)-compliant monitor, enabling the Power Management option reduces monitor power consumption during periods of keyboard and mouse inactivity
NOTICE: Check your monitor documentation to make sure you have a DPMS-compliant monitor before you enable this feature. Otherwise, you risk damaging the monitor.
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NOTE: The power management feature monitors activity of a mouse connected to the Personal System/2 (PS/2)-compatible mouse port. |
By setting Power Management to Maximum, Regular, or Minimum, you can set predefined time-out periods (see Table 3) for the two successive monitor shutdown stages, standby and off.
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NOTE: Each monitor manufacturer defines the details of the shutdown stages for its own monitors. But in all cases, power consumption decreases with each stage from "on" (full power) to "standby" (reduced power; the display image usually disappears) to "off" (where power consumption is minimal). To define these stages for your monitor, see the documentation that came with the monitor. |
From either shutdown stage, you can return full power to the monitor in one of the following ways:
Check your monitor documentation for information on how your monitor is designed to operate.
For most systems, enabling Power Management at any level causes EIDE hard-disk drives to switch to low-power mode after about 20 minutes of system inactivity (see Table 3).
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NOTES: All EIDE drives shipped with your system support this
feature. (For more information, see "ENERGY
STAR® Compliance.") However, not all EIDE hard-disk drives support this feature. Enabling this feature for drives that do not support it may cause the EIDE drive to become inoperable until the computer is restarted and the Power Management option is disabled. |
In low-power mode, the disks inside the drive stop spinning. They remain idle until the next drive access, which causes them to start spinning again. (Because the disks take a few seconds to regain full speed, you may notice a slight delay when you next access the hard-disk drive.)
When Power Management is set to Disabled (the default), the disks spin constantly as long as the system is turned on.
Table 3. Power Time-Out Periods
| Power Management Setting |
EIDE Drive Spindown Time-Outs |
Monitor Standby Time-Outs |
Monitor Off Time-Outs |
| Disabled | Never | Never | Never |
| Maximum | 20 minutes | 10 minutes | 1 hour |
| Regular | 20 minutes | 20 minutes | 1 hour |
| Minimum | 20 minutes | 1 hour | Never |
Wakeup On LAN determines whether the Wakeup On LAN feature is set to On or Off. You must reboot your system before a change takes effect.
Sound determines whether the integrated audio controller is On or Off. You must reboot your system before a change takes effect.
NIC determines whether an integrated network interface controller (NIC) is On or Off. You must reboot your system before a change takes effect.
Mouse enables or disables the system’s built-in PS/2-compatible mouse port. Disabling the mouse allows an expansion card to use IRQ 12.
Serial Port 1 and Serial Port 2 configure the system’s built-in serial ports. These options can be set to Auto (the default) to automatically configure a port, to a particular designation (COM1 or COM3 for Serial Port 1; COM2 or COM4 for Serial Port 2), or to Off to disable the port.
If you set a serial port to Auto and add an expansion card containing a port configured to the same designation, the system automatically remaps the built-in port to the next available port designation that shares the same IRQ setting as follows:
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NOTES: When two COM ports share an IRQ setting, you can use
either port as necessary, but you may not be able to use them both at the same time.
If the second port (COM3 or COM4) is also in use, the built-in port is turned off. If you are using the Microsoft® Windows® 95 or IBM® OS/2® operating system, you cannot use both serial ports at the same time. |
Parallel Port configures the system’s built-in parallel port. This option can be set to 378h (the default), to alternate addresses 278h or 3BCh, or to Off to disable the port.
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NOTE: Do not set Parallel Port to 278h if you have an Enhanced Capabilities Port (ECP) device connected to the port. |
Parallel Mode controls whether the system’s built-in parallel port acts as an AT-compatible (unidirectional) or PS/2-compatible (bidirectional) port.
Your system also supports ECP mode, which can be used by Windows 95 and Windows 98. Windows 95 and Windows 98 use ECP protocol automatically if the operating system detects an ECP-capable device, eliminating the need for an ECP setting in this option.
Set this option according to the type of peripheral device connected to the parallel port. To determine the correct mode to use, see the documentation that came with the device.
IDE Hard Disk enables or disables the system’s built-in EIDE hard-disk drive interface.
With Auto (the default option) selected, the system turns off the built-in EIDE interface when necessary to accommodate a controller card installed in an expansion slot.
As part of the boot routine, the system first checks for a primary hard-disk drive controller card installed in an expansion slot. If no card is found, the system enables the built-in EIDE interface to use IRQ14 and IRQ15.
If a primary controller is detected on the expansion bus, the built-in EIDE interface is disabled.
Selecting Off disables the built-in EIDE interface.
Diskette controls the operation of the system’s built-in diskette drive controller.
With Auto (the default) selected, the system turns off the built-in diskette drive controller when necessary to accommodate a controller card installed in an expansion slot.
With Write Protect selected, nothing can be written to diskette drives and tape drives using the system’s built-in diskette drive controller. (The system can still read from the drives.) When this option is selected, the Auto option (whereby the system turns off the built-in diskette drive controller as necessary) is also in effect.
Selecting Off turns off the built-in diskette/tape drive controller; this option is used primarily for troubleshooting purposes.
Speaker determines whether the on-board speaker is On (the default) or Off. A change to this option takes effect immediately (rebooting the system is not required).
The following options, which are not selectable, display information about the system. The microprocessor type is also listed in the System Data box.
NOTICE: The password features provide a basic level of security for the data on your system. However, they are not foolproof. If your data requires more security, it is your responsibility to obtain and use additional forms of protection, such as data encryption programs.
Your Dell system is shipped to you without the system password feature enabled. If system security is a concern, you should operate your system only with system password protection.
You can assign a system password, as described in "Assigning a System Password," whenever you use the System Setup program. After a system password is assigned, only those who know the password have full use of the system.
When the System Password option is set to Enabled, the computer system prompts you for the system password just after the system boots.
To change an existing system password, you must know the password (see "Deleting or Changing an Existing System Password"). If you assign and later forget a system password, you need to be able to remove the computer cover to change a jumper setting that disables the system password feature (see "Disabling a Forgotten Password"). Note that you erase the setup password at the same time.
NOTICE: If you leave your system running and unattended without having a system password assigned, or if you leave your computer unlocked so that someone can disable the password by changing a jumper setting, anyone can access the data stored on your hard-disk drive.
Before you can assign a system password, you must enter the System Setup program and check the System Password option.
When a system password is assigned, the option shown in the System Password option is Enabled. When the system password feature is disabled by a jumper setting on the system board, the option shown is Disabled by Jumper. You cannot change or enter a new system password if either of these options is displayed.
When no system password is assigned and the password jumper on the system board is in the enabled position (its default), the option shown for the System Password option is Not Enabled. Only when this option is set to Not Enabled can you assign a system password, using the following procedure:
The option heading changes to Enter Password, followed by an empty seven-character field in square brackets.
You can use up to seven characters in your password.
As you press each character key (or the spacebar for a blank space), a placeholder appears in the field.
The password assignment operation recognizes keys by their location on the keyboard, without distinguishing between lowercase and uppercase characters. For example, if you have an M in your password, the system recognizes either M or m as correct.
Certain key combinations are not valid. If you enter one of these combinations, the speaker emits a beep.
To erase a character when entering your password, press the <Backspace> key or the left-arrow key.
NOTE: To escape from the field without assigning a system password, press the <Tab> key or the <Shift><Tab> key combination to move to another field, or press the <Esc> key at any time prior to completing step 5.
If the new system password is less than seven characters, the whole field fills with placeholders. Then the option heading changes to Verify Password, followed by another empty seven-character field in square brackets.
The password setting changes to Enabled. Your system password is now set; you can exit the System Setup program and begin using your system. Note, however, that password protection does not take effect until you reboot the system by pressing the reset button or by turning the system off and then on again.
Whenever you turn on your system, press the reset button, or reboot the system by pressing the <Ctrl><Alt><Del> key combination, the following prompt appears on the screen when the Password Status option is set to Unlocked:
Type in the password and...
— press <ENTER> to leave password security enabled.
— press <CTRL><ENTER> to disable password security.
Enter password:
If the Password Status option is set to Locked, the following prompt appears:
Type the password and press <Enter>.
After you type the correct system password and press <Enter>, your system boots and you can use the keyboard and/or mouse to operate your system as usual.
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NOTE: If you have assigned a setup password (see "Using the Setup Password Feature") the system accepts your setup password as an alternate system password. |
If a wrong or incomplete system password is entered, the following message appears on the screen:
** Incorrect password. **
Enter password:
If an incorrect or incomplete system password is entered again, the same message appears on the screen.
The third and subsequent times an incorrect or incomplete system password is entered, the system displays the following message:
** Incorrect password. **
Number of unsuccessful password attempts: 3
System halted! Must power down.
The number of unsuccessful attempts made to enter the correct system password can alert you to an unauthorized person attempting to use your system.
Even after your system is turned off and on, the previous message is displayed each time an incorrect or incomplete system password is entered.
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NOTE: You can use the Password Status option in conjunction with System Password and Setup Password to further protect your system from unauthorized changes. |
To delete or change an existing system password, perform the following steps:
Press the <Alt><p> key combination to move to Page 2 of the System Setup screens.
If Not Enabled appears in the System Password option, the system password has been deleted. If you want to assign a new password, continue to step 6. If Not Enabled is not displayed for the System Password option, press the <Alt><p> key combination to reboot the system, and then repeat steps 3 through 5.
Your Dell system is shipped to you without the setup password feature enabled. If system security is a concern, you should operate your system with setup password protection.
You can assign a setup password whenever you use the System Setup program. After a setup password is assigned, only those who know the password have full use of the System Setup program.
To change an existing password, you must know the setup password. If you assign and later forget a setup password, you need to remove the computer cover to change a jumper setting that disables the setup password feature. Note that you erase the system password at the same time.
A setup password can be assigned (or changed) only when the Setup Password option is set
to Not Enabled. To assign a setup password, perform the
following steps:
The system prompts you to enter and verify the password. If a
character is illegal for password use, the system emits a beep. If the two passwords are different, the setup
password can be used as an alternate system password. However, the system password cannot
be used in place of the setup password. After you verify the password, the Setup Password
setting changes to Enabled. The next time you enter the System Setup
program, the system will prompt you for the setup password. A change to the Setup Password option becomes
effective immediately (rebooting the system is not required). If Setup Password is set to Enabled,
you must enter the correct setup password before you can modify the majority of the System
Setup options. If you do not enter the correct password in three tries, the system lets
you view, but not modify, the System Setup screen, with one exception: if Password
Status is Unlocked, you may modify the system password. When you start the System
Setup program, Page 2 of the System Setup screens appears with the Setup
Password option highlighted, prompting you to type the password. If you do not enter the correct password in three tries, the system
lets you view, but not modify, the System Setup screens—with the following
exceptions:
NOTES: The setup password can be the same as the system
password.
Operating With a Setup
Password Enabled
NOTE: You can use the Password Status option in conjunction with Setup Password to protect the system password from unauthorized changes.
To delete or change an existing setup password, perform the following steps:
The setting changes to Not Enabled.
If you forget your system or setup password, you cannot operate your system or change settings in the System Setup program until you remove the computer cover, change the password jumper setting to disable the passwords, and erase the existing passwords.
To disable a forgotten password, perform the following steps.
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CAUTION: To avoid the possibility of electric shock, turn off the computer and any peripherals, disconnect them from electrical outlets, and then wait at least 5 seconds before you remove the computer cover. Also, before removing the computer cover, see the other precautions in "Safety First—For You and Your Computer." |
NOTICE: Verify that the AC power cable is removed before changing any jumper settings.
See Figure 4 in "Inside Your Computer" for the location of the password jumper (labeled "PSWD") on the system board.
Booting your system with the PSWD jumper plug removed erases the existing password(s).
NOTE: Before you assign a new system and/or setup password, you must replace the PSWD jumper plug.
Booting with the PSWD jumper installed reenables the password feature. When you enter the System Setup program, both password options appear as Not Enabled, meaning that the password feature is enabled but that no password has been assigned.
If an error message appears on your monitor screen while the system is booting, make note of the message. Then, before entering the System Setup program, refer to "Messages and Codes" for an explanation of the message and suggestions for correcting any errors. However, it is normal to receive an error message the first time you boot the system after a memory upgrade. In that case, refer to the instructions in "System Memory."
If you are given an option to press either <F1> to continue or <F2> to run the System Setup program, press the <F2> key.