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System Setup Program: Dell™ Dimension™ 900 System Reference

	Overview		Onboard Peripherals Screen
	Entering the System Setup Program		Boot Options Screen
	System Setup Program Navigation Keys		Date and Time Screen
	Main Screen		System Security Screen
	System Information Screen		Advanced Options Screen
	Product Information Screen		Disabling a Forgotten Password
	Disk Drives Screen		Clearing NVRAM

Overview

Each time you turn on or restart your computer system, the system compares the hardware installed in the system to the hardware listed in the configuration information stored in nonvolatile random-access memory (NVRAM) on the system board. If the system detects a discrepancy between the two, it generates error messages that identify the incorrect configuration settings. The system then prompts you to enter the system setup program to correct the setting.

You can use the system setup program as follows:

• To change the system configuration information after you add, change, or remove any hardware in your system
  
  
• To set or change user-selectable options — for example, the user password

Dell recommends that you print the system setup program screens (by pressing <Print Screen>) or write down the information for future reference.

The system setup screens are organized as follows:

• The left side of each screen lists options that define the installed hardware in your system.
  
  
• The right side of each screen displays options that contain settings or values that you can change. Values that are grayed out contain status information reported by the system.
  
  
• The bottom of each screen displays help information for the option with a currently highlighted field if the system setup program is not in full screen mode.
  
  
• Pressing <Alt><h> displays the Key Help Guide, which lists keys and their functions for the currently displayed screen.

The Main screen provides access to the following screens:

• System Information screen — Displays a compilation of the present settings of the basic system configuration
  
  
• Product Information screen — Displays system product version numbers and identification codes
  
  
• Disk Drives screen — Provides settings for the system drives
  
  
• Onboard Peripherals screen — Provides settings for the integrated system board ports and controllers
  
  
• Boot Options screen — Provides information about which device boots the system and options for boot type
  
  
• Date and Time screen — Provides selections for setting the system date and time
  
  
• System Security screen — Provides selections for setting the system’s security level
  
  
• Advanced Options screen — Provides a menu for setting the system’s cache and Peripheral Component Interface (PCI) device options and Plug and Play operation

The Main screen also allows you to load the system setup program’s default settings and to abort all changes to the settings.

Entering the System Setup Program

Enter the system setup program as follows:

1. Turn on (or restart) your system.
   
   
2. When the blue Dell logo appears, press <Del>.

If you wait too long and the operating system begins to load into memory, let the system complete the load operation. Then shut down the system and try again.

System Setup Program Navigation Keys

Table 1 lists the keys you use to view or change information on the system setup program screens and to exit the program.

Table 1. System Setup Program Navigation Keys

Keys	Action
or	Moves the highlight bar up or down to select an item.
	Selects the submenu for the current option. When viewing the Key Help Guide, returns to the previous screen.
	Switches to full-screen mode.
	Returns to the previous menu. From the Main screen, prompts you to exit the system setup program with or without saving any changes.
or	Moves the cursor to the previous or next menu option.
or	Pages up or pages down.
	Moves the cursor to the beginning of the page.
	Moves the cursor to the end of the page.
	Displays the Key Help Guide.

Main Screen

Table 2. Main Screen Menu Options

System Information Screen

Table 3. System Information Screen Menu Options

Product Information Screen

Table 4. Product Information Screen Menu Options

Disk Drives Screen

Table 5. Disk Drives Screen Menu Options

IDE Primary Channel Master Submenu

Table 6. IDE Primary Channel Master Submenu Options

Onboard Peripherals Screen

Table 7. Onboard Peripherals Screen Menu Options

Boot Options Screen

Table 8. Boot Options Screen Menu Options

Date and Time Screen

Table 9. Date and Time Screen Menu Options

System Security Screen

Table 10. System Security Screen Menu Options

Advanced Options Screen

Table 11. Advanced Options Menu Options

Memory/Cache Options Submenu

Table 12. Memory/Cache Options Submenu Options

PnP/PCI Options Submenu

Table 13. PnP/PCI Options Submenu Options

Disabling a Forgotten Password

If you forget your user or supervisor password, you will be unable to operate your system or change settings in the system setup program, respectively, until you disable the existing password(s). Disabling the password(s) involves removing the computer cover and changing a jumper setting (twice) on the system board.

NOTE: You disable both supervisor and user passwords at the same time.

To disable a forgotten password, perform the following steps:

1. Turn off the computer, and unplug it from the electrical outlet.
   
   
2. Remove the computer cover.
   
   
3. Remove the riser-board bracket.
   
   
4. Remove all expansion cards.
   
   
5. Move the Password jumper (JP6) to the System Password Bypass jumper setting.
   
   
6. Replace all expansions cards and the riser-board bracket.
   
   
7. Replace the computer cover.
   
   
8. Attach the computer to the electrical outlet, and turn it on.
   
   
9. Enter the system setup program, and assign a new supervisor or user password in the System Security menu.
   
   
10. Exit and save the system setup program settings.
    
    
11. After the system boots, turn it off, and unplug it from the electrical outlet.
    
    
12. Remove the computer cover, the riser-board bracket, and all expansions cards.
    
    
13. Move the Password jumper (JP6) to the System Password Enabled jumper setting.
    
    
14. Replace all expansion cards, the riser-board bracket, and the computer cover.
    
    
15. Attach the computer to the electrical outlet, and turn it on.

Clearing NVRAM

To clear NVRAM for all devices, perform the following steps:

1. Turn off the computer, and unplug it from the electrical outlet.
   
   
2. Remove the computer cover.
   
   
3. Remove the riser-board bracket.
   
   
4. Remove all expansion cards.
   
   
5. Move the NVRAM jumper (JPX2) to the Clear NVRAM jumper setting.
   
   
6. Replace all expansion cards, the riser-board bracket, and the computer cover.
   
   
7. Attach the computer to the electrical outlet, and turn it on.
   
   
8. After the system boots, turn it off and unplug it from the electrical outlet.
   
   
9. Remove the computer cover, the riser-board bracket, and all expansion cards.
   
   
10. Move the NVRAM jumper (JPX2) to the Retain NVRAM jumper setting.
    
    
11. Replace all expansions cards, the riser-board bracket, and the computer cover.
    
    
12. Attach the computer to the electrical outlet, and turn it on.

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